An+Odd+Gathering

The old crone sat alone in the shadowy corner, the flickering firelight making her craggy face look more sinister than such a wisp of a frail woman should be. The bartender seemed to watch her warily, being the only customer so early in the day, as she sipped her tea, and drew forth a deck of an ancient, well worn cards. Setting the on the table...the cards...moved...shuffling themselves slowly before the crones eyes. Taking another sip of her tea, she place a withered hand atop the deck...pulling a card...revealing a heavily lidded eye surround by sparkling mist.

"Ahah..." she cackled.."The Vision...arcane knowledge...or perhaps madness." She smiled...placing the card at the center....before drawing another, her hand now trembling slightly. She frowned at the image on the second card, that of a green skinned woman and cauldron. "Mmmm...the mute hag...a dangerous...card. Pacts...and lies...and deceit. A bargain betrayed.."

Her voice trailed off as the swinging door to the bar swung open and a raven haired elven woman walked in. Dressed provocatively in gossamer black, she swayed into the room like she owned it. She seemed somehow...disappointed that the inn room was empty. A long...thin...kitten sized green dragon coiled around her right arm, but she seemed to pay it no heed. Pouting for only a moment, she took at seat at the bar.

"Elven wine please....while I wait," Even her voice was seductive and the bartender's cheeks turned red even has he poured her a glass and set it before her. She tasted it...it was very good if a strange flavor. What...was the name of this place again. Hadn't said on the sign outside...the 'Reverie'. She'd have to recommend it.

The fortune teller smiled...such power in this one. So much like her mother. She went back to the deck. taking another sip of tea. She had to continue...now...her vision...and the card compelled her. Drawing forth a third card she layed it gently on the table, face up, revealing a winged serpent, or a coatl. She murmered "Understanding...and wisdom...a powerful card." But only part of the puzzle...as before, she would have to draw another. She could feel..the toll...the harrow deck was costing her. Her very soul...weaking. Still....it was necessary. Her first telling...had failed...or had become lost.

The fourth card now...took it's place beside the other. On this one was a man and woman, joining hands. "The Marriage...." The crone traced the outline of the card. "A union of ideas...peoples...or kingdoms...but which..."

The crone was cut off again as another elven woman came stumbling into the bar. But this one..was very different than the other. Bright blue hair and dressed in whites and blues and golds, bearing the symbols of the elven god Correllion. Tattoed on her fair arms were flaming birds, the fire seemed to...move or it was a trick of the light. She seemed confused...as if she wasn't sure...if should she be here. Relieved...to see another elf...even if she was dressed so...revealingly, the newcomer approached the bar to sit beside the other.

"Greetings...sister....I am Tiri'Elenae Embermoon...might I know your name?" Was she one of the ones she was supposed to meet. Why...didn't she seem to remember...their names? "Embermoon, I believe I've met one of your family before... yes... an elder man at a dinner party," a deep red liquid clung to the elven woman's lips as she took another slow sip of her wine, "Tiri'Elenae, priestess of Correllion, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Wren Dreamspinner." She turned to the bartender with a soft wink of one of her golden eyes, "Wine for the young lady as well, please."

Despite the gruff outwardly appearance of the man behind the bar, he seemed unable to keep his cheeks from blushing again. His mustache twitched under his bulbous nose, and he pulled another frail glass from between the wood slats above him. It seemed almost ridiculous in his rather large hands, and yet he wielded it expertly. He slid the glass of deep red wine along the smooth wood of the bar to halt in front of the priestess without spilling a drop. Tiri blinked her blue eyes up at him in surprise. His eyes held kindness deep under his protruding brows as he nodded to her. She offered him a warm smile and nodded, "Thank you."

The wind howled outside, blowing colorful leaves past the window of the tavern and thunder echoed in the distance. It made the young priestess more grateful for the warmth of the flickering fire. It made her think of the golden haired sorcerer she'd been traveling with and a smile lit her lips. He seemed so often in her thoughts of late... He tried so hard to defend his people... to protect her... and then his self-centered boisterous voice blurted out those acts, leaving her frustrated and confused about this new friend she put her trust into... and she tried desperately to push his face from her head. A soft steady rain could now be heard on the roof above them.

The brief wrinkled brow did not go unnoticed by the elven witch beside her, and Wren nodded to her, "What troubles you, my dear? A man perhaps?" Her knowing smile made Tiri's cheeks warm and the length of her ears turned pink. The black gossamer skirt hung low on Wren's hips, and the firelight seemed to dance over the bare skin of her slender waist as she leaned forward laying a soft hand over the priestess's, "Perhaps I could help..." Tiri stared for a long moment into the alluring golden eyes looking back at her... She herself was so awkward... but this sensual woman with raven hair... there was something about her... What must she know about men...

