Session14

**The collected emails and Session Notes of Axton taking the map to Lyrabar... **

"I can't believe Melanie tricked me into covering her shift at the store today....argh....that...that...girl of hers is an irresistible weapon!" Samira pouted slightly, and with an unladylike grunt lifted the heavy box on the back shelf. She tucked an errant lock of pink hair behind her ear, breathing heavily, a trickle of sweat running down her cheek. The House of Wonders has been busy lately...with the destruction of House Telstar...the well-to-do of the city who wanted a magical item crafted had to come to them, as the Telstar shops that were left had been running out of stock.

"She seems innocent doesn't she, our Melanie, till she trots out her adorable little daughter and she flashes those baby blue eyes at you. Who taught that girl to be so devious! I totally blame YOU!" Argent finished lifting her own box up to the shelf, folding her arms underneath her ample bosom as another, luckier bead of sweat worked it's way down into their depths. "My fault! How is it my fault!" Samira shook her head "Her brother was a rogue! He practically raised her! I'm totally not taking the blame!" Samira's head lifted as she heard the bell to the magic shop ring and she sighed. Another customer. Shandra was on break upstairs making dinner for the three of them, so the pink haired sorceress went back out front to greet them. "Good evening....welcome to the House of Wonders!" She said cheerily, noting the orange glow dimming from the front of the stores big bay windows. It was still only early spring...and the sun still set fairly early. "How can I help..." She stopped in mid-sentence...seeing a bedraggled young man...staggering into the shop. He would have been....beautiful....the sorceress thought, had he not been covered in blood. Vibrant...red hair....now singed...and brilliant blue eyes now filled with pain. A priest of Sune by what was left of his tattered clothing, Samira guessed. "R...Rosche...have to find....Rosche...." The man staggered...trying....step by step to reach her....to reach the counter.... Step....step....Samira started to move to help the dying man...to do something....and the world....suddenly slowed down. Samira noted what seemed like a million different things at once. How the potion bottles were arranged on the shelf. The glitter of the magical weapons hanging on the wall...the pool of blood slowly spreading from the young man. And then...the front of the shop....simply...ceased to be. Samira was blown back over the counter, even after hastily throwing up a shielding spell.

 She coughed...dragging herself up...to look over the counter. There...floating in the air out in the street were three floating skulls, their eye sockets filled with brilliant gemstones. Demi-liches! She only vaguely remembered the lessons Rosche had given her...liches who had been undead so long only their skulls remained. Her blood...went cold. Surrounding them were a horde of other powerful undead....regular liches...and wraiths and spectres. This had to be a dream...a nightmare....Samira heard screaming...so much screaming from out in the streets.

"The map....give us...the map...." One of the skulls floated down into the shop...the eye gems glittering maliciously...

Samira began to move, shaking off the shock of what was happening around her. With a gesture and word, a giant wall of ice, thick and cold, erupted out of the floor, replacing the shop's rent wall, effectively separating the floating skulls from her and the dying cleric at her feet. She had no way of knowing how long it would last or what it would take to destroy what seemed like an army of undead at their door - DEMI-LICHES, LICHES and WRAITHS! GODS! But even with the sinking feeling that they were in WAY over their heads, she knew they didn't stand a chance without getting that cleric back on his feet.

They needed time... Time ‘til help arrived.

"ARRRRRRGENT!!!!!!!!!!" Samira yelled, funneling her panic into the ring on her finger, now pulsing with adrenaline... She stumbled over broken bottles and scattered magical rods and weapons as she made her way towards the priest. Snatching up one bottle from the mess then another and another, she uncorked them and poured them unceremoniously down the dying man's throat. "LICHES!!!!!! SHANDRA!!!!!!!!"

"At...least....Yuki....is safe..." The dying priest murmured in her arms...lying in the pool of his life leaking out around him. "She's...safe..."

Yuki...? Where had she...? Samira glanced up at the eyes, glowing red through the wall of ice...knowing without a doubt it wouldn't last half as long as she needed. The bakery. Plane of Air. Ah! Uncorking another vial with her teeth, Samira poured it down the cleric's throat, "...Mister...you've brought us one HELL of a fight! Right now, dontcha think you need to be worrying more about you? Now. GET UP!"

