Session+71

**5-2-14**
 * Fight the Witches, Rescue Parula, and Return to Lyrabar**

Wren was the first to step out of the passageway of overgrown rose vines into the valley. Jerrandis quickly followed her in with the others filing in behind them. A wispy fog curled around, filling the passageways before them. Erevin searched close to the ground for tracks, and shook his head, "By the looks of it, no one has passed through here in a while." "Perhaps they've covered their tracks with magic... like druids," Jerrandis glanced almost with accusation toward Maliumpkin. Wren raised an eyebrow, "You know there are //good druids// too, right?" The witch hunter nodded, "Of course! There are good rangers... good warriors... good barbarians, well... eh... and even rogues can be good sometimes, I suppose." Wren nodded, "Just as there can be evil witch hunters." "Well," Jerrandis nodded, "Anyone can go bad. Even a paladin could fall from the ranks... it's rare, but it happens."

"Just like there are evil witches," Thorn nodded, joining in behind them. Wren nodded to the halfling, "And we're going to hunt some of them today." Thorn tapped his fingers together thoughtfully, "Just what //is// the plan if we meet... //resistance// of a witchy kind?" Wren looked back at him curiously. Erevin nodded to her, "Are you going to freak out if we start taking heads?" "Against //these// witches?" Wren shook her head, "No. Not at all. I gave them more than a fair warning when our paths crossed before. They can all burn." Thorn and Erevin nodded, satisfied with her answer.

Jerrandis slipped a bolt of cold iron into his crossbow and nodded, "We're going to kill some witches!" "Yes we are," Wren nodded to him with confidence and then added a little under her breath, "All but 2." Thorn laughed. Jerrandis looked at her confused for a moment, "Did they capture more than one of your friends?" Wren shook her head. Thorn nodded to him, "It only takes one to send a message." "Oh!" Jerrandis nodded to him, "We'll leave a witch alive to send a message. Gotcha." Wren smiled warmly at her rogue companion, nodding, "Thanks, Thorn!" "I got your back," he nodded to her from behind Erevin.

Wren walked through the thick fog, feeling disoriented, and followed the curves of the paths with the others following her. Sensing her tension, Jerrandis put an arm around her, nodding, "It's alright. We've got this." Kale chuckled with amusement walking in the back of the group, watching for anything that might try to sneak up on them. "Not alone we don't..." she shook her head in reply to the witch hunter, "No running out on your own against the lightning casting mages this time, alright?" Wren glanced over at him to be sure he was paying attention this time, and noticed multiple pairs of eyes opening up in the darkness of a thicket. Multiple roars came from the hydra heads suddenly charging closer as both Jerrandis and Wren tried to push each other out of the way. One of the heads managed to catch Wren in the side with a mild grazing of it's sharp teeth as it tried to bite her.

Wren shouted back over her shoulder, "Hydra! Fire is effective. Heads regrow!" and wove a witchy hex over the unsuspecting witch hunter, warding him from danger. Erevin leapt in with his moonblade, burying it deep into the body of the hydra! Mali wove barkskin over herself and Melleron made his way through the winding rose hedge path, his heavy paws thundering along the ground. Posy charged through, slashing into the body of the hydra with her greataxe! Splashes of acid came off of her strike. Thorn tumbled underneath the multi-headed hydra, spilling out behind it and slashing into it's back with a vital strike! Jerrandis barely had his crossbow cocked as he watched wide-eyed in shock at the immense amount of damage descending upon the hydra in mere seconds, "They're animals!" He shot a couple of arrows deep into the hide of the hydra. He looked back at Wren, a little apologetically, "I'm sorry... I'm trained to kill witches... not so much for hydras." She grinned at him, and shook her head, "You're doing great. Stay by me."

Mali could still see down the path as an elven witch stepped out of the mist along with an armored elven man. The elven witch was scantily clad and a webbing tattoo ran along the length of her exposed arm, from her shoulder to her wrist, ending with a spider tattoo covering the entire back of her hand. A spider was prominently displayed on the armor of the man beside her and he bore a spider tattoo on his face... the body of the spider was inked around his left eye with legs that ran down the length of his cheek. A furry brown spider familiar skittered on the ground next to the witch's feet.

One of the hydra heads bit Thorn while several others tried to bite Posy, but the barbarian avoided them with ease. Wren released a bolt of lightning through her wand, blowing it apart as electricity crackled through it's body. A ball of fire came from down the path from the newly arriving witch, smashing into Maliumpkin and Melleron with a burst of flames! Shri barely managed to skirt the edge of the fire, that still scorched her skin. Erevin whirled around at the sound of the fire and impending danger of the priestess. He stepped out to see the approaching witch and warrior, and called out to them, "Surrender to us the one called Parula and you will save yourselves many problems." The witch and warrior ignored him. Mali called into the thicket, warning the others of the arrivals, and began summoning a stone giant while Melleron returned to her side. Hearing the call, Posy muscled her way back onto the path of the hedge maze, throwing her axe at the witch! The warrior stepped forward, knocking the axe away with his shield before it could reach the elven Spinder witch beside him. The axe returned to the gnome's hands. Thorn cut the hydra up into manageable chunks and usable parts.

Wren stepped out onto the path, turning to recognize the approaching witch, "Tahnah... you didn't heed my warning when last I gave it." "Is that you, Wren?" Tahnah asked. "You expected someone else?" Wren raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Well," Tahnah shrugged, "I expected you a lot sooner... I mean poor little Parula called out your name so often... weeks ago... we tired of her //then//. If you're here to rescue her, you may as well run along home back to your mother." "Is that the game we're going to play?" Wren's eyes narrowed, and her voice grew darker, "Well then... if she's dead, then I have no reason to keep you alive to tell me where she's at." She released the swift cold bolt of lightning from Cirdan, following it up with a bolt of electricity from her hands! A shimmer of magic managed to deflect some of Wren's spells, but Tahnah rocked back, smoking and badly hurt! The elven witch spat out, "Bitch!" as she wiped her face, retreating quickly with her warrior back into the mist.

