Session+31


 * 10-19-13**
 * The Battle with Raven, Arrival in Sanctuary, and Visiting Changed Older Friends...**

During the first year we were gone... Annaisaru went out with Renata on a duel "something over a man" ... where they killed each other. The city took no action, causing the rift between Myth Coramanth and Lyrabar, causing the embassy to be pulled out of the city.

Three years after that, Minastes spotted drow near Dun-Tharos where the RottingMan is. She seen tornadoes rip through the city and winged things being torn out of the sky. When she returned to Myth Coramanth, it was quiet and there were bodies of drow and elves alike everywhere... along with a large black dragon, impaled on a broken tree. Some of the drow bodies included those from the circle of 8 the masters and apprentices worshiping the 4 drow gods. Mina burned the drow bodies away from the city and buried all of the elven bodies she could find over the years. Attalicus's body was found with his wife, Moirae, and Fiona also dead... but the high mage's spirit lingered on long enough to deliver the message that the survivors fled to Sanctuary under the care of High Mage Aspen. "It must have been a pyrrhic victory for the drow... because there have been no drow to come here since." Sonaris perished with the other priests, but Lady Kinu was never found. "Perhaps she sought out her own revenge... which could also be why I haven't seen any drow."

Uther breathes heavily, fighting back the rage that pulls him... Melar is powerful now and the pull is heavier, stronger... Posy comforts him and snaps him back. He feels the call to hunt from his brothers and sisters. She looks around at the rubble he's standing in and she can see elven ghosts walking about the city. A young woman hands her a flower from her basket and as she walks away a little spectral girl runs up and hugs on to her, "Mommy!" Posy watches them spirit away and lets them go. She takes Uther back to the ship, hoping the pull will be easier on him there. It does calm him a bit.

After returning to Destiny to travel to Sanctuary, Yuki wrote in her magic journal in hope to reach Quill / Axton... Suddenly pages and pages and pages filled up her journal as the messages flooded in! He wrote to her faithfully every week for 15 years... she discovers by the writing that Axton is Quill and vice versa... and he fills her in on events that happened while we were gone.

13 years after the destruction of Myth Coramanth... Axton writes to Yuki...

// Dearest Yuki, // // I'm afraid....this will be my last entry. I still...pray that you are well...wherever you are with the rest of your companions. I will...never...ever lose my faith in you...but I can...no longer put my faith in her. Not anymore....not after so much loss. Do the gods...even care what happens to us...or just...are we pawns to them. //

// I write this...on the road heading north with a small group of refugees. Lyrabar...is...no more. How did things...go so terribly wrong? Those....insane....bastards...worshipers of the Many-Eyed Tentacled Lord finally did it. Rent the veil separating this world from the insane world of their master. Rifts...opened in the sky above the city and things....came out. Horrible things I can't even describe descended on the city. Not the undead or demons like the Paladins had been trained to fight. Alien...horrors. But the city fought. Everyone...fought. All the temples united...with the paladins...and mages of the University. But it was not enough. A larger tear was opening...and beyond...a great eye. It was too terrible to look upon. //

// And so...the paladins decided to evacuate the city...as many as we could. Those that could not fight. Those...young students of the University...and young paladins or those too injured to fight anymore have come along to guard us. Everyone else...stayed...to give their lives for the city that they loved. //

// Then...the dragons came. A shining...metallic wave of gold and silver, bronze and copper. Never have I seen something so beautiful. Flying over the city they brought death...to the invaders. Some flew...into the tentacled gateways hanging into the air..closing them behind them. Sacrificing themselves. But the gates...were opening faster than they could be sealed. //

// Then...a pair of great...silver dragons flew at the rapidly growing...largest tear. That...horrible eye...watching...a rumbling like laughter. Tentacles...writing and spearing out...rending the bodies of the two silver dragons as they flew straight into the heart of it. Like...butterflies...pinned on the wall by the horrible..tentacles of the dark god. //

// But then...there was nothing but fire. Like a sun....over the city. And it kept growing..and growing and the eye screamed. And still...the fire...grew...engulfing the city...engulfing...everything like a dying star. I still...have trouble seeing...even now...the after image burned into my eyes. Finally it faded...and there was nothing left...of the city...or the tears....or...anything. Just a smoldering crater...miles...wide. //

// Oh gods...everyone is dead...how could it...have come...to this. How could she allow it. How...could she... //

We fly west toward Sanctuary... Yuki reads the entry aloud to us. Wren hugs on to her as the tears flow. We tell everyone on the ship what happened. Gregori, of course, takes it the hardest... having a real connection to this world and the people in it. A couple of days into our travel, in the grasslands past the woods, we pass by a vast city-large area covered in red fungus vines grasping out for whatever it can reach.