The red haired priest coughed as the potent healing liquid slid down his throat, burning as it healed some of his internal injuries. His mouth...tasted like copper as he took a deep breath. He swore he almost...saw Sune herself, her lovely, red haired visage beckoning for him to join her in heaven. "W...where am I...is this the House...of Wonders..." He struggled to sit up, seeing the beautiful pink haired sorceress dressed in an outfit worthy of a priestess of Sune. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "A...are you an avatar of the goddess...then..." His vision was still a little blurry but she was so lovely.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Samira blushed...her an avatar of Sune? The man must be delirious. "Y...yes...this is the House of Wonders...I'm...just Samira, sorry, not an angel or anything." She turned to see a red glow starting to intensify on the wall of ice as it was being quickly melted. It wouldn't be...much longer.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"ARRRGEEENT!" She screamed again. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"What...the hell!" The buxom young woman rushed out of the back room, her silver hair flowing down around her. "Is all of this. Oh.....crap.." Argent went a little paler as she saw the horde reflected in the ice. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Samira didn't think she'd ever seen...Argent scared. Ever. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The young woman's normally cheery face went grim as Shandra too came downstairs. Argent looked at her...and then Sam. "Get him...out. Get him and yourself to safety...to the Temple of Sune...or the Temple of Lathander and the Paladins. Anywhere...GO! We'll hold them off...here..."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The sharpness of Argent's command shot through her and Samira did not hesitate. If Argent was afraid then...Samira...was terrified. "Lathander then. Follow quickly." She bent down and took the priest's arm, "Hold on, Priest of Sune. We're leaving." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Axton tried to stand but sank back to the floor. "Rosche. I have to...find Rosche."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Don't worry..." Samira met Argent's eyes, and the other woman nodded, "...he'll find us."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The two dissolved into a swirl of glowing motes of hot pink light...as the ice wall behind them disintegrated... Moments later, Samira...and the injured Axton shimmered into existence...before the great gates of the Temple of Lathander. "HELP!" She cried. "HELP!!! DEMI-LICHES in the CITY! HELP US. THE UNDEAD HAVE COME!"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A young paladin, who Samira didn't recognize, stood at the front gate of the magnificent Temple of Lathander. One of the few buildings left undamaged by the war last year. It’s huge stained glass windows of fiery oranges and yellows glinted in the waning sunlight.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"What...what are you talking about...Miss....please...calm...down.." The young man tried to calm the pink haired sorcerer down, as the red haired young priest holding her hand stumbled a bit, disorientated by the sudden magical movement. He wondered who the young woman was...she didn't seem threatening...at least not yet. He didn't recognize the rather...scandalous robes she wore. He was pretty sure he shouldn't even be...looking at her...his eyes snapped up to focus on hers.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Samira glanced over her shoulder, desperately searching for any sign of pursuit, and steadied the cleric by her side. The color had completely drained from her hair and from her face, "...Listen Mister Knight! I am...the Spymaster's daughter." That was practically true... "RING THAT ALARM ALREADY! DO what YOU have to DO to SAVE THE CITY!" Samira frantically checked behind her again, "And...for the LOVE of the GOD you hold MOST holy, GET US OFF THIS STREET AND SURROUNDED BY SOME POWERFUL CLERICS! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">UNDEAD are in the Merchant District! WRAITHS! SPECTRES! LICHES! AND THEY'RE CHASING THIS MAN. GET IT?! AND...HE'S DYING!"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And so were her friends...maybe...probably... And her...husband... Her heart clenched as the worry washed over her... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sergei... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Never had he felt...so far away from her...