Erevin thought of following after her, but shook his head, changing his mind, "To chase her here is folly... She is likely trying to draw us in... let's double back the other way." A massive stone giant appeared at Mali's summoning and she and Thorn rode it's shoulders back around the curve, leading everyone along the path the other way. The mist filled maze was twisting and turning and disorienting. Wren attempted to dispell the guards and wards from the area, but the spellcaster's magic was more potent than her own and she found it too difficult. Thorn pointed ahead, at the path that looked strange, "Stop. Stop! Stop, you big oaf!" He stomped a foot on the shoulder of the stone giant he was standing on. Mali raised a calm hand, "Stop. Do you not understand my companion?" The giant halted it's movement, "I understand fine. I just don't have to obey //him//... he looks like a punk bitch." The druidess laughed and nodded, and Thorn looked confused, muttering, "How does he know me?"

The halfling rogue clambered down the still giant to find a pit in the road covered with vines and lattice work. Everyone slowly moved along the ledge around the pit. The ground gave way beneath Wren's feet, but before she could fall, both Kale and Jerrandis threw their arms up to hold her back... both of them giving the other a cold stare. Wren stepped back with a hand to her cheek from having her face pressed into the thorny roses, "Ow! ...thank you." She glanced from one to the other, noticing their stare before each smiled at her. The stone giant vanished, it's time on our plane expired.

Ahead the hedge opened up to a clearing with rose bushes surrounding it. A large tree with a couple of huts stood in the clearing. Erevin looked from the clearing back to Shri, "I've come to the conclusion that witches think that they're squirrels." "Lying squirrels," Thorn chimed in, nodding. "Sometimes people need lies," Wren shrugged. "Says the liar!" the halfling accused her. She laughed and shook her head as he vanished from sight, the mist moving around him.

The elven witch stepped into the clearing, with Kale following her. A heavy weight fell on her and a deep spectral voice filled her head, "Turn around. Go back." Thoughts weighed on her... Parula was dead... why not turn back? Wren shook her head, and turned around, coming to face the elven warrior walking behind her. Kale looked at her face, his brow creasing as he laid a concerned hand on her shoulder, "What's wrong?" Wren shrugged and shook her head, "If Parula is dead... then why are we here to fight?" He raised a skeptical eyebrow, "Surely you can't trust the words of that Tahnah bitch..." She nodded to him, re-encouraged, and shaking the weight of the voice from her head, "You're right! ...what was I thinking?" She stepped back into the clearing, ignoring the deep voice. It insisted she retreat again, "I said Go Back!" Thorn looked on from the passageway both irritated and curious at Wren's back and forth conversation with Kale, "Are we staying? Are we going?" Wren stood firm in the clearing, "I received my personal invitation to come to your coven. I suggest that you come out and state the name of your game. And you'd better hope... or pray to whichever gods that you pray to... that Parula //is// still alive... You will //all// burn if she isn't!"

Four witches appeared in the clearing, three elven women and one gnome... all of them marked with spider tattoos. Two armored warriors were with them. One of the elven witches wore a cloak with the hood drawn over her head to hide her face in darkness... her arms were horribly scarred with burns, and she held a hand over the throat of a badly beaten, blind-folded, and gagged Parula. "Wren..." an old woman's voice came from within the deep hood of the cloak, "Where is your sister, Crowe? It is //her// that //I// wanted to speak to." "You must be Julani..." Wren nodded, "She didn't think you were worthy of her time." "I see..." the hooded witch nodded with disappointment. "So you get the youngest sister," Wren held her arms invitationally.

"You shall be my next bait then," Julani nodded, "Why don't you and your... heroic companions... mmm, some of them quite handsome..." her eyes roamed over the men of the group as the other spinders nodded with agreement, staring at the handsome men of our company, "put down your weapons... I would hate for something to happen to your dear Parula." Her hand tightened around the gagging elven woman's throat. "Lay down my weapons?" Wren raised an eyebrow and held up her hands with a smirk, "Sure... sure... I'll lay down my //weapons//." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "And bring forth this Inali that I've heard so much about," Julani nodded. Furry spider familiars skittered at each of the witches' feet in the clearing. Wren smirked and shook her head, "You aren't worthy of viewing my familiar." Long spindly fingers grasped Parula's throat tighter as Julani's long fingernails drew a thin line of blood from below Parula's jawline. "Is a familiar a point of weakness?" Erevin whispered from behind Wren. "If a witch loses her familiar... they can't get their spells back. It's how we commune with the unknown that gives us our power," she whispered and nodded back to Erevin. "Is that so?" he whispered behind her, intrigued. Wren nodded to him, "Though we can get another..." "That's why you never see me... she never lets me out!" a muffled voice came from Wren's shoulders. A couple of the scantily clad whorish witches were looking over Erevin, Kale, and Jerrandis... Thorn watched them, remaining invisible. "I think we're going to have to go in, hell blazing. I don't have a good option of getting to Parula //and// getting her out before we attack," Wren muttered to her companions quietly. "That's your plan?" Erevin asked with a raised eyebrow. "Unless Thorn is sneaking in to get behind them..." Wren wondered. The rogue halfling tugged gently on her gauzy grey cloak, whispering, "I'm right here, Wren. I'm not going in there all by myself." She laughed softly and nodded, "I don't blame you." "Nice ass by the way," he admired her, standing behind her. Wren laughed again, "Aww thanks, you're the sweetest." She felt his little hand give her cheek a squeeze. "I can still feel you, you know... just because I can't see you, doesn't mean that I can't feel you," Wren shook her head.

"My pet here would love to play with her," Julani continued, grinning evilly. Tension was tight in the air. Wren's eyes narrowed, "Enough talk... let's dance." She wove a chain lightning spell. "But there's no fire..." Thorn mentioned. "And we've had no tea," Erevin chimed in agreeably. "Give me a moment and there will be a fire..." Wren nodded, releasing her spell. "Look out, Julani... she's casting chain lightning!" One of the other witches called out. But the Spinder leader was quick to notice, and cast her own version of chain lightning... flashes of multiple arcs of blue clashed in the air, cancelling each other out.