We post watches on the ship as we fly. Wren and Yuki walk the deck together on their watch, Yuki reading excerpts from her journal to Wren. They hear a crackle and a pop and turn to see the beautiful form of Raven Dreamspinner appear on the deck. A third eye is on her forehead. "My daughter! You've returned. I thought that I sensed you. It is so good to see you." Wren smiles up at Raven, "Mother!" She leans close to Yuki, "Go get the others!" Yuki clutches onto Wren's sleeve, whispering back, "No! I can't leave you here alone!"  Raven smiles beautifully at Wren, "Is that your friend, Yuki?" Wren swallows, nodding and holds Yuki's hand, trying to keep the priestess a little more behind her, "Yes... I'm so glad that you survived! So many have died." Raven extends her hand out to Wren, "Of course I survived... I'm your mother, the great Raven Dreamspinner. You've been away from the nest for far too long... Come with me. It's time to go home." Wren shakes her head, "I... can't. There's so much still to do... Loch is still missing!" Raven stops, turning around, her white dreadlocks move on their own, writhing a bit like tentacles, and asks calmly, "Are you talking back to your mother, young lady?" Wren quickly shakes her head, swallowing again as she watches this spookier, even more intimidating version of mother, "No mother." Raven nods calmly and extends her hand again, "These people have kept you away from your duties long enough." Wren protested, "...but you told me yourself to go and get Loch..." Yuki starts to cast sanctuary and slip a little more behind Wren, her lips barely moving at the start of her prayer... Raven turns to her, "Aught aught..." she sends an electrical shock at the young priestess to stop her from casting. Wren throws her hands up, recognizing the spell coming from her mother and sends out a strong willed dispel magic to counter it... her mother is powerful... but the dispel pushes the lightning off just enough to save Yuki from the full damage, frying her instead of killing her... "Kiiii Yahhh!" The prayer leaves her lips anyway, casting the sanctuary over Wren. Wren turns back to Raven, after verifying Yuki stayed up alive, "You leave her be... this is between you and me."

The others hear the booming rumble of the lightning spell go off above them and start running for the deck. Raven nods to Wren, "I agree she's nothing of importance... now come along. Your sisters are eager to see you." She turns behind her and Ibis, Oriole, Heron, and Shrike appear on the deck. They are beautiful women, but black tentacles burst out of their skin and their eyes are black. Wren gasps in horror and turns to Raven accusingly, "What have YOU DONE?!" Raven looks at her confused, "What are you talking about?" Wren looks at her appalled, "What did you do to them? How COULD you do that to them?!" Raven smiles looking back and forth from Wren to their coven sisters, "Don't you see? They are beautiful. Soon you will be beautiful too." Wren takes a step back, but looks at her defiantly, "I AM beautiful." Her eyes narrow angrily at this evil spectral shell that looked and sounded like her mother, "Much more beautiful than you could ever hope to be." Wren feels a strong hand push her back as Kale steps between her and Raven protectively, blade drawn, "You'll never take her!" Wren lays a warm hand on his back. Raven glares at Kale, "Man!" Wren growls at her, moving back up beside Kale as she hexes a protective ward around him, "He's mine! Back off!"

The others race up the last of the stairs, emerging onto the deck to see Raven and the four tentacled witches about to battle... Yuki shouts back at them, "She wants to take Wren!" An eye opens up in the back Oriole's head to peer at them approaching. Erevin looses an arrow into her newly opened eye, the puppeted witch screaming out with Oriole's voice.

Raven narrows her eyes at Wren, "Choosing a man over your sisters... oh how far you have fallen..." Wren holds her ground, "You should take them home!" Raven continues to stare at her daughter, "Oh I will take them home... and you with them... though perhaps not as you are..." Magic flashes off her hands and Wren shimmers, falling to the ground as a little black fuzzy bunny. Able to keep her mind in tact, Wren clicks little angry noises and raises her little paw at her mother. Kale steps forward, angrily, plunging his blade into Raven.