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"MOVE!" She cried, summoning every ounce of presence she could muster, "THEY'RE ALL DYING!"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"It will be ok Miss! Just come inside....We'll get you and your friend to safe...." The young paladin's words were cut off abruptly as he glowed green for a moment, then turned to fine ash in front of the startled sorceress. She screamed, turning half around again to see several dark robed skeletal forms appear in swirling sickly green motes, one of them still pointing a bony finger at the former Paladin, who blew away in a sudden gust of wind from the nearby sea.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"The Map! Give usss....the map!" One of the other bony skeletal mages spoke, pointing a finger at Samira. Another thin green beam of light shot out, but seemed to be reflected off the silken fabric of the shameless robes the sorceress wore.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Get inside!" The red haired priest yelled, finally coming a bit out of his daze. He drug the both of them inside...where Paladins were suddenly drawing their blades. The courtyard was filled with the brilliant sunshine like glow of holy swords.... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">That...paladin... So...young...and...shining... Gone. ...disintegrating before her very eyes... Gods! Gods...

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> If it hadn't been for Rosche...if these robes hadn't protected her, she too... She too... Samira shook her head to clear the horror from her mind, suddenly grateful for the priest's fast action. Later... There would be time...later...to mourn such things. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Oh sweet Mystra... Keep Sergei... safe.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "UNDEAD!" She cried to the swords surrounding them. "BEHIND US. AND IN THE CITY! PROTECT THIS MAN! PROTECT...THE CITY!"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Samira saw a half dozen young paladin's...new recruits to the order, joined after the heroic battle of Lyrabar a year ago when the paladin's had rallied to defend the city, rush towards the undead, who now swirled into the courtyard. It looked like...it pained them to be here...even after the sunset.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The young priests with the too-blue eyes continued to move with Samira...carrying them both inside the temple where other paladin's were donning armor. One of them...a a towering young man with flowing blonde hair was rushing out of the back, followed by a lovely young woman.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "Lord Magnus!" The assembled paladin's bowed. One of them cried out to his leader "This young woman came to us with a warning...powerful...undead are attacking the city seeking this young priests life. They are at our very door! What are your orders!"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;"> Lord Magnus stood there, staring in disbelief. // Liches in our beloved city! // His hands began to tremble with rage, “By Lathander’s grace, I’ll have none of this! Assemble EVERYONE! Send runners, I want Paladins, Clerics, Priests, Mages! This affront shall not stand, even if it means my last day on earth!”

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #984806; font-family: arial,sans-serif;"> Magnus looked to his lovely bride who brought him his mighty war horse. He kissed her and said, “My love, if it be in my power or Lathander’s will, I shall return to you. Go now and gather the children to safety.”

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;"> Magnus leaped into the saddle of his war steed as his drawn sword began to glow with a holy light. “Come now, my brothers, we have work to do!” As Magnus rode off, he thought, // now we fight on my terms. The ground on which you choose to stand and fight us shall be consecrated by Lathander himself, and I shall make you rue the day you chose to cross swords with Magnus Dayus, chosen of Lathander! //

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Samira sagged suddenly against a nearby statute as relief flooded through her, radiating into the wedding band on her left hand... "Phew! That was CLOSE!" Her hair started to recover some of its usual pink... She looked over at the handsome priest beside her and sighed, "...I've got to tell ya, Mister. You sure know how to make an entrance. I'm Samira by the way. You're...? ah.... A friend of Yuki and Wren's, right?" She shook her head and glanced back at the war raging outside the gates, torn. "...what have they gotten themselves into... Eesh!" Her eyes watched the paladins advance on the undead... She wanted to be out there... She thought of Argent...and Shandra, praying to the gods they were safe.... And of Sergei... How she needed to be by his side, fighting this together. If he should... If anything should happen... She willed herself to stop thinking of it... Sergei...was Sergei... Her friends...were...strong. Something like this...they would be alright. They would be ok...