The old crone sipped her tea watching the chance union of the strange pair of elves and smiled... more were coming. She looked down at the table at her shuffling deck and the four cards spread before her. Three across, one placed below the center, and one to go... to be placed at the top. She was so tired now... almost withering... but the pull of the deck urged her on... and this pull would be the most important. What would be the outcome? She closed her eyes, focusing and trusting in her deck. Her frail bony hand plucked a card from the swirling deck before her... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tiri shook her head, trying to shake off the hypnotic effect of the golden eyes of the beautiful elven woman. "How...did you....know..." Tiri's thoughts seemed so...muddled it seemed so hard to concentrate and she noticed the green dragon twining around Wren's arms slide up and underneath her long black sleeves, disappearing from sight. Wren shuddered with pleasure as the serpent glided sensuously across her skin. Tiri spoke hesitantly "He's...just...just...so confusing!!"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The crone meanwhile, had finally mustered the strength the pull another card, depicting a rugged man travelling through a snowstorn. She placed it on the table besides the others. "The survivor...she murmured...this one...survived a great ordeal when everyone thought her lost...." The wind...outside...picked up...causing several of the shutters to bang against the wall as they burst open...and a whirlwind of leaves to scatter across the floor. The storm was getting closer. Fate...demanded....she choose another card...and so she did with a shuddering gasp, revealed a brightly colored figure dressed like a jester, with three balls, one white, one black, and the last red. "The juggler....the card of fate...and destiny...and the gods. Many...gods love her...which shall she...choose. Does she have...to choose?" She slumped back into the chair...exhausted. She knew...she was not done yet. The company...not yet complete. The puzzle still missing key pieces. But she needed to regain her strength.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Men...exist...to be confusing...." Wren smiled at the younger elf, trying to ignore the distraction of the dragon blazing a trail across her flesh. "But...tell..me more..." But before Tiri could say another word, the swinging doors cracked open as a fierce gust of wind blew through the common room. Stepping...cautiously into the room was a slender, silver grey haired woman dressed in black leathers. Her hand...resting on a pair of daggers at her side. She seemed...surprised at the scene...as if she were expecting danger...but...then seemed to relax as she saw two elven ladies sharing wine at the bar. She cocked her head quizzically and Wren could see her ears more fully. The newcomer wasn't a full elf...but one of her parents was an elf. She moved towards the bar....perhaps the two elves could help her. She was looking for someone...wasn't she? Lightning flashed in the window.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tiri seemed hesitant but scooted over to make room. This one looked dangerous...and perhaps...slightly mad? And yet Tiri didn't feel afraid for some reason. "Please...uh...join us...and have a drink. At least until the storm passes. I'm...Tiri...and this is Wren....and you are?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Her green eyes were fierce and seemed piercing against her pale skin. "What do you mean?" Her words were harsh, with a growl in her voice, as though she was arguing with someone who wasn't there, "Is it a where? Or a when?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Hearing Tiri's voice, the half elven woman turned, her silvery gray hair had hints of blue as it dripped over her shoulder. Her eyes looked the two women over as though assessing their level of threat, and she relaxed her hand off of the daggers at her hip, giggling suddenly, "My name is Sylinae." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">As she walked toward the bar, she seemed to change... her pink lips held a warm smile that was almost childlike, and her green eyes grew soft and kind, but they held a sort of worn wisdom that failed to match her smile. Gone was the aggressive defense that seemed to hold her body taut and ready... now she almost danced as she walked. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tiri''s eyes widened with surprise, almost feeling a pull to protect this... this girl... but wasn't she dangerous only a moment ago?

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Wren sat relaxed in her seat, but she kept her wary eyes on the woman joining them. Two personalities... so was she talking to the other? ...or something or some//**one**// else in her head? This one definitely had some madness to her... Her features... they were too soft to be half human and the faint blue that ran along the silver in her hair seemed to move... and her delicate wispy gait... where had seen a walk like that before? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Flashes of light could be seen in the windows, and thunder echoed closer.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Sylinae paused for a moment, turning to the shadowy corner, "Are you alright?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Her hands brushed over the old crone's bony arms, filling the fortune teller with warmth and strength, "There now... that's better." The silver-haired half elf smiled sweetly as she refilled the woman's cup of tea. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She glanced at the cards spread over the table, "That looks like a fun game... but you don't have to push yourself so hard." Her warm hands brushed the old woman's shoulder with care before continuing to the bar as though nothing had happened.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tiri looked back at the table where the old crone sat and back to the strange woman who had just joined them. Had that woman been sitting in the shadows the whole time? A delighted cackle came from the old woman who was studying her cards on the table, arranging their positions just so.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Wren nodded to the half elven woman, "Are you alright? You seemed to be looking for somewhere? Or perhaps someone?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Yes..." Sylinae nodded, trying to pull the words burning from the back of her mind... it was important... what was it she was looking for. Damn voices... always cluttering her thoughts. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The young witch raised a curious eyebrow, but waited patiently for the rest of the response. The thin green scaled dragon slid along her back, creeping up behind her ear to rest it's clawed hand on the curled edge and gently biting the tip. A slow smile spread over her lips as it's tail coiled delicately around her neck. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The half elven woman slid into a a third chair at the table, joining the other two, with a frustrated sigh as the blue haired priestess poured her a drink. None of the three....thought it was strange that a moment ago Wren and Tiri had been sitting at the bar, and now they were at a table. "A man...I'm looking for a man...and yet..." She pursed her lips, pouting, and bringing up her hand to brush her silver hair away from her face and off of her neck. Both the witch and the priestess could now see that Sylinae wore a collar around her neck that looked like a very stylized dragon. Black as the night in it's head where the eyes should be were two rubies. It almost seemed like the ruby eyes were alive...and glaring at the two with hate. A fourth chair at the table still sat empty.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"And yet...." Tiri said helpfully when she noticed the half elf had trailed off. Candles flickering on all the tables around...and festive decorations hung from the walls. Crescent moons...and grinning skulls. Was it the Feast of the Moon time again already? One of her favorite holiday although for the elves it was more of day of rememberance for the fallen. Of course...the humans couldn't help turning it into a festival.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"And yet...I know he's not...here...but I felt like...I needed....a drink. And company" She sighed a little sadly. Why couldn't she find him? Where had he gone?