Wren put a hexed ward of protection over Thorn who was still standing directly behind her. As though hearing a request for fire... Tahnah came out of the mist around the corner and wove a fire storm spell that fell over the entire group! Fire rained from the sky and the ground was roaring with burning flames! The roses, however, remained unharmed. Wren caught on fire, scorched from the storm, but her protections kept her alive. The others scattered, leaping from the edges of fire! "Kill that bitch!" Tahnah pointed ahead of her and her strong warrior charged forward, plunging his blade into Wren's chest. The raven-haired elven witch inhaled sharply, gasping for air, and reeled from the strike as blood splashed down the front of her. Erevin charged forward with his moonblade, slashing across Tahnah! Posy, disorientated from the fire, the screams, and the ward of the maze, moved forward to break out of the fire and into the clearing... where several witches were waiting for anyone to come out of the fire. Posy hefted her axe through the air into the warrior who was closest to her! He grunted in pain, but all of the waiting witches sent out multiple hexes over the gnome barbarian at once! Misfortune and Retribution fell over her, but she managed to overcome the gnome witch with the wax figure by her force of will and the luck of her druidess companion. The chieftain refused to become anyone's puppet.

One of the warriors moved away from the witch he was protecting and charged up to meet Posy with his axe! Mali sent Melleron out of the fire storm beside Erevin to sink his teeth into Tahnah, latching on to her waist! Then the halfling druidess moved out of the raging storm, and began summoning. Thorn leapt out of the fire, tumbling invisibly behind the warrior who had moved up to engage Posy, and slashed his dagger into the warrior's back! Shri stayed bravely in the fire, moving up to lay her hands on Wren's back and closed all of the witch's wounds with the power of cool moonlight washing over her!

Wren breathed much easier and nodded great appreciation to the drow, "Thank you, Shri!" She pulled the swift dispell from Cirdan with a wave of her black feathered bow to snuff the raging fire storm as she moved forward away from Tahnah's warrior trying to kill her. He slashed at her back as she moved past. She wove a spell to bring black tentacles up from the ground in a circle of witches. The tentacles wrapped around the gnome witch, her spider familiar, and Parula, but Julani and the warrior managed to leap out to the side, avoiding them.

Jerrandis leapt out of the fire to be struck by the warrior outside... but finally he seen all of the witches! Kale moved forward to slash Tahnah's warrior who had impaled Wren with his sword. One of the spinder witches hexed Posy again with misfortune and another tried to give Thorn the evil eye, but he avoided her stare, his eyes fixed on the back of the warrior in front of him. Julani glared at Wren as she moved out of the tentacles, "Two can play that game, bitch!" She summoned another set of black tentacles at the entrance of the clearing, grabbing Wren, Thorn, and Jerrandis, and squeezing them!

Tahnah stepped through a door of a different dimension to move swiftly to high safety of the coven tree, leaving Erevin to step back and fire arrows into one of the witches in the clearing. Posy gashed her axe into the warrior in front of her, the retribution hex ripping open wounds on her own body! Mali finished her summoning, a large cyclops fading into view to smash his great club into one of the warrior spinder guards. Melleron paced back and forth, boxed in from the writhing black tentacles blocking the opening to the clearing. The halfling druidess wove a mass healing spell, closing the wounds of her companions around her. Tahnah's warrior stepped back from the tentacles and slashed deeply into the red-haired druidess! The other warrior smashed his sword against Posy being met with her massive defense again and again, but only managed to get in one strike that drew blood.

Thorn threw his dagger across the battlefield to the back edge of one of the huts, teleporting to it get himself out of the squeezing black tentacles, still writhing out of the earth. Wren followed the halfling, using a dimensional door to move herself out of sight and harm's way. The elven spinder Erevin put arrows into hexed him with an evil eye, while the other followed her lead with a sleep spell... dropping the elven ranger to the ground, deep in slumber. Shri stepped over next to him, slapping him awake, and offered her hand to pull him back to standing. Kale glanced at the tentacles, panicked a moment to see Wren missing, but calmed when he seen she was well next to Thorn across the battlefield. He turned instead to drive his blade into the warrior cleaving into Mali. Julani waved some sort of wand and closed the opening of the clearing with a rose hedge wall that grew across.

Posy doubled in size, growling in rage, and struck the warrior with her axe, gashing deeply through his armor to spill his blood on the ground around them! Another wound ripped across her own chest from the hex of the witch, but the gnome barbarian simply grunted in pain and didn't slow her swings. Melleron's claws scratched the surface of the witchy warrior's armor, but the lion found a soft spot to get his teeth into the warrior's flesh! Mali wove a spell around herself, closing up some of her wounds. Thorn used his ring to become invisible and stealthed silently around one of the huts, closing in on one of the elven witches. Wren focused her thoughts on becoming lighter, using her flight hex to be ready to fly while Kale continued to help Posy by slashing his sword across the warrior's back.

One of the witches dispelled the black tentacles called up from Wren, making the center of the clearing safe to traverse and dropping Parula's unconscious body to the ground. One of the warriors brought his blade up against the summoned cyclops, trying to push him back. Another of the witches vomited up a swarm of spiders... thousands of black fuzzy spiders skittered together to cover Posy's body, biting her, but unable to penetrate her armor or thick skin. The witch that Thorn was sneaking up on, wove extra defenses around herself.

Erevin shouldered his bow and pulled his moonblade against Tahnah's warrior still remaining. Shri sent out a pulse of cool luminescent energy, healing everyone around her. Posy struck again and again with her axe, ignoring the spiders and the blood dripping from her body, and finally the witch's warrior toppled to the ground! The cyclops lumbered over to heavily smash into one of the witches while Melleron mauled into the warrior that was on him. Mali assessed the grown rose hedge wall in front of them and set it on fire, flames consuming the strange magical roses.