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Axton stood a little straighter but clearly his wounds still troubled him... And Samira turned her attention back to him... Just how close to death was this guy when he stumbled his way into their Magic Shop!? Somehow, now that they were safer than anyone else in the city, she still couldn't leave him alone... Not if he was looking for Rosche. She wouldn't be calm til she delivered him and this "map" into her teacher's hands.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "Come on... We need to get you inside and find you a cleric. You're in pain, right? The protections should be greatest further in too... That should give us a minute to breathe. And then...maybe you can tell me all about this 'map' and why you were looking for my master... Then we need to let them know what we're up against... The heroes of this city."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Axton...senior...priest of Sune..." The handsome priest took her hand, shaking it, then clutched his side. "Ugh...dammit...yeah. I've already used most of my...prayers for the day...." He leaned on her heavily now, his adrenaline finally running out. She really was...breathtaking...this pink haired sorceress. He'd seen her before, conferring with Alain in the privacy of his quarters and he'd politely not pried into the elder priests business. Was she...his lover? He couldn't blame the man if she was...any man's head would be turned by this woman. He'd have to tease the man about it later for sure.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> They continued into the Temple of Lathander, now nearly empty from the rush of paladin's who had went outside to face the undead. There was one...young woman left along with some of the temple's staff. Normal folk who tended to the cleaning and preparing of food. The young woman stepped forward. "My name is...Paladin Lynneth...are you...alright priest?" She came over the the two of them...Samira remembered the girl from the wedding on the boat...and the final battle last year. She'd married...Magnus...hadn't she?

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "Ah! You're...Lynneth!? Lord...er...Magnus' Lynneth, right?" Samira smiled warmly, and the pink of her hair deepened, "I'm so glad it's you! I'm Samira, one of the four sorceresses who fought with Lord Magnus against The Hammer! Pleased to meet you! C...Can you do anything to ease 'his'..." She nodded to Axton, "...pain? There are...liches and demi-liches in the city as well as a small army of wraiths and specters." She shuddered, "...I can't say I understand what's happening or why but I think Priest Axton might be able to help with that. They seem to be following...him."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Certainly...I'm a full paladin of Lathander now....let me see..." The lovely young woman leaned forwards to place her hands on Axton, and they began to glow with holy...warm light. Like sunshine rising up over a hill. The lines of pain creasing the red haired priests face eased and he sighed with relief as the healing took hold.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "Much better....thank you Lady Lynneth, and Lady Samira. Truly has Sune blessed me today, sending two such beautiful young ladies to aid me in my hour of need." He turned on the full force of his charming smile on the two women, causing their hearts to flutter. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Samira smiled, relieved that the young priest felt well enough to flirt. "Now...what the heck is going on. You said you needed to see my Master? Master Rosche?"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "Ah...yes...do you know where I could find him. I...have something I need to see him about...and...apparently somebody doesn't want me to see him..." Axton didn't want to exactly lie to the young women...but he didn't know what he should say. If he told them about the map...the Paladin's would likely take it from him and he'd fail in his mission. And….with all the death....his coming had brought...he wasn't sure if he wanted to bring Yuki into this. There would be hell to pay for leading the undead here...and he'd rather...bear the consequences himself...

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">How curious! Samira looked over at the handsome priest, finding his lack of forthcomingness surprising given the unholy hell they'd brought to Lythander's door. She was sure he had his reasons though and most of them were probably clerical. Priests! Samira didn't profess to know anything about the politics between the Temples and their gods but didn't they seem a little...complicated? Anyway!