Posy rushes in close and releases her ring of retribution, waving out an explosive ring of fire around her. The four tentacled witches scream out in pain as the multitude of eyes all over their bodies close tightly from the bright flash! They turn around, shrieking out in one unified voice, "You burn my vessels! Now we will burn you!" 7 fiery rays pour over Posy! Smoldering as smoke wafts off of her body, Posy remains standing. Yuki gets up, shaking off the lightning, she spins in the air... white feathered wings coming off of her as she moves in bravely toward the witches to wave a warm healing over Posy. Uther charges in to join Posy, Thorn whispering encouraging words to him to get him to rage as he leaps onto his back as they charge into the witches. Erevin launches his arrows around them into Ibis, impaling her brutally with three arrows... were she a normal witch, it would have dropped her... but these enchanted shells seem strong.

Wren's bunny ears twitch back and forth angrily as she continues to chitter, bouncing around the deck behind Kale as she hexes out good fortune over Yuki. Inali sits on the deck staring at the black bunny, trying not to drool... Raven spits out her words at Kale, "Filthy man! Know your betters!" She casts out, shattering his protective ward as his body turns rigid, unable to move!

Lightning flashes out from the 4 witches, dancing across the deck to light up Posy viciously and crackle over several others. Posy mounts Uther, attacking the witches over his shoulder. The barbarian doesn't even notice her as he rages angrily, even bigger than normal, swiping witches with his claws, ripping out their tentacles as they scream! Yuki slings her ribbon out again, caressing over Posy with a strong wave of life. Thorn throws a dagger into another witch, porting in close. Their tentacles start to wrap around him... "Whoa! Personal space ladies, personal space!" Erevin sends in another deadly barrage of arrows, dropping Ibis to the ground. Raven turns around to her scream, "Daughter!" Erevin looks at her, warning flashing across his eyes, "Raven, take them and run while you can! We will kill them all!"

Raven turns angrily, waving her hand as though pushing Kale out of her way, "Get out of my sight, MAN!" Kale turns obediently and runs across the deck to leap off of the edge! The black bunny on the deck lets out a piercing shrill shriek! Raven continues toward Erevin, throwing out an empowered lightning bolt at him ... but as it rushes toward him, Gregori steps in it's path, sending out his own lightning bolt to counter hers, saving Erevin from death!

Posy swings her axe low, taking off Oriole's head, dropping her corpse to the deck! Yuki tries putting all of her will into a dispel on Wren, watching her shimmer and change back into Wren, but with big black bunny ears! Wren stands up, naked, grimacing in pain from the slow, twisting change from Yuki battling Raven's power over her. She's the first to notice the winds picking up over her bare skin. Erevin draws her mother's blade, staring out at Raven, "Do you know this blade? You betrayed it's last owner..." He charges her, driving the blade into her chest. She puts her arms around him, "If you wanted to embrace that badly, you should've just asked..." He growls out at her, shoving her arms, "You will kneel before your king. You gave your allegiance to this blade and I call upon it!" Her voice is haunting and whispery, "I have only one master now..."

Wren walks up behind Raven, wrapping her arms around her, "Noooo... but I love you..." a vampiric embrace, drawing a bit of the essence of the dark god out of her. Raven glares over her shoulder back at Wren, "How dare you betray me..." and she turns, back to Erevin, holding him in her embrace, "My king..." and thousands of black spiders... covered in a multitude of eyes... pour from her lips, covering his body, crawling inside his armor and biting him mercilessly. Posy watches Uther still tearing apart a corpse... she directs him to another witch and acrobatics off of him to go help Thorn with the other witch, gashing into her with her axe! Bedraggled and barely standing, Heron and Shrike turn to each other, speaking in unison, "For the many tentacled lord, Ghaunadaur!" They cast toward each other, large fire balls flying through the air to explode together, burning Yuki, Posy, and Uther... and destroying the two witches! Yuki throws out her arms, sending out a wave of healing over everyone! Thorn slashes into Raven, finding that she has no vital spots... eaten inside by the dark god.