Thorn slipped up behind one of the elven spinder witches completely undetected and eviscerated her with skillful strikes, leaving her just barely standing as she coughed up blood between ragged breaths! Wren wove invisibility around her and flew over one of the huts, heading for her coven sister. Spotting Tahnah up in the tree, she released the last cold bolt from Cirdan into the spinder elf. She turned and bolted, escaping the area. The spinder close to the cyclops bolted the other way, his club just missing her as she ran. She hexed Thorn with misfortune. The witch between the huts, dripping blood from Thorn's attack, wove a spell over the unfortunate halfling to send him back toward Posy. Erevin slashed across the warrior with his moonblade as Kale came up to pierce his own blade through the same warrior's back, together dropping the warrior who had been protecting Tahnah. Shri began weaving a spell, summoning something...

Posy took a brief moment to heal herself, closing up some of the bleeding gashes on her body, and moving forward. The cyclops lumbered forward to smash the escaping witch again with his mighty club, dropping her to the ground in an unconscious heap! Wren landed softly, and pulled Parula into her arms, weaving invisibility around her as well. "Oh no you don't!" The gnome witch yelled nearby when she seen Parula vanish... but she still didn't know where Wren or Parula were. Julani dropped her robes, becoming a large red dragon with a tentacled mask over her face. She glanced at the two invisible witches to her left. Jerrandis ran across the battlefield, launching a crossbow bolt into the barely standing witch Thorn had left behind, dropping her dead body to the ground before she even had time to scream from the magic being ripped out of her from the cold iron.

Erevin pierced his moonblade into the earth before him and pulled one of his dragon bane arrows, notching it into his bow as he named his target. Carefully aiming, he sent the arrow screaming across the clearing to impale the red dragon witch through the forehead in a near fatal strike! Julani staggered back, reeling in pain! The gnome witch turned to see the tentacled mask over the face of Julani, her eyes widened in shock, and she pointed, shouting, "What the fuck is that?!" She backed away, failing once again to control Posy with her wax doll. "//That//... spinder filth, would be a Ghaunadaur mask controlling your leader," Wren's whispered voice answered her.

Posy moved across the clearing and threw her axe to cleave into Julani's body, ripping open her scales. The eye in the tentacled mask opened and started to dim. The cyclops wielded his massive club to smash into a warrior twice as Mali sent out a flaming sphere into the gnome witch! Thorn rounded the battlefield, pulling both of his daggers to attack the gnome barbarian he was sent to kill! He glanced up at his prey as he stealthed with deadly silence to see Posy twice her normal size... in a full fitful rage, ignoring the open gashes and spattered blood on her body, and covered in a swarm of black spiders! The halfling rogue's heart skipped a beat and he took a step back, shaking his head to clear the domination. Wren flew across the clearing, heading back toward Shri, and healed Parula with a strong spell. Her coven sister awoke with a gasp, with Wren shushing her.

The gnome took in everything around her and vanished, opting to vacate the battle and flee. Tahnah fled as well. Julani lunged forward, piercing one of her fangs through Wren's shoulder! The raven haired witch screamed in pain, but kept her hold on Parula. Kale's head whipped back toward her invisible voice to see another arrow fly from Erevin's bow to pierce through the red dragon, dropping her corpse to the ground! Wren landed on the ground, fading back into view, and set Parula safely on the ground.

The witches of the coven of Ashes and Roses were found below... sacrificed in a ritual. Wren and Mali walked around them, the young witch pointing out the various patrons that they were sacrificed to. Wren paused, looking it all over as a whole and shook her head, pointing out the cleverly hidden sacrifice to Ghaunadaur as well. About 5000 gold worth of coin, gems, and artwork of value was rounded up and taken.

Posy moved up to the coven tree, setting it on fire. Jerrandis happily joined in, adding fuel to the flames to burn down the home of the witches. Wren went to her coven sister, "Parula, are you alright?" She laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. The blonde elven witch nodded a little uncertainly, but looked into Wren's face, "I knew you would come for me." "Of course," the raven haired elven woman embraced her tightly, "What of Warren? Did they kill him?" She nodded tearfully, and Wren an arm around her to comfort her, "You'll get a new familiar." Parula looked at her with a broken haunted look in her eyes, "How long has it been? They did horrible things to me..." Wren hugged her tighter, "I'm so sorry... It's been weeks." Weight visibly clung to Wren's shoulders and she held her for a time, but then whispered a sleep spell over her and laid her near Shri to watch over while the others burned the tree and the valley. Wren walked to Julani's corpse, carefully cutting the tattooed skin from her body to bring back to Raven, Crowe, and the others. Though two had escaped, the Spinder leader was no more.

After burning the area and the bodies as well, everyone headed back to the east through the Gray Forest. Jerrandis was pumped from the excitement of killing his first witch as well as the defeat and burning of the coven. Wren laughed softly, leaning against Kale as Erevin congratulated the witch hunter on a job well done. Everyone headed to the east, toward Lyrabar, and Erevin called Destiny to the forest. A day or so later, she appeared overhead, lowering her bridge to meet them. Everyone boarded to see Gareth and Vhoori walking along the deck on patrol while Azarius and Gregori met the group coming up.

Destiny smiled with open arms, "Welcome back, heroes." "Thank you," Erevin nodded to her. "You all look well rested. I trust your journeys have gone well?" the winged woman of black and white asked. "Indeed they have," the elven prince agreed. "Please... tell me," Destiny inquired with interest. "We have learned of an unfortunate incident," Erevin shook his head, carefully finding his words, "There is a breach in the Heavens here... and our foe, Ghaunadaur's forces, are spilling into the Heavens." Destiny nodded, "I sensed a disturbance between the spheres a few days ago." "We believe that the magic that allows this ship to do what it does..." Erevin continued, glancing around the ship, "has thinned the barrier of the world." Destiny nodded again in agreement, "We have spoken of this before. It is true, but it is a slow process." Erevin nodded slowly, "Is it possible for you to await our call in the Astral Sea?" The beautiful winged woman thought for a moment and shook her head, "Once I depart the sphere... I will only be able to return to a great battle." The elven ranger frowned deeply, and thought about all of the upcoming battles the group had yet to face, "Does a great battle have to include more than us and a foe?" He gestured to his companions on deck.