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "Right! So. We need Rosche!" The sorceress smiled back and forth between Lynneth and Axton. "And the best way I know how to do that is through...Argent and...well...The House of Wonders! Which...is on the other side of the city and probably destroyed already!" She grimaced, "BUT!" She stood up and dusted off her scandalous sorceresses robes, readjusting them slightly, "...Argent knows where we are. And I'm pretty darn sure Rosche has a sense of what's happening in the city. So... We wait!" She smiled at Lynneth, "And keep "this guy" safe til we can figure things out." She turned to smile at the Priest of Sune, "Is that alright with you, Priest Axton?"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Err....I guess...I hate just...waiting around.." Axton said a little nervously. He didn't know half of the people this young sorceress was talking about. He certainly wondered now about this Rosche they were talking about...why was it that he only seemed to show himself to young, attractive women? That certainly didn't sound good at all, he wasn't sure if he should ever let Yuki near him. He sounded like a pervert. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "Are you sure...your...master...well...is...reliable?" Axton asked Samira.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Yup!" Samira's face softened as she looked back the way they'd came. She could hear the sounds of fighting in the courtyard, echoing through the temple, "...Yup! ...While it is 'true'...he isn't the least bit reliable when it comes to...well...LOTS of things...there's no one else I'd trust more...with saving the world..." She grinned at the priest, "He's had lots of practice!"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "Anyway..." The pink haired sorceress sighed, "like you I'm not all that great at waiting on others to do all the fighting. It would be good to help...turn the tide a bit. And I, too, have someone I'd like to protect..."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "But! You don't have your spells, right? Used all up or however it works for...er...priests. And you getting to Rosche or Rosche getting to you...seems to be the most important thing here. So...uhm. Let's see... Let me think if I have a way to contact him somehow... I didn't leave with a whole lot on me, y'know."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Lady Lionspaw loosed another golden fletched arrow at what seemed like an impossibly distant target. One could almost hear it...cut through the air as the assembled crowd on noble elves held their breath and with a resounding thunk, the arrow buried itself in the center of the target. The crowd burst into applause and the young ranger who had won the archery contest this year smiled, bowing his head in defeat. The winner of the years archery contest always got a bonus match with Hirotsu, as a reward for their fine marksmanship. It was always a humbling experience, for Lady Lionspaw still...was the best shot in the city. Except for perhaps her husband, who was off scouting the nearby Rawlinswood, ever watchful of the return of the Rotting man and his foul ilk.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "You have shot well...noble ranger...you have your Queen's...favor." Hirotsu smiled, presenting the blushing young elf with a exquisitely crafted bow. She remembered several years ago when she'd given a similar bow to her son, when he'd won the contest last year. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "T...thank you mi'lady..." The ranger stammered, taking the bow from her hands. This one did remind her a little of Erevin...she wondered how the boy was doing in the southern lands. He'd heard...precious little from her daughter, his older sister. In fact, her letters had been rather...vague. Children will be children...they were probably up to no good.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> There was a loud pop in the air and a swirl of blue motes as Attalicus, High Mage of the White Tower of Myth Coramanth appeared, surprising the assembled elves. Hirotsu's hand relaxed on her moonblade once she saw who it is. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "I told you NOT to do that...'Tal..." But the paladin smiled, it had been a while since the reclusive mage had come out of his tower.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "Forgive me mi'lady...but...I just got a message from the sending stone. One of the mages in the elven embassy in Lyrabar sent me a message that the city was under attack by powerful undead. And....Anna went out to fight with the cities defenders. It appears to be the work...of Szass Tam… and Thay."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Hirotsu shivered...every elf knew the tales of the terrible Thayan necromancer. What had...her daughter gotten herself into. And would Myth Coramanth be next? The lich lord certainly held no love for elves. Her beloved city could be next...but...her daughter. She felt the tear of divided loyalties, to her city, and her family. Was...Erevin there too?