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tiri reached out her hand and patted the half elf comfortingly on the wrist, and Wren noticed that the priestess wore a bracelet forged into the shape of a golden dragon, much like that half elves choker, or even her own upper arm band. But her's did not seem to move...and that made her sad for some reason. Still, it was an odd coincidence wasn't it? Perhaps they all...favored the same jeweler. She smiled as the elven bartender delivered another bottle to them. Had he been elven before...she couldn't remember...of course...he must have been.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The old crone smile...as the warmth and strength from the young half elves touch filling her decrepit body. She felt...hope. Hope that she could pull the final card before midnight. She stretched forth her bony hand and flipped a card and put it on the table. On the card was a guilded and ornate throne...that sat empty. "The Empty Throne....the crone rasped....it represents those that are gone...the ghost of the past that taught important lessons.."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Outside...the three sitting at the table could hear faint sounds of a celebration...and children laughing and singing...but their voices sounded strange. Cold and alien.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">//"Ring around the rosie..."// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">//"Pocket full of posies..."// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">//"Ashes...ashes...."// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">//"We all fall down..."//

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">//"Ring around the rosie"// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">//"There's something under your bed.."// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">//"Pull your sheets up over your head.."// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">//"Or soon you'll be dead..."//

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Willing her hand to move, almost with desperation...the old crone pulled the final card placed it down beside the Throne. It depicted a beautiful woman...wearing hardly anything at all who's painted lips were curved in a sultry smile. "The courtesan....represents political intrigues...and social activities..." Finally...she was done. Her part in story Her body slowly faded from view..but the cards remained on the table.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Staggering through the swinging door, as if trying to avoid one of the singing children was another elven woman...this one dressed in the blue robes of Mystra...with brilliant scarlet hair. Her ears were pierces in many places giving her a strange exotic look. She collected herself quickly, adjusting her robe where the slit in the side had revealed one long perfectly slender leg. For just a moment before she readjusted her robe the three could see a silvery blueish anklet in the shape of a dragon. She couldn't quite..remember...why she was here...but she was parched and this seemed lke a fine elven bar. Without thinking about it she took the forth chair.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Wren arched an eyebrow "Do...we...know you?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Hmm?" the newcomer chewed the corner of her bottom lip in thought as she looked at the three... this //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">was //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">where she was supposed to be, wasn't it? //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Did //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">they know her? Wait...Did she know //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">them //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">? "Oh, I'm terribly sorry... my name is Lorwynelle Thaldain. I thought... Well... Wasn't this chair for me?"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Wren looked her over warily. Thaldain... the name did sound familiar... Wasn't there an older woman on the isle by that name? Perhaps the chair was meant for her... she was wearing the right jewelry anyway. She glanced at the doorway, half expecting Argent or Penny to come walking in to tell her what was going on. When only a cold wind and colorful leaves seemed to answer her, she turned back to the scarlet haired woman, "A pleasure to meet you then... Lorwynelle. I'm Wren, that's Tiri, and this is Sylinae... she's looking for someone. We were just discussing how we might be able to help her."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Yes, she's looking for a man," Tiri nodded, pouring another glass to set in front of Lorwyn. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"What were you saying he looked like?" the young priestess smiled at the silver haired half-elf. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Looked like? Oh yes... well he's quite handsome... with long white hair. His ears are long and perfect. His eyes are calming, and despite his affection toward so many women, when he takes your hand and looks at you, it's like you're the only one in the world that matters... He kept me grounded, I... I could always find my way back when my mind stepped into the spirit realm... He always called me back... I don't understand why I can't find him now. He's powerful and wields great magic..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">A booming thunder rattled the tables inside the bar as blinding light flashed at the windows! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Yes! Like that... almost as if he commands the storms to come to his whims," Sylinae nodded, "Even his name was Rhain."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lorwynelle shivered, scooting her chair closer to the fire. She didn't really like storms. Air and fire, yes... soggy rain and lightning, not so much. Silhouettes seemed to dance on the stone floor created by the fire. She adjusted one of the piercings in her eyebrow and glanced over to notice the empty table of cards.... hadn't there been an old woman there when she came in? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">How odd....Lorwyn thought...she was looking for a man as well. A layabout....some called him. It had been so long since she had seen him. But what was his name? A picture of a face...came into her mind. Smiling at her...looking at her with those wicked eyes of his. Why couldn't she remember? She could see him...lying on a blanket under a beautiful tree with her, gazing into each other's eyes.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"It doesn't sound like...a man that hard should be difficult to find." Wren said thoughtfully. He sounded like...a male version of her sister. What a presumptuos man he must be! This poor girl.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Outside...the children...continued to sing amidst of chorus of discordant laughter....

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> Baby, baby, naughty baby, Hush, you squalling thing, I say. Peace this moment, peace, or maybe Ghaundahar will pass this way.