"Yes," Destiny nodded, "It would be a great battle of armies." "What of the battle that goes on in the Heavens now?" he asked hopefully. She shook her head, "It would have to be mortal armies." "So in order to summon you back," Erevin's shoulders sank and he sighed heavily, "I have to kill people... I have to bring some army along with us into battle..." Destiny tilted her head, looking the prince over curiously, "If you need me to travel to the tentacled sphere... and the fate of the world is at stake... I will be able to return at the moment of your need when you are ready." "You can do that?" Erevin asked her seriously. The black and white maiden spirit thought again, "If the powers of the world will allow me, yes." She nodded. "They will allow you," Erevin nodded confidently, "but for now... we need you to leave." Destiny blinked in surprise, "But you're my friends." "More than you know," Erevin agreed. "I don't want to leave," Destiny shook her head. Unable to hold it back any longer, the young witch embraced her tearfully, "I don't want you to leave either..." "When what needs to be done here is done," Erevin nodded to her and smiled, "I will happily go with you elsewhere." Destiny nodded slowly, "But don't you have duties here? Aren't you a prince?" He shook his head, "I am not the eldest. Those duties will fall to another. You and I can sail the seas... until we are bored of such things." "Perhaps for a time," Destiny nodded in agreement, "I cannot ask you to leave your world and life behind." "We would like to go with you for a time as well," Wren nodded to her, her arm around Kale. "Perhaps until you find another crew suitable then," Erevin nodded.

Destiny thought this over for a moment and then nodded, "Alright." "Or until you need a task that you need done and there is nothing I can do to help," Erevin smiled, "Besides... I like my room downstairs." Wren laughed and nodded in agreement, "Me too!" "I don't know what to say... I... thank you," Destiny nodded to them. Erevin shook his head, "You have done more for me and my people than I can put into words." "When I took up the responsibility of this ship... I became what I am. It was a great sacrifice, but I... didn't realize..." Destiny started. Erevin interrupted, surprised, "You were mortal once?" She nodded, continuing, "I was. I did not realize //foolishly// the scope of the sacrifice... I didn't realize how //long//... it would be." "How long have you been doing this?" Erevin asked. Destiny shook her head, "I have been to so many worlds that calculate their years so differently that I can not even fathom a guess... For a time when I was damaged, I had forgotten myself... but //you//," she looked over the group, "have reminded me of that person that I was so long ago... and I'm not sure I want to do this anymore. I don't want to go back to being... or doing this... //forever//."

"How can we fix that?" Erevin and Wren asked at the same time. Destiny shook her head sadly, "I don't think you can." "Are you kidding?" Wren shook her head, refusing to believe that they couldn't undo it, "We have to fight for gods... and worlds... and we travel among them. There has to be a way." "Who did this to you?" Erevin asked her. "I did this to myself... I made that choice," Destiny shook her head. "I understand that you volunteered," Erevin nodded, "But... was it //your// magics that bound you to this?" "It was the ship's magic as far as I know," Destiny answered. "Who were the builders of the ship then?" Erevin asked. "It was so long ago... dwarves? ... I think that sounds right," Destiny tried to think back, hearing the sound of dwarven hammers putting it together, "I'm sure they are long since gone." "Without knowing who built it or what exactly the agreement was that you be bound to it..." Erevin frowned, "Other than the destruction of the ship... I don't know how to free you of it." "As I said..." Destiny shook her head, "It was my choice." "Something we can work on during our time," Erevin nodded to her. "Very well then. I will return when you have most need of me," Destiny nodded and hugged each member of the group, saying her farewell. She took a feather from her wing, handing one to each, "Keep this, it may help you."

"Thank you," Erevin bowed to her. Azarius, Uther, and Ursus left the ship with the group, but Saben, Sir Reston, and Thirteen decided to stay. Gareth, Vhoori, and Gregori surrounded Destiny, "We will keep you company." Everyone gathered their mounts, departing the ship. Wren braided a lock of her own hair, cut it and handed it to Destiny, "Don't forget us..." Tears in her eyes... she smiled back, the last to leave the ship. "I could never forget you," Destiny smiled back. Destiny departed the sphere... and everyone rode back to Lyrabar.

Jerrandis gave a fist bump to Thorn, knowing that the halfling had done most of the work against the witch. Wren thanked the witch hunter, sending him on his way back to the noble district. "Wait... I thought we would go and get dinner or something," he smiled at her, "I'm a witch killer now!" Wren grinned and nodded, "Perhaps another night." The group returned to the elven embassy where they were welcomed by Anaisuru Lionspaw.

It was late summer in the city. It was hot and muggy with a strong scent of sea air. Wren dressed even more scantily than normal and headed with Kale for the House of Wonders. Shandra welcomed them with surprise, "You're back! Normally you're gone for months..." Wren laughed and nodded, "We have several things still to accomplish here in town, and we were able to recover my sister and bring down a coven of witches." "Bad witches," Kale nodded to her. Wren grinned and nodded, "Evil witches." "I heard you took the young Mercer lad with you," Shandra nodded, "Did he survive?" "Indeed," Wren nodded, "Things were close, but we brought him home in one piece." "His family will be pleased," Shandra nodded. "Now that he has some experience, perhaps he'll be even better for it," Wren nodded.

Shandra nodded, "So what can I help you with today? We have a fine stock of new things... and oh! That's a fine corset you're wearing!" Wren beamed, "Thank you! Kale likes it too." The elven warrior beside her nodded. Wren continued on, "And though I have many things to buy... and I will before we leave town, but we were hoping that Argent was able to contact Silvermane... and that perhaps he beat us back here to Lyrabar." Shandra nodded, "Alright. Argent and Silvermane are upstairs in my son's room." Wren and Kale nodded their thanks and went outside to climb the stairs to the apartments upstairs.