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Attalicus continued "My...scrying...is being interfered with...but I can definitely tell...there are some powerful evil....forces in that city. Powerful enough to block my scrying...I fear your daughter may be in...over her head..."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #76923c; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Horitsu’s head snapped in the direction of her general, "Eltru, take the guard to High Alert, you and Attalicus are staying here to see to the defenses of our home. I'm going to Lyrabar." Eltru nodded in her direction, having spent years in each other’s company, he knew the look in her eyes, and it was better to just do as she said. She began to move with purpose toward the palace, “Send a runner to the armory have my armor readied. I'll be there shortly. Sound the horns and recall Keryth. He'll need to be here if there is an attack. It would be just like Tam to lure me away and then attack my stronghold. Attalicus…" she turned and regarded the mage..." prepare a gate to Lyrabar I'll be taking a small group of the Lionguard with me. It’s about time that they saw the face of the enemy."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #76923c; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Runners and squires began running about on their missions, the people of Myth Coramanth moved with purpose to their duties. Horitsu made her way to her palace and went to her speaking stone... with a touch of her hand and the command word the stone lifted into the air and began to glow. "Raven... come to the palace at once. I have need of your scrying skills and news of your daughters... they may be in danger." She let go of the stone and it slowly returned to its resting place and the light from it faded. The large door behind her opened, and a flurry of squires carrying her armor entered the room... "M'lady... your armor as you requested" Horitsu turned and watched them approach. She scooped the gauntlet from a young female knight. She slipped her hand into the golden gauntlet, rolling her hand and wrist over in the glove, admiring its beauty and strength before clenching her hand into a fist.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A young elven girl walked into the alchemy room, carrying fresh herbs and supplies. There were two work tables in the room with various vials, candles, and tools on them. One wall was lined with shelves of strange vials, powders, jars, and books. In the corner of the room, a large spider’s web clung with several little spiders scurrying about on it. An old book, written in elven, lay open beside Raven, who was carefully dripping a thick black liquid into a large vial of a yellowish liquid suspended over a candle’s flame. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> “Thank you, Heron,” Raven acknowledged the girl’s presence without looking up from her work as the young witch worked to hang the herbs on the drying rack above her head. Heron simply bowed and continued to work, not wanting to interrupt her alchemy.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> A stone glowed from the center of the room, and Raven glanced toward it from the corner of her eye as she worked. She heard Lady Lionspaw’s voice enter the room, <span style="color: #76923c; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Raven... come to the palace at once. I have need of your scrying skills and news of your daughters... they may be in danger." <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It had been quite some time since Raven had paid a personal visit to the palace. Raven calmly blew out the candle.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> “Go and get Sister Ibis. Tell her I need her immediately,” Raven looked over at the young elven girl who dropped the herbs she was working with on to the table. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;"> “Yes, Mother Dreamspinner, at once!” she hurried out of the room as Raven closed the book and sealed the vials she was working with. Raven walked calmly to her room where she collected a few things into a bag and put on a hooded, black feathered cloak.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> An elder elven woman came in to her room, “Raven? Is everything alright? Heron looked a little pale and said it was urgent.” <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> “Ibis,” Raven smiled at her dear friend, “Forgive me, but I have to leave the coven immediately. Lady Lionspaw needs me personally, and our daughters may be in danger. I need you to look after things here. I don’t know how long I will be gone.” <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Ibis looked worriedly at Raven. What had Loch and the girls gotten themselves into? “Of course, consider it done.” She nodded to her.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Raven transformed into a large black raven and flew out of the tree that they called home and headed directly for the city and the palace. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> She flew in through the window and transformed in the air, her wings opening wide to fade into outstretched arms as her feet touched the floor beside Horitsu. The black-feathered hood of her cloak spilled back to her shoulders, revealing her long, white dreadlocks and violet eyes. A small green and purple bird with soft fluffy down on its head flitted quickly all around her.