Baby, baby, he's a giant, Tall and black as Banite steeple, And he breakfasts, dines, rely on't, Every day on naughty people.

Baby, baby, if he hears you As he slithers past the house, Limb from limb at once he'll tear you, Just as pussy tears a mouse.

And he'll beat you, beat you, beat you, And he'll beat you into pap, And he'll eat you, eat you, eat you, Every morsel snap, snap, snap.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> The four of them paused....a feeling of creeping dread passing over them....Suddenly there was a roar from outside and the children's voices vanished, to be replaced by a single girls scream. A burst of wind  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">  blew off the shutters on the windows...and the swinging door blew off the hinges...flying against the wall.... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Ghaundahar...? Wren leapt to her feet in an instant, her hand brushing her wrist... looking for the bracelet that was always there, but she couldn't find the dangling charms to summon her protective lover nor her barbarian friend... the bracelet was missing. Her heart pounded as she moved toward the door, gesturing for the others to stay back. She was going to have to keep them all safe... from whatever might be outside that door. The thin green jeweled dragon seemed to nuzzle the curved edge of her ear, bringing her some comfort. Children... singing outside... in such a storm? Did that make sense? She moved to step outside.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Before the young witch could make it to the door however, a giggling filled the room... it was a little haunting. Wren glanced back over her shoulder to see Sylinae also up and moving. A dagger was in each of her hands and there was madness in her laughter. Her piercing green eyes showed no sign of fear... or kindness... and she looked ready to play her own games with whatever may step inside.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tiri looked warily at the half elven woman who seemed to enjoy playing on both sides of the edge of sanity. She hoped suddenly that it wasn't like that for her brother... wherever his mind might be now. She brushed her thumb over the beautiful elongated star on her forehead and muttered off several prayers to Correllion. The fire wavered along her birds tattoo, reflecting slightly along the gold of her dragon bracelet.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lorwyn bit and held her bottom lip in her teeth to keep from screaming. Her body shivered, and she mustered up courage from deep within. She could do this... A shimmering magic armor formed around her skin. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Wren was the first out the door, followed by the strange giggling elf and out into the street, and for a moment, the witch stood amazed. The city...around her...was...amazing. Floating islands filled with buildings all different kinds of architecture, elven...human...dwarven...and others she couldn't even imagine. Some clearly built for titanic creatures...and others....looked like a play set for dolls. Some of the buildings were even....hanging upside down off of the bottom of the floating islands like a mirrored reflection of the buildings above. Shimmering bridges of all sorts connected the islands together. Bridges of mist....bridges of rainbows...bridges of roses. Wren was sure it would have quite colorful if everythings color had not been leeched by the silvery moonlight blanketing the city. Waterfalls from islands above cascaded down into a great lake near the edge of the city.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"So...many...moons!" The giggling elf said as she stepped beside the witch, looking at wonder up in the sky. Moons of all colors...and shapes and sizes hung at various points in the sky as well as a sea of stars. The stars...seemed to rearrange themselves into various patterns even as the slightly mad half elf watched. She couldn't help giggling again as some of the stars formed a face...and seemed to wink at her.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tiri and Lorwyn came out from the shattered doorway of the Reverie must more cautiously. "Where...are the children...." The priestess said looking around before finally seeing a group of small huddled figures down the street. Lorwyn was about to call out to them, but as they turned around to look at the four women, her breath caught in her throat. They weren't...children...they were...gods what were they. They looked like..small driders...except instead of spider legs they had...squid like tentacles. And instead of a drow upper body...it was a bloated...screaming baby with tiny worms coming from their empty eye sockets.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">//"They all fall...DOWN...they all fall DOWN!"//

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The creatures screamed in a singsong voice as they swarmed towards the four women.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Meanwhile...Wren and Sylinae could see...out in the lake two titanic figures. One appeared to be a giant statue of a handsome elven warrior, nearly a hundred feet tall, his eyes closed and his face serene. Cradled gently in his huge hands, almost protectively was a young elven girl with silver hair. Brightly colored bubbles floated around the hands. The other figured rising out of the lake Wren...knew immediately. Ghaudahar. Even larger than the statue of the warrior it was a thing of nightmares. Humanoid...but with great wings...and everywhere...tentacles and eyes. Several of the eyes almost...seemed like they were looking at her...inside her. She felt...violated somehow... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The silver haired girl walked along the great stone hands of the statue of her brother, bubbles of paint flowing along beside her. She whimsically painted one beautiful bridge after another... sending them up to connect the airy islands. A beautiful white dragon ring coiled around the length of her pinky. Clasped in it's tiny claws was a chain of delicate frosted-glass links that wove around her wrist. She seemed to pay it no mind as the chain loosely swayed back and forth as she seemed to be painting the very world they were in.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Wren shook her head. Was she trapped in someone else's dream? Or was this her own personal nightmare? The raven-haired elven woman closed her eyes tightly, trying to clear the image as she chanted three times in her head, Lies and Deceit! When she opened them, all was the same. Damn. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"We need to get to that girl before Ghaundahar does," Wren instructed the others as she stepped out into the moonlit lake, her body liquefying into water as she did so.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"I'm on it," Tiri nodded, dashing through the watery form of Wren to run along the surface of the water! The young witch was barely able to weave water walking over her before the blue-haired priestess passed her. Water splashed up along the younger elf's slender legs as she made a beeline for the great statue. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Tiri, wait!" Lorywyn called after her, but it was far too late. The young woman who was beside her was far out onto the lake already... leaving her seemingly alone as the horrifying tentacled monsters charged toward her. A great arc of fire lit off from her finger tips to wash over the approaching horde as she screamed for them to stay back!