Violent winds wash over the deck, several slide across the deck in the power of it! The spiders blow off of Erevin as he rolls across the deck in the wind. He buries his moonblade into the wood, holding himself firmly. Raven is blown through the air, screaming out, "This will not save you! You killed my daughters!" Her eyes look to Wren accusingly. Wren grabs onto the ropes of the ship, reaching her arm out toward her mother, "I WILL save you!!" lightning flashes out toward Raven and as it sparks through the air, Raven disappears. Yuki throws her ribbon around Erevin's waist, and he grabs onto it, holding her against the winds. Thorn and Posy latch onto the deck with their own weapons... and finally the winds die down. A beautiful young elven woman, with long silvery hair, lands on the deck, "Is everyone alright?" Erevin nods to her, "We lost one..." and as Wren goes to leap off of the deck to find Kale... he raises up in the winds and is set down on the deck... Wren running up to him, still naked, with her black bunny ears twitching frantically on top of her head, "Are you alright? Are you alright?! Are you back to normal?" The elven woman smiles at us again, "Is everyone alright?" Erevin nods to her gratefully, "We are now thanks to you." She nods, "We saw the lightning from the city and I felt the disturbance in the air... my name is Lumani."

We all thank her and she recognizes the ship Destiny, inviting us back to the city of Sanctuary... She tells us that Venchelay retired from mayor, his son taking his place, but he still resides in the city. As we fly in, we see the walls that they put in place around the city... huge, 80 feet tall! We land the Destiny in the lake inside the city. The city is placed in a valley and the mountain air is cool and crisp.

Uther growls, still lost in the rage... Posy tries to calm him, but he growls her name, advancing toward her. She opens her shirt to surround him in her boobs as she tackles him to the floor, but still he growls at her, claws still extended, grabbing onto her back. Yuki casts over him, making him sleep. He slowly releases his grip on Posy, fading into sleep. She releases her rage and seeps blood from her wounds, exhausted. Yuki casts and casts and casts massive waves of healing.

Lumani escorts us all into the tower to see Kai Silvermane, headmaster of the university and she sends a student off to wake Lady Aspen. As we approach the door, we can hear a young woman protesting inside, "M'lord... you HAVE to sleep! You can't do everything!" A male voice responds, "There is too much to do... I can sleep later." We find a young human woman attending a young man with short silvery hair. He turns to the woman with us, questioningly, "Lumani?" She bows to him slightly, "Lord Kai... these people claim to be Lord Erevin Lionspaw and his companions... they were aboard the Destiny." He nods to her and then to Erevin, "Lord Erevin... it is nice to see you again. We heard that you were lost." Erevin explains that time passed differently for us on our journey in the astral sea. We learn that Kai is Magda and Silvermane's son. He introduces the woman at his side as Alexia Aresha Sokolov, one of the survivors from Lyrabar. He sends her off to get us all tea and Yuki recognizes the look of love on her face for Kai, but she just can't tell by his face if he's in love with her as well or not.

Aspen arrives, hugging everyone, overjoyed with tears in her eyes to see us alive and well... she even hugs Wren tightly much to the witch's surprise. Wren asks if there was a priest named Axton among the refugees, but no one seems to recognize the name. Aspen tells us that Attalicus and others searched for us for months... and then Raven returned doing something to turn off the mythal... and then the drow came and several dragons in the night, slaughtering people. A powerful sorceress with the tentacled mask fought with Attalicus and he sent Aspen off with what people she could. She says that they even searched for us in the mythical city known as The Cage.

Lumani lost Fiona without ever finding her and she lost Luthais in the war in Lyrabar. When Wren asks, Aspen sobs and apologizes that Yienshul didn't make it. Kale tightens his grip instantly angry, but Wren is quick to calm and soothe him. Alexia volunteers to escort us all to Venchelay in the morning. As things are calming down, the door to the room hammers open... Erevin instantly drawing his blade as everyone turns to see a dark robed figure, wearing the symbol of Shar, emerging into the room. Kai turns to look at him, "Harbinger? It didn't take you long to hear the news..." Yuki runs to the door to hug and greet him... He embraces her warmly, "It's true... Yuki, you've returned!" The hood cascades down to his shoulders, revealing the fiery haired Axton about 15 years older than we seen him last. Her eyes go wide, "What is this?" But he looks her over again, and hugs her tightly "You're alive... thank the gods you're alive!" He just holds her, hugging her closely. Finding it almost a little hard to breathe, she hugs onto him tightly anyway, pulsing out warmth and love, surrounding him with herself and the power of Sune. Wren nods from the side, "Axton... it's good to see you alive." She adds a little uncertainly, "...in your black and purple robes." Erevin nods to him, "Lord Axton" and sheathes his sword. Yuki looks up at Axton's face, "I think we need to talk..." He nods to her, "Certainly." Looking up to the rest of us, he nods, "If you'll excuse me..." Yuki sinks into him and the two of them fade out together.