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Raven bowed before Horitsu, dressed in her armor for battle, “Lady Lionspaw… my dear friend… my skills are at your command, as always. What news have you heard?” <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> “Tam has sent his undead filth into Lyrabar. We leave now. Our children may be there,” Horitsu filled her in on what little information they had as they walked to join the small group of Eltru’s guards and Horitsu’s paladins that was gathering quickly to go with them. Solaris, a cleric, also volunteered to join them, and Attalicus sent one of his promising students, a sorceress named Aspen.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> “If it is as dire as it sounds, My Queen, we may need a few **<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">very **<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> pretty gems as ingredients for some of my best work,” Raven walked beside her. Horitsu sent a runner to bring back a bag that he quickly handed to Raven just before they walked through the magic gate to arrive in the elven embassy in Lyrabar. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">4-5-13 Special Session! The Battle in Lyrabar ** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> They were met by Annaisaru’s personal advisor, who quickly filled them in on all that he knew. There are liches, wraiths, specters, and demi-liches in the city. Anna and a group of elves have already left the embassy to defend the city. He’s heard that the undead are marching on the temple of Lathander. Horitsu gave the command to lock down the embassy behind us, and the group of elves from Myth Coramanth headed through the city.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> On our way through the streets of the city, we find a scattered pile of dead elven bodies… among them is Annaisaru. Raven investigates to find that all of their souls have been removed and fills in her queen with bad news. Raven laid a soft hand on Horitsu, “Have her body taken to the embassy, My Lady, and I will do my best to bring her back to us in the morning.” Horitsu has them all gathered to be returned to the embassy for safe keeping.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Coming up the streets, the elves come in behind the parade of liches, wraiths, specters, a vampire, and two floating gemmed skulls – demi-liches. They march toward the temple of Lathander where Magnus and a large group of young recruited paladins and a few of real experience have gathered outside the front entrance to defend their temple and the city.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Trey Castle, a sorcerer, arrives at the temple to announce that help is coming, but he is here to help with the main force. He takes to the roof of the temple, joined by Samira and Axton. Everyone is throwing spells of defense to prepare against the plague of undeath before them.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Samira throws out a massive ball of ice into the undead, weakening their front force. The demi-lich leading them in begins rising up toward the roof, Samira, and Axton.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Magnus sends Magarite with a group of paladins up into the temple after the demi-lich, and commands the others into position, spreading out.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> The rear demi-lich notices the group of elves coming in from behind them, and he turns around along with some of the liches and heads back toward the elves.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Horitsu and a group of paladins and leaf blades move up toward the advancing liches to take them head on, but a large earth elemental and two small earth elementals form up between them blocking their path. All of the holy spells they had prepped meant nothing vs the elementals. A fire and wind elemental also spring up moving toward the ranks Magnus and his paladins outside of the temple.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> The front demi-lich starts rising in the air toward the roof of the temple, and it wails like a banshee. Samira, Trey, and Axton avoid it’s fearsome attack, but one of the paladins with them turns white and dies. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;"> Walls of fire form up at each end of the road, protecting the liches in the center.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> The rear demi-lich tries to forcibly suck out Horitsu’s soul, but she is able to resist. Drawing her moonblade, she points it at him challengingly and she and her paladins charge up into the earth elementals blocking their path. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Raven and Aspen throw lightning bolts into the largest earth elemental, hitting him hard.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Trey and Samira send shatter after shatter into the demi-lich on the temple’s roof, causing him to fracture. Magarite and the paladins arrive to the roof to help them.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Magnus and his paladins move up to challenge the undead who’ve made it to their sacred ground. Wraiths, weakened by Samira’s ice begin to fall to the paladins. Magnus takes on one of the skeletal death knights. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The back demi-lich moves past Horitsu and the paladins on the earth elementals and advances toward Raven and the smaller group of elves.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The two divided groups of liches send out waves of magic missiles at Horitsu and Magnus, horrible damage to both!