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Sylinae pulled her gaze from the moons and stars long enough to notice that the scarlet haired mage was in trouble. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"There is always Hope, my sister. Do not give in to your fear now," She walked slowly past Lorwyn, an aura of calm and peace wrapped around the arcanist like a reassuring hug, "I know songs too." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She tightened her grip on her daggers and began to weave a hauntingly beautiful song, "Come little children... I'll take thee away... into a land of enchantment." She struck the first with both of her daggers, severing it's tiny maggot filled head. She giggled as the blood splashed her hands. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lorwyn took a deep breath....calming herself, trying to remember the lessons that her master had taught her. Calm...and centered. Words of spell came unbidden to her mind even as more of the awful tentacle baby monsters appeared slithering on the rooftops above, staring down at her and her giggling companion, Skittering into place to leap off and pounce on the pair from above. The scarlet haired arcanist released the spell and a dragonish looking snake of fire appeared and flowed away from her hands, twining and passing through a long line of the creatures in midair causing them to turn to ash which blew away in the gusting wind.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"See! Hope!" Sylinae giggled, almost dancing among the creatures, her emerald tinged dagger darting in, and out. Severing heads...and eviscerating baby bodies with carnal glee.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"But....but..." She knew that spell she had cast. She...wasn't powerful enough...skilled enough...to cast it. And yet she did. And she could do more. More spells...flashed into existence in her mind. How was it possible. Something wasn't...right...was it? But she felt much more confident now. Still...more and more of the tentacle babies seemed to come out of the very shadows. There were so many. So very many.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Out on the lake...the behemoth squid like Ghaundahar splashed towards the statue, his tentacles flailing about. One of them, passed through one of the brightly colored bubbles of paint which popped with a loud crack. That tentacle started to smoke and burn and Ghaundar screamed, thrashing in rage. Wren could feel the water roiling around her, great waves from the colossus's movement now splashing around the statues legs as Wren arrived at the statue. She turned back...to see one of the waves bearing down on the blue haired elf, who was running across the surface of the water. It looked like a wall that was going to fall upon her and crush her, and it was moving much faster than she was.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tiri didn't even realize it until the shadow of the wave fell over her, blocking the moonlight, she looked up and threw up her arms even though she knew it would do little good. She would never see her homeland again. Or her brother. Or...him. With a golden flash the bracelet on her wrist exploded into flame sending a gyser of water into the air. Wren breathed a sigh of relief when a golden dragon came flying of of the cloud of mist and steam, with a screaming Tiri clutching unto it's neck.... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Renewed with confidence as if Silvermane's hands were on her very shoulders to guide her, Lorwyn unleashed spell after spell, turning the ever-coming wave of tentacled malformed infants into ash... but still they kept coming... like a wave of darkness in the moonlight. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> "That's the spirit!" the silver haired half-elf shouted her encouragement to the arcanist as she wove back and forth tearing through bodies. A black shadowy mist seeped from the dragon around Sylinae's neck, turning the diabolical creatures against one another in a rage of hate! "Thank you, my friend," she giggled with glee, stroking the collar in great appreciation. "Time to go!" Sylinae grabbed Lorwyn's hand and began heading for the now turbulent lake. Waves that rolled out from Ghaundahar's rage crashed over his own minions behind them as they ran. "There!" Lorwynelle pointed to where falling stars were forming a stairway up into the air.

Tiri's eyes were shut tight as she clung to the golden dragon for dear life, still expecting any moment to be overtaken by a watery slap of death! As she felt the air rush over her cheeks along with a soft spray of mist, she slowly opened them to see the lake and it's waves of fury safely below her. She was alive and flying! She released her white knuckled grip from the shining golden scales and put her hands into the air, laughing as the wind swept her blue hair behind her. The rush of speed and adrenaline... this was even better than the gryphon ride! As though enjoying her delight, he dove down lower, spiraling his body once through the air, forcing her to hang on once again with a squeal of joy. She hugged onto the dragon's neck, laying her face against his warm scales... there was something so familiar about him... it was like she knew him. Of course she had never met a dragon before... had she? "Do you think you can drop me over there?" her voice curled into his ears with the wind as she pointed to the enormous elven statue in the lake. A large orange moon was rising from the horizon, giving the lake a strange autumn glow.

Wren quickly flew up to land on the hands of the statue, pooling back into her elven form. She recognized the young silver haired girl to be the youngest of the Anndrasdans she had met in Myth Coramanth... and it was the same girl she had seen painting on the beach in Lyrabar, "Lumani!" The young girl smiled up at her with big blue eyes, "Wren!"