Jake, a young sandy haired human answered the door, welcoming the elven couple into his home. His wife, Melanie greeted them as well, sitting beside Argent who was playing with their now barely walking daughter, Bella. Silvermane, smiling with amusement at Argent's antics with the little girl, rose off of the couch, "Miss Dreamspinner, it's a pleasure to see you again. I heard you had need of my assistance." Wren smiled warmly, turning from watching the silver-haired sorceress playing with the toddler. She beamed up at Silvermane, his hair so much like his mothers, "Yes, if you have a moment. Thank you so much for coming here to Lyrabar!" "I certainly do," he nodded, "Argent convinced me to come to see her and the little one." "Great!" Wren smiled and then turned to gracefully curtsy to the sorceress on the couch, "Thank you, Argent." "No problem! Men exist to do our bidding," Argent grinned. Wren burst out laughing. She patted Silvermane gently on the shoulder, whispering in his ear, "It must have been tough growing up."

The young witch smiled, continuing on with a nod to Silvermane, "I heard you were able to destroy one of Crucible's brains before." "Yes," he nodded, "it was nearly indestructible... but I have a gate in my abode that goes to many different planes. One of them is the positive material plane, a plane of life and energy. I was able to destroy that part of Crucible there." Wren tilted her head, "So it lives? ...just on a different plane?" Silvermane shook his head, "The energy on the positive material plane is such that anything placed there eventually reaches maximum possible potential and basically explodes." Wren thought about that for a moment and nodded slowly, "That's a nice place for a gate to go from your home..." "It's a plane of unlimited energy," he nodded. She agreed with a slight nod, "I suppose that can be handy." "Yes, for some experiments," he nodded, "The first brain took quite some time. It handled quite a load of energy before it exploded like a star." Wren blinked wide eyes, "So you actually witnessed it explode?" "Yes," Silvermane smiled, "I didn't just want to send it off to another plane where it might..." "Live on and wreak havoc?" Wren continued, asking. "Exactly," he nodded.

"Well... we have a second one," Wren nodded, "And we're hoping you can destroy it as well." "Really? And how did you come by this brain?" Silvermane asked, gesturing to a chair, "Please tell me the story." "Yes!" Argent and Melanie both nodded, "Tell us the story." Jake brought out buttered toast, wine, and cookies. Wren grinned, gesturing for Kale to sit in the chair and she sat comfortably on his lap, regaling everyone with the story. "Really?! You just betrayed him and shot him?" Melanie and Jake looked a bit shocked. "I did hear your prince Erevin was very unusual," Silvermane nodded. Wren laughed, "Crucible was evil! He did capture elves and used them for his experiments." "I can see how he would take that personally," Silvermane nodded. "And he was going to do the same thing, moving on to dragons," Wren nodded. Argent gasped, eyes wide, "That's just wrong!" Wren grinned, "And we couldn't let that happen... I mean before he had a whole slew of dragon chimeras on his island, we thought it best that we seize the moment." They nodded. Silvermane accepted the strange capsuled brain from Wren to destroy.

Erevin walked into Annaisuru's office and closed the door behind him. Anna heard the ring of his blade as Erevin drew his moonblade and charged for her! She stood up, kicking the chair back and shoving the desk forward toward him! The young prince leapt over the desk, bringing his moonblade down as she pulled her own from it's sheath to parry his strike! The two of them duel each other across the room, out of the door, and out into the hallway. Blades rang throughout the embassy as the siblings took their duel outside, walking along the edge of one of the fountains and drawing a few onlookers here and there.

Anna grinned at him, "What's got you so worked up? ...and what happened to Shri?" "Let me tell you the story," Erevin matched her grin and nodded, going on to tell her the tale of how the archangels of the gods came down from the heavens in the Gray Forest to speak with us and how Eilistraee gifted Shri with a portion of her power. Anna nodded, "We all saw the light in the distance here from the city. I believe they sent paladins of Lathander about a week ago. We hadn't heard anything back from them yet." "It was unlike anything I have ever seen before," Erevin shook his head. Anna nodded, "And you said there is a war in the heavens?" Erevin nodded. The elven princess continued, nodding, "Lady Dulcet had mentioned something similar. She said that she had received a vision from Hanalil." "Yuki was reclaimed by Sune," Erevin nodded, "So Eilistraee took it upon herself to promote Shri and gift us with a powerful healer." "There was a peace about her that i had not seen before," Anna nodded, noting the change in his drow companion before going on, "It's a wonder that Dulcet was not asked as well... but as powerful as she is, she is still a mortal elf." Erevin agreed, "The spot where the archangels came down is marked... by a one of a kind tree with leaves of the colors of the gods present."

"Mmm," Anna nodded thoughtfully, "I would like to see that... once things settle down in the city. Since you left the drow have been quieter here. It's either that or our housing the elves here has made them a more difficult target." Erevin nodded, "I ran across a clan of sylvans in the Forest there. They have already done away with the drow problem." Anna nodded, "I'm familiar with the clan. The sylvan elves there are masters of the forest... it was a reckless move on the drow's part to even attempt that... but apparently they were very upset." "They are driven by anger," Erevin agreed. "I can't imaging who could've caused such a thing," Anna eyed her brother. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"I am only sorry that those not involved had to pay the price," Erevin nodded, "Aside from that... when things calm, I will happily take you to the tree myself. I would like to look upon it in the daytime. Only the gods could have made such a tree... it is unmistakable." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Anna nodded, accepting his offer.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"I do have a favor to ask," Erevin smiled at her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Anna raised an eyebrow, "What is it?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"What do you know of a city called Myth Taryn? I was told it was in the west." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"The name does ring a bell, but... I am not a historian by any means," Anna shook her head, "especially regarding the western Grey Cloak Hills elves." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Erevin nodded, "Are there any here in Lyrabar?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Actually there are a couple here in town that I could direct you to," Anna nodded, "One of mother's bodyguards... a Lady Sunglaive?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Yes, a paladin, I'm familiar with her," Erevin nodded.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"She worked with one of the Grey Cloak Hills elves to rescue a young elven girl who was kidnapped by a dragon... he apparently wanted to marry her," Anna shook her head. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Really?" Erevin raised an eyebrow and shook his head, "...dragons... Is Kierahleigh still overseeing the construction of the temple of Corellian?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Anna nodded, "Yes. I can also give you the address of the Grey Cloak Hills elves as well." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Always on top of things," Erevin nodded with a smile. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"We assigned a couple of people to keep an eye on them since they are elves, however the elder of the pair is quite skilled with a blade and could defend himself." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Excellent," Erevin nodded. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Luthais and Lumani are their names," Anna showed him their approximate location on one of the maps on the wall and gave him their address.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> Erevin and Shri found the apartment area where the elves were staying. Luthais, an elf a bit older than Erevin, answered the door, greeting them warmly and inviting them in. He was dressed very well, had long silvery white hair, and a pair of blades attatched to his hip. "I don't believe I've had the honor of meeting you before. You must be Anna's brother? I can see the resemblance," Luthais led them inside. Erevin nodded, "Yes, I apologize for interrupting your evening." Erevin and Shri followed the prince of the Grey Cloak Hills inside. "Nonsense," Luthais shook his head, "To what do i owe the honor of your visit?"