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Horitsu and her guard are fighting a large crowd of undead wraiths, specters, and the earth elementals… <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Raven steps forward and throws out a chain of lightning that lights through the whole crowd and drops several. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">The rear demi-lich angrily wails like a banshee, causing more elves around him to turn white and drop.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The entire line of paladins is surrounded in undead at the front of the temple as they battle bravely against them. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">The demi lich on the roof screams and glass windows shatter and glass shards and debris swirl through the air, cutting into Samira and the paladins. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The death knight charges his sword with an unholy light and strikes a massive wound into Magnus, but Magnus smites the death knight and brings him down. His paladins around him continue to battle, dropping more of the undead weakened by Samira’s ice. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">A group of liches send out chain lightning into Horitsu, Raven, and the elves. Solaris, the cleric with them, sends out a warming wave of healing.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The air elemental moves in to engage Magnus and the fire elemental lights up the paladins. The brutal storm wages on over the rooftop. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Samira sends out another shatter at the demi-lich, fracturing him to near death. Magarite and the small group of paladins finish him off. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Magnus slashes into the air elemental and the paladins heal each other and continue to battle, taking down more wraiths.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">One of the liches uses a dimensional door to take himself to the roof after the map in the fallen demi-lich’s place. He sends out a bolt of lightning in a line through the group, dropping a couple of the paladins and Axton. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Shields of fire form around the liches in the center. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Raven dispels the rear wall of fire.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Samira sends down a freezing sphere, taking out a giant and causing massive damage to the fire elemental. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Magnus smashes in to the air elemental and the paladins continue to take the lessening crowd of undead. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Magarite sends out a wave of heals on the roof top, bringing Axton awake. The liches send out 3 waves of greater dispel, removing the buffs of Magnus and Horitsu, but Raven counterspells and keeps her own. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Alain - the high priest of Sune, Nevrel – the high priest of Tyr, and The Shard – high priestess of Selune arrive. They are bigger by 50% and have angel wings… they arrive as a group, moving in to lend their aid. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Horitsu sends her guards onto the last small earth elemental and turns on unicorn toward the liches in the center, raising her arm and calling for Raven. Raven transforms into a raven and flies out to meet her, landing easily on her arm. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Samira takes Axton and the paladins from the roof, teleporting them out of the storm of shards and debris to the ground behind Horitsu for protection, leaving Trey Castle to battle the lich.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Magnus continues his battle against the air elemental and the paladins dwindle down the wraiths and specters. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">One of the liches sends a massive fire ball, smiting one of the few remaining leaf-blade elves, Axton and one of the remaining paladins that went with Magarite.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Liches pour flames over the winged priests who continue to advance toward them. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Raven drops bird form to ride behind Horitsu and restores the protective death ward over her. Horitsu calms her unicorn and puts up her own protective spell preparing to charge the liches.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Samira launches a powerful fireball in to the center of the liches, Boom! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Solaris and Magarite send out powerful waves of healing, bringing Axton back up strong and keeping Samira standing.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The liches send out fireballs into Horitsu and Raven and Samira’s group. Another elf falls. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Horitsu charges in on her unicorn with Raven, and Raven sends out a massive wave of healing, burning the liches and healing those around her. The liches turn to glare their attention on her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Samira and Aspen throw fireballs into the liches… Boom! The liches are thoroughly pissed.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The paladins form in to take the last of the remaining undead and bring down the air elemental as Magnus charges to the center to battle the liches. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> The angry liches turn on Raven and throw rays of fire at her… washing her off of the back of the unicorn to land on the ground, unconscious. Others turn and throw the same rays at Horitsu, who is burned badly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> The vampire in the center of the liches throws out a wave of negative energy, healing the liches. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wraiths and undead fall to the celestial priests. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Samira launches yet another powerful fireball in to the liches! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The paladins manage to bring down the fire elemental and the last of the wraiths, leaving a small group to take on the last death knight as the others rush in to join Magnus.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Horitsu smites of the liches, fighting through the pain of its fiery shield. The remaining elven paladins and guard join her, along with the celestial priests, converging on the liches. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">One of the elven paladins stops to bring Raven back to her feet with a grateful thanks. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The liches fight back with burning hands, dropping more elves.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">One of the liches ports near Samira’s group, sending out a wave of cold! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Samira throws up a wall of ice to protect them, only to have Sergei step out of the shadows on the other side of the wall to backstab the lich.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Magnus and his paladins smite down the undead on their way to the liches, with the smaller group taking down the death knight, and moving to join them. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Solaris heals Samira and her group, and the lich on Sergei lights him up with magic missiles.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Center liches start to drop to the elven paladins. Horitsu throws out a wave of positive energy, burning the liches. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Raven hexes the vampire with agony, doubling him over in pain and unable to heal.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Samira dispels the wall of ice, letting Magarite team up with Sergei on the lich. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Magnus and his paladins join the fray in the middle, cutting into the liches with their holy weapons. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The winged priests exude bright, positive light over the liches.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">One of the liches sends rays of fire on Horitsu, leaving her barely standing. Another showers fire over Magnus. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Waves of fire and pain wash over our group between waves of warm heals, keeping us standing long enough to bring them down. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Exhausted, but victorious… we work tirelessly to heal our comrades and break the gems in the demi-liches, releasing the captured souls.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We greet and clasp one another. Horitsu invites Magnus to build a temple of Lathander in Myth Coramanth. He accepts and agrees after he fixes things here that it will be a priority. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Everyone looks at Axton and Samira… what happened? He admits to bringing the map here, and says that it was all his idea… and it comes up that the children of Horitsu and Raven have gone to Thay. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Axton - “You’re his mother? But… he goes by the last name of Moonsong.” <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Horitsu - “Does he? I thought he had given that up…” <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Axton - “They should all be returning to Lyrabar soon.” <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Raven - “Perfect. I’ll deal with my daughters personally.”

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Horitsu casts a beam of light into the sky letting the people know that the battle had ended here. She goes to the elven embassy to attend her daughter, Annaisaru. Raven and the elves go with her.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The map will go to the temple of Lathander, and a council will be called to decide its fate.