Ghaundahar's enormous tentacles wrapped around the legs of the statue as he slammed his fist into it's chest! The world seemed to shake, and drops of paint fell from some of the islands like dimly colored leaves blowing off of the trees.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Wren! Wren! It's so good to see you again!" Lumain clapped delightly, almost losing her feet as the entire statue shook. Steadying herself, she blew a raspberry with her tongue at the gigantic form of Ghaudahar. The statue still stood, remarkably unharmed as the eldrich monstrosities flailed around angirly.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"We..have to go Lumani...we are too vulnerable here....I can fly and take you to safety!" Wren held out her arms to the small woman. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"I can't leave my big brother! We promised to watch over each other while we slept!" Lumani shook her head firmly. She just couldn't leave him, even if Wren was a nice lady! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Wren cursed underneath her breath as a forest of tentacles straightened like spears and shot towards the pair and she reflexively cast one of her most destructive spells. A chain of lightning flashed from tentacle to tentacle bursting most of them like rotten fruit. But a few burst forth from the storm of electricity intent of impaling the witch to the statue. She couldn't...seem to move...and time seemed to slow down. There was a green flash and the sounds of several loud thuds as great green dragon appeared in front of Wren, the tentacles bouncing off as they struck it's tough verdant scales. It's...strangely familiar eyes...peering down affectionately at her as it's serpent like tongue flicked out and licked her face. With a fierce cry it unfurled it's wings and launched itself at Ghaudahar. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Awww...I think he likes you!" Lumani said, giggled and pointing towards the witches face. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Wren heard another thud behind her as she saw Tiri tumble out of the sky and land on the stone hands near her, a golden dragon dropping her off a little unceremoniously. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Oww...." The blue haired priestess rubbed her bottom. Couldn't he have dropped her off a little more...gently? The golden dragon's scales glowed orange in the new moonlight as he join the green dragon in circling the tentacled horror. Bursts of fire and clouds of acidic vapor lancing across Ghaundahar's head. "Is...everyone alright...I can heal..." Tiri looked around, who was...the strange little girl anyway? She looked across the bay at the bridge of stars and the two women running along it towards them. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lorwynelle and Sylinae ran as fast as they could...with the horrible baby creatures in hot pursuit. They came...almost like a wave, pouring up the stairs. The young arcanist could hear..the splish...splash as countless babies fell off the bridge into the water below,sending up tiny plumes of water. They weren't going to make...it was still too far away...and even as she ran...the statue didn't seem to be getting any closer. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Wheeeee!" the giggling half elf sliding across the bridge made slick but the foul blood of the latest baby creature she had decapitated. Even though she had been bitten many time her wounds didn't seem to diminish her spirits. "It's...time I think!" she laughed. She skidded to a stop and ripped off her collar, throwing it into the air and with a red flash a gigantic black dragon appeared, twice again as large as the other two dragon currently in the sky. It's eyes...burned with hate...and yet not malice. With a casual exhalation a sheet of fire from it's great jaws cleansed the bridge of most of the baby creatures. With a roar and a beat of it's wings, which almost knocked the pair of women from their feet, it took to the sky to join the other.s <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lorwynelle stood panting, catching her breath. This...was all...madness. She had to be dreaming...didn't she? None of it made sense. She felt...something....caress her thigh and she jumped...blushing. Unwinding from her leg was her silvery blue anklet that grew and shifted and turned until it too became a dragon. Smaller than the others, and yet...exotically beautiful with silvery blue scales and a white mane that ran from the top of it's head all the way down it's tail. It's...eyes...were so familiar. She knew him...she just knew it. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The silvery dragon began to sing to the flustered arcanist...it had the most beautiful elven voice...and it was familiar too... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">//Arise, arise// //Open up your eyes// //Oh, the sun// //It fills the sky//

//Look, the sky// //Is blue and wide// //And you can feel// //The warmth on your skin//