There was a small art studio set up inside with a young elven girl who had matching silvery white hair sitting in front of a canvas. A brush was in Lumani's hands and bubbles of various colors of paint floated around her. She smiled genuinely as they walked in, nodded a greeting, and changed to a blank canvas, watching the Myth Coramanth elves as she painted. Erevin nodded, "The honor is mine actually. I haven't had a chance to make out to the silver marches yet, but it is always good to meet our brethren from there. I'm hoping that perhaps since you live closer to the west that you may have heard of a city called Myth Taryn. It is ancient I am told."

Luthais pressed his lips thoughtfully and walked over to select a book from the shelf. He browsed through it, nodding, "Yes, to be honest it is almost a myth... but long long ago, shortly after the drow schism and betrayal happened... the elves were still quite plentiful here on the continent. One group of elves struck out south and Myth Taryn was the southern most direct outpost from Evermeet. Nominally under the rule of the king and queen of the Gray Cloak Hills at the time... though it was less formal in Myth Taryn, and all still paid homage to the queen." "Where did it stand? ...or where is it now?" Erevin asked. "Well looking through this book, I believe it used to stand where the country of Lantan is today," Luthais nodded. "You say 'used to stand'." Erevin raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Luthais nodded, "According to the myths... Some evil be-felled the city... whether it was drow or demons... or something else... it is unknown... but the mythal there was unique. Lantan is a country of gnomes... tinkerers. Many centuries ago those gnomes were less organized with their cities, but they were always very skilled with illusions and such. They reportedly worked with the elves to develop that mythal. It is said it could create illusions and images that were almost impossible to tell from real people. ...I suppose it is possible that the city has been hidden somehow, though I doubt it." Erevin nodded, "I am in your debt. You have been most helpful." Luthais nodded, and glanced through the book again, "Yes... yes, it was rumored that the mythal could even summon phantom elves to fight." "Really?" Erevin raised an eyebrow, more intrigued. "Probably with the aid of these gnomes and their tricky magic," Luthais nodded. "Yes... tricky magic," Erevin agreed.

"Of course to go there today to see if it still exists... you may have to find a gnome from Lantan who may know something about it," Luthais suggested. "Indeed. I intend to do just that," Erevin nodded, "You have been most helpful. Please... come to Myth Coramanth sometime." Lumani perked up in the background, her attention drawn from her painting. Luthais pretended not to notice and nodded to Erevin, "I would like to travel up there at some point and meet your mother. I'm told she is quite beautiful." "So I am told," Erevin nodded politely, "She loves visitors." "Very well then," Luthais nodded to them.

Mali went shopping, spending lots of her new shiny treasure. She stopped at the House of Wonders, purchasing new magic trinkets and at several other shops to stuff her pack with sweets and treats. Afterward she went to the Park to speak with Lady Rayum and the High Druid. Rayum looked excited to see her, "Welcome back! Do you have any more of those lustberries?" "No?" Mali blinked, "For what purpose?" "Personal use?" Rayum smiled hopefully. Mali shook her head, "They don't grow on trees, you know." "I believe they grow on shrubs..." Rayum tilted her head, not catching the halfling's meaning, "Anyway... Mr. Bishop and Mr. Dominic have been working overtime. They've made all of this for you." She took Mali to the little hut, and showed her about 20 wine barrels loaded with a couple of different versions of the anti-red-fungus. "Whoa... do you think those will fit in my haversack?" Mali stared at all of the barrels and looked at little sadly at her pack. Rayum shook her head, "I don't know how you plan on dispersing it..." "I'm thinking maybe I can pour it from the air as a gryphon," Mali nodded thoughtfully, still looking with wonder at all of the barrels, "This is fantastic!" Rayum summoned a horse and wagon and had them loaded, "Do with them as you will." Mali thanked her and headed off with Ursus to spend the rest of the day with him.

"How are you?" Ursus walked beside her, having missed her while she was away in the Gray Forest. "Better now," Mali grinned up at him, "How are you doing?" "I am well," he nodded, and asked a little tentatively, "So I was thinking... While we're in Lyrabar... I'd take you to dinner?" "Oh, that sounds great!" Mali nodded, thinking about food. "That's what people do, right?" Ursus asked her. "Yeah! We should do that," Mali nodded, "That sounds great. That thing you mentioned." She nodded again. Ursus, relieved, started making plans for their night out to dinner and Mali excitedly went to get ready.

As one halfling left the House of Wonders... the next one entered, and Shandra beamed happily, welcoming Thorn in. After spending some of his treasure, he wandered to the courtyard of the arcane university. He found a young female student coming out in her robes, carrying various pouches of ingredients, "What can I do for you? Do you need a wand?" She held up a stick looking item. Thorn shook his head, "I don't have much use for those myself." "I thought it was strange... I have never seen a halfling wizard before... and you don't look much like a wizard," she nodded. "You're //half// right there... see what I did there... Hmm? //Half//!" the halfling jested. The arcane student laughed, "Funny!" She nodded.