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"I think... amazingly enough... that we're alright," Wren nodded to Tiri as she laughingly wiped off her own face and introduced the priestess to Lumani. "We need to help them," Wren pointed to the dragons circling around the beast that threatened them all. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">As the white-maned dragon sang, Lorwynelle did start to feel warmer... and the sky started to brighten as the darkness of the starry night seemed to slowly peel back to reveal the beautiful clear blue that he sang about. What she thought had been a large orange moon was in fact a vibrant sun that showed off the breath-taking color of the islands with their bridges above. The bridge of stars they were standing on was becoming misty clouds. The scarlet haired arcanist stood still, staring for a long moment as she took it all in.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The only thing that seemed to break the spell of calm and beauty around her was the exuberant cheering of the slightly crazy silver haired girl next to her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Sylinae was waving her hands and bouncing up and down with excitement, "Get him, Hathala! Show him the power of a dragon god! I'm right behind you all the way!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She stopped her cheering abruptly as she seemed to notice the blood all over Lorwynelle, "Oh... you're rather a mess, aren't you?" She laid her soft warm hands against the arcanist's skin, healing the elven woman's wounds. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lorwyn took Sylinae's hand into hers, putting trust into the familiar eyes before her, "Follow me to the statue." She stepped through a dimension to arrive on the large stone hands of the statue with the others. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Calmed by the melody, Sylinae sat and hummed along with the white mane dragon. Focusing on his song, a power seemed to ebb from her of hope and the sun in the sky seemed to get only brighter as it rose. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Bolts of lightning shot into Ghaundahar from Wren's hands as strikes of holy fire were pulled down from Tiri. The two doing their best to help the dragons. Lorwyn joined them with bursts of fire. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lumani clapped happily as she watched the vibrant color around them come alive with the light of the sun. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The water was crashing below them, waves washing up the massive statue... but even they seemed prettier somehow in the light. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Ghaundahar was furious, his tentacles swung out at the dragons circling him only to crash back into the water around him! He was taking hit after hit, his eyes searching for a vulnerable target! He brought his massive fist in hard, fully prepared to mash the blue-eyed daughter of air into jelly! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Her scream carried across the realm as she threw up her hands to protect herself with a shield of air. The white dragon ring gently uncoiled from her pinky, caressing the back of her hand with it's tiny kiss to together create a wall of ice in front of her. It roared with fury at the monster who dared to attack his gentle prize, and flew to join the others! The lake around Ghaundahar began to freeze from the white dragon prince's breath, encasing some of the tentacles in chunks of ice! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Explosions of fire and lighting, frost and acid light up the sky even as the growing sunlight illuminated the shimmering water of the bay. Crackles...and booms...and hissing sounds filled the air along with Ghaudahar's roars as the otherworldly grew desperate. Great tentacles flaily desperately now, filling the sky as one by one the dragons darting in and out were slapped down out of the sky. The green dragon who's scales seemed to be unbreakable was the first, his body sent hurtling into the buildings on the bottom of one of the nearby islands. The candy-cane like building snapped like twigs at the impace. Then...the golden dragon was knocked into the water sending a giant plume of water straight into the air, the spray then coming down and dowsing the five women on the statue. The black dragon...was encoiled in several of the larger tentacles as it spat fire and hatred into Ghaudahar's face. Only the song dragon was small and quick enough to avoid the flailing tentacles entirely.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tiri reached out her hand towards the water where the gold dragon had vanished...a scream rising in her throat. And Wren's...heart sank at the fate of the green dragon. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">And then the statue shook slightly...as the sun's rays finally stated to alight on it's great stone face. The five women struggled to keep their footing. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Oh! Oh! Big brother's finally waking up! He's such a sleepy-head!" Lumani laughed, looking upwards. She then turned to Wren "Can you...fly me...up there?" She pointed at the statue's head. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Wren was torn...she wanted to fly to the green dragon to see if he was ok. Her heart...was beating in her chest. But finally, she nodded, lifting the silver haired girl in her arms and flying upwards even as Ghaundhar strode forwards. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">When she was up near the head, Lumani pointed at one of the stone ears and the witch flew closer. With a great inrushing of air, Lumani shouted into the statue's ear "WAKE UP! WAKE UUUUPPP!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">With a shudder and grating sound...the statues eyes snapped open. With a swift motion that...seemed impossible for a such a large thing made of stone, the statue drew it's stone swords, sending the three poor women remaining in it's hands hurtling through the air! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"AAAAAHHHHHHH! Tiri and Lorwyn screamed. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"WHEEEEEE!" Sylinae laughed. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">SPLASH! They all landing into the water, sputtering, to see the statue in one smooth movement bring it's building sized stone swords up and slash Ghaudahar down the middle. The was a inhuman screen and flash of light brighter than the sun, blinding them all. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Wren bolted awake...the sunlight streaming through the window in the inn-room, the light painful to her eyes. She could feel her lover's arms around her waist, warm and safe, as Kale woke as well, startled by the sudden movement. "Mmm...what's up love?" He yawned sleepily. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"I had the strangest dream...." Wren blinked, shielded her eyes from the bright sunlight with her hands. It was already fading in her mind...like dreams always do. "There...were other...elven woman...and dragons..and our...foe." But the details...were disappearing already. Where...had they been? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"It's no suprise...he's been on all our minds..." Kale pulled her in for a hug. "It's no wonder your thinking about him...and after all that exotic gnomish cuisine last night...that causes strange dreams some times. He winced as he hugged her. "Oh..oww...my back hurts...I must of slept on it wrong..."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">--- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tiri woke suddenly to birds chirping and sunlight hitting her right in the face. She was sitting on a log, and could feel the warms from the embers of a fire behind her. "Oh Corellion!" She murmured, embarassed...she must have falled asleep on watch! Alaric...would never...let her forget it. And what a strange dream! Dragons...and tentacled mosters! Her eyes were drawn to the golden haired sorcerer who was thankfully still asleep. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She sighed...standing up and stretching, before cocking her head curiously and looking back at Alaric. Was it her imagination, or did his hair..seem..wet?