"Actually I have some hydra parts to sell," he tapped a bag. "You killed a hydra?" the student blinked up at him, surprised. "Yes I did," Thorn nodded confidently. "But you're so small... and hydras are so big!" she sized him up, unconvinced. Thorn nodded, "Small enough that I could tumble past him and eviscerate him from behind!" She nodded, conceding, "Alright... let's see these 'hydra' parts." He opened the bag, and it oozed a little as the parts slid out for her viewing. He handed her a clothespin and put one on his own nose. The young student looked it over, "Have you ever been trained in preserving hydra parts?" "Nope," Thorn shrugged and shook his head. She nodded, continuing to look it over, "Well hydras are pretty tough, so their meat tends to last a little longer. Ooo you have some scales here! And teeth and claws! ... what is this donut looking thing?" She scrunched up her nose. "Oh that's the rectum," Thorn nodded. "Uh... alright... i don't know that that can be used for anything," she dropped it back into the bag.

"It could be used in a stinking spell!" Thorn suggested helpfully. "Oh! You're right! That's interesting!" she scribbled some notes down on a piece of paper, nodding, "I'm totally going to ace my next test!" She opened up a book, scrolling through the alphabetical listing of parts, "Well there not in the best condition..." Thorn gave her a sob story of 13 halfling children that he had to feed and 3 of them had horrible diseases, "I was hoping that hydra saliva would cure them... but it didn't work, so I have to go out yet again... leaving them behind to try and find another cure." "That's awful!" the young student sobbed, overpaying for the parts with a 1000 gold, "I shouldn't be doing this... but it's our duty as young adults to help out the community." Thorn nodded, "It's for the children!" "You come back and tell me how your young ones are doing," she nodded to him. "Oh, of course! As soon as I find a cure! I'll bring them all to see you and tell them what your generosity did for us and what a great place this is," Thorn nodded, hurrying off daydreaming of a halfling children fundraiser going around the city upon his return.

"Look what fucker is back," Seri's parrot cawed as Thorn walked into her shop, "Is that Thorn or a lump of shit? Smells like hydra ass." Thorn grumbled about the bird, but then nodded to Seri coming around the corner, "That guy knows because I just sold a hydra ass." She laughed and hugged him, "It's good to see you. It's been quite awhile. In truth, I'm surprised to see you're still alive!" Thorn nodded, "Me too! It's been close a few times." "A few weeks ago there was this elven woman," Seri started to tell him the story. Thorn shook his head, interrupting, "Yes... I've already met with her and took care of that business... for now. What was the name she gave?" "Shora Gutripper," Seri nodded, "I didn't tell her very much. She was nice and all... but a little strange and I didn't quite trust her." "What did you tell her by chance?" Thorn raised an eyebrow. "That I hadn't seen you in quite awhile and I wasn't even sure if you were alive or dead," the halfling acrobat nodded. "Oh, well she knows I'm alive now," Thorn nodded. "Is that a good thing? Is she trying to kill you, Thorn?" Seri asked. He shrugged and smiled, "Who isn't really?" "I'm not!" she protested, "I like you. You're a nice enterprising young halfling." "Yes, I am. Thank you for saying that much," Thorn agreed.

"Do you have anything you need fenced?" she inquired and shook her head, "Please don't say a hydra ass..." "Nope I already took care of the old leather donut actually," he nodded and exchanged a few items he needed to sell and buy. "The Carnival of Masks is coming through town in a couple of days from the coast road. They usually do a show this time of year outside of the city. If you have time... I'd like to go with you," she smiled hopefully. Thorn muttered in his in head about every time he visited her she wanted to go on a date, but smiled at her, "A couple of days you say? I'm not sure how long I'm going to be in town... but if I'm still here, then yeah, we'll go. It'll be fun." "Great!" Seri nodded to him.

Thorn headed to The Unexpected Monkey, greeting Hoppy Keenwhistle and Fritz the monkey. He drank some ale and asked about how things were going in the city, thieves guild wise. Hoppy nodded, filling him in, "After their hideout was burned down on the docks, there hasn't been much activity from The Black Mark... they haven't tried to set up a new place in town. The Jesters and the other thieves of the city are doing pretty well. With the Black Mark chased out of town and a lot of the Bounty Hunters who normally keep tabs on them are out of town... the thieves here have had a bigger piece of the pie and have been able to move around unhindered. The city guard are a little worried because they had to send out a dozen of their paladins to check out some light in the sky to the west... so the rest of the guards are on high alert, but are stretched thin." Thorn received word that Azarius returned to the Vastel Estate with Trieste Scourned, though he had not called for the halfling to join him yet. Thorn made plans to take advantage of some of the thieving opportunities.

Posy and Uther went to the Unexpected Monkey and several other bars in town, trying out many many different beverages. Both the Mercer and Dulsair families in town were known for their wine making and trading. Lyrabar was also a trading city to many foreign areas across the sea that offered all kinds of tasty alcoholic beverages. Both Posy and Uther tried as many different kinds as they could, getting quite drunk. As they leaned on each other, a bit stumbling on the way back to the inn... a young group of punk kids jumped them. The two barbarians, drunk, took turns letting the kids hit them and then beat the shit out of them, running them off terrified and screaming, "They can't be hurt!"

Adrenaline pumping, Uther tossed Posy on the bed at the inn with claws out, and the two of them ruin yet another inn room! Uther stretched in the morning, "You know I was thinking... that maybe I could take you out to dinner tonight?" "Okay..." Posy nodded, "Is this a dress up affair?" Uther thought about it a moment, "Well I was thinking we would go someplace nice? ...so maybe your clothes shouldn't be bloody and torn." Posy nodded her agreement, "Doable." Uther nodded, happy she seemed pleased.

Plans were made to spend a little more time in the city and then to destroy the red fungus and find the unicorn... and then return to Myth Coramanth to find Posy's kin. Jerrandis sent a box to the group of exquisite Mercer wine as a thank you for the witch hunting adventure.