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Baroness Lorwynelle awoke...the sunlight filtering in through the shuttered windows of her lavish room in the Castle on Jade Hill. With a moan she murmured "Fifteen more minutes Larisul...." He was always...waking her up for official business with his knocking on her door. She bolted upright...and sighed sadly. It was just the sunlight...there had been no knocking. Where was her layabout...and when would he come back. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">--- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"SCREEEEEE" with an inhuman scream the face hugging tentacle creature shuddered and died, impaled on an magical elven blade and into the wooden wall of the small bedroom, just inches from the silver haired girls exposed face. Amazingly enough...it wasn't even enough to wake her from the apparently good dream she was having, She merely murmured, smiling and turned over, her head sinking deeper into the pillow. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Luthias panted heavily, as withdrew his glowing blade and flicked the creature impaled on it away to the floor, where he stabbed it several more times for good measure. A disguisting...creature..who knows what it would have done with his sister. He had awoken early...for some reason...filled with some nameless dread. He had rushed...to his sisters room to see...this thing...hovering over her. If he hadn't have awoken...she...she..he growled...stabbing it again. Thank Correllion. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Hathala awoke, stretching his wide black wings. That damn little half-elf. It had been over more than two decades since she had once freed him. She had been the only light in his own personal darkness once. He glanced over to see there was still a ripple in the water of the pond beside him. She must have gone in then. He turned to see a brazier in the corner alight with a deep red flame. It had an hourglass etched on the front of it where sand poured slowly from the top into the bottom. Amazing... Even his own fire had not been enough to light that brazier. A gift well worth the use of the watery portal he guarded.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Outside a young elf with long white hair gently closed the door behind her as she exited. She had an exquisite mask of black lace that curved over most of her face. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Her shining blue eyes were smiling, "Good luck, Mother. Find him." She glanced at the ornate candle carved with perfect red dragon scales in her hand. It was still alight with flame, and draconic runes of time spiraled down it's length. She had stolen it herself from a hidden cavern temple to Hathala's beloved Chronos that had been long forgotten... it was likely the only item left in the world that could light that brazier. "He shall find this interesting," she said aloud to herself, heading to take the candle itself to Mask as a gift. She would eventually reclaim that shadowy portal of water for her God... as it was rightfully his... For today, helping her mother in to use it would have to be enough.

Sylinae awoke on the shoreline of a great city... one that she did not recognize. The rainy season had come again to the beautiful port city of Lyrabar, and it was the steady drops on her face that broke her sleep. She sat up with her mouse-like mask fading back from her face. One half of it was pure white and the other half was spotted with brown. She nodded, touching her bare face. He was here then... different... but... some part of him... was here in this world... her playful god who still didn't realize it was her in this mask. No... his attention had been drawn to her only child, and that was fine with Sylinae. She touched the amulet around her neck that felt quiet. The avatar of Hope would not find her goddess here... but hopefully... She just may find the man she had been waiting for... or perhaps some clue as to his whereabouts. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">-- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Wren frowned at Kale, "Your back? ...it... it was a dream... wasn't it?" She ran her hand along his warm skin, looking for any sign of scales. "What if it wasn't? My mother had dreams and visions often... especially when pregnant with me..." She touched her abdomen, pausing for a moment. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Wren... my beloved... I'm sure it was just a dream," Kale tried to assure her, brushing her raven hair back from her face, but she wasn't having any of it. She grabbed her pack, pulling an old book and quill immediately from the top as though the haversack knew what she wanted. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Sorry, Mother, but I need to use your book," she flipped to the back where there were empty pages and started scribbling random notes on the paper, talking to herself as she did so. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"The Reverie. There was an old woman... there were cards... Damn, I never looked at them. Someone was reading them aloud... something about a hag... and and and... a marriage... mmm a throne?" she growled, "Why didn't I look at them?! And there were elves there... I didn't know them at first. I mean that never happens in just dreams, right? You always dream of people you know." She looked up at Kale who she was sitting on top of, her book laying on his chest. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Umm... right?" he really wasn't sure what answer she wanted him to say, but she was obviously intent on something. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Right," she nodded, "Their names... what were there names?" She tried hard to see them... to remember their faces and the names she had spoken. "One had blue hair. I remember that... her name... I had known it... Ember... Ember... Damn! Why can't I remember it?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Easy, my love," Kale soothed her, caressing her thigh sitting over him, "Slow down. You can do this." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Wren took a long slow breath, and nodded. What else could she remember... "There were ... five... of us... One was so strange... a little dangerously crazy... and one had deep red hair with... with... stuff... piercings! on her face... and... and a dragon with each one... You! You were mine!" She leaned over the book, kissing his lips and smiling coyly, "You were quite striking as a dragon, you know." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">He laughed, tickling her waist, "What are you trying to say? Am I not striking enough for you now? Maybe you just can't see me enough..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She laughed as he tickled her, and he stole the book to put behind his head, pulling her close to steal another kiss. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"But... but I need to write it all down!" she exclaimed, "There was a statue!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Oh yes... because it sounds all very coherent so far," he nodded to her, playful sarcasm dripping in his tone. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Hey! I'm trying!" she argued, writing the word //statue// on his bare chest. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">He laughed placing his hands over his chest to protect his skin, "Why don't you just try and tell me all about it... over some nice hot tea. It sounds like it must have been exciting." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She pouted, "But..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"You can tell me all about how... striking... I **was**," he grinned at her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She laughed, "Oh my gosh you licked my face!" She touched her cheek, laughing again. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tiri stared for a long moment, watching Alaric sleep. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Her fingers twitched, she just had to know! She inched closer. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She leaned over him, her fingers inches from touching his hair... oh Correllion, what if he wakes up?! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">She swallowed, her hand was shaking. She slowly caressed his long golden hair that did indeed feel a bit wet. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">He stirred, opening his eyes to see her so close, "Tiri? What are you...?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"What? Nothing! Nothing! I... I thought I seen ashes from the fire.. just making sure you weren't burning, that's all," she dashed back to her post, folding her arms and looking guilty, "It was just a dream in your head. Go back to sleep." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">--- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Lorwynelle stared longingly out her window, the warm sun rising in a beautiful blue sky.