Erevin turns to Kai, "So what is going on with your neighbors? Why is there a wall around Sanctuary now?" Kai explains that it's been a decade since Lyrabar fell, but there is a creeping infestation... the red root vines have crept up from the south, overtaking the land... turning the wildlife and everything it touches. He tells us that their researchers have done everything they can, trying to find a cure... He leans heavily on the table, exhausted, Alexia watching him with loving concern, longing to go to his aid. He tells us that the barbarian tribes have fallen under the aspect of Melar lead by the terrible beast lord, Uthgart. He tells us that the wall keeps them out, but they still manage to raid the countryside... less insidious than the vines, but a constant danger. To the north of Damara is the witch king, Vassa. "The problems are many, m'lord... I just wasn't ready." Erevin nods, trying to comfort him, "None of us were." Alexia moves up beside him again, "You're doing your best, m'lord." Erevin nods to her and then back to him, "From what I've seen.... you're fairing better than most." Kai sighs wearily, "My best isn't enough it seems.. I'm merely staving things off." Erevin nods, "You've done better than I." Kai nods to Erevin, "Thank you." He accepts and sips the tea from Alexia, and nods to Erevin again, "We should see to your rest. I'll see that The Harbinger returns your Yuki." Erevin nods his appreciation and offers to give Kai an extensive tour of Destiny in the morning after he rests. Alexia nods, "Rest." She lays a hand on his tired shoulder, "I'll take them to their rooms."

Axton and Yuki appear on top of a tower, under the stars... the chilly winds blowing against them. Axton holds her against his warm body and she takes his face in both of her hands, searching his eyes, "What are you thinking?" He smiles at her, "It's good to have you back... I never gave up." Her eyes well with tears, "Yes you did... look at you... Harbinger?" He blushes at her, "There's a story behind that..." Yuki shakes her head, "You didn't write that in the journal... I read everything you know." He nods softly, "So you figured it out, huh?" She nods, "Yeah... and I'm late." He hugs her again and she embraces him, wrapping him in positive and loving Sune energy. He speaks to her softly, "Yuki... I have missed you so much. I can't believe that I lost faith in her... I should've known... that her love for you would've kept you alive..." his words are cut off with a strangling gasp sound as he steps back from her, his hand on his chest. Yuki tries to send him waves of healing, but he holds up his other hand telling her to stop. She looks him over concerned, "What's going on?" He holds onto her hand, "Your healing can't help me... that is just the mistress reminding me who it is that I serve now." Yuki flails her arms about, "Well stop serving her! Just... just stop... right now! Just stop! I'm back. Me... Just walk away. Get rid of that cloak... just..." She tugs on his cloak, starting to take it off of him. Axton starts to laugh and then again coughs and gasps out. She waves her hands all about him and in the air around them, "Go away! Shoo! Shoo!" She looks back at him, "I can... I can... okay... I can't resurrect you yet..." tears well up in her eyes as she frantically longs to help him, "...it's only been 2 weeks for me!" He smiles at her affectionately, "You look as beautiful as you always did." She instantly melts, smiling and blushing up at him, "Aww..." She bites her lip and fiddles with the ruby fox ring still on her finger, the beauty bestowed by Hanalil glowing on her skin, "You... wrote every week." He nods to her, speaking softly, "Its..." He leans closer and whispers to her, "Its because I love you." He steps back again, gasping, "The Mistress is not happy..." Yuki steps closer, "Good! Stop calling her your Mistress! She is NOT your mistress!" She waves the air around him again, "Go away! Go away! He's MINE!" She hugs onto him tightly but he already starts to fade! He whispers out, "I'll...come back..." as she cries out, "No!! No!!" trying to hold onto him as he fades to nothingness from her grasp, "MINE!" She drops to her knees.

Wren lounges on Kale's lap in their room as Yuki bursts through the door in tears, "WREN!!!" Wren looks up with concern and immediately opens her arms. Yuki crawls onto the bed, ignoring that Kale is there and hugs onto Wren sobbing out the story as Wren tries to calm and soothe her, listening to every word until Yuki falls asleep in her arms. Kale offers to leave the two of them alone, but Wren asks him to stay.

Thorn answers a knock on his door to find himself staring at a woman's crotch, he looks up slowly to see two beautiful human women... The green haired woman exclaims, "It is you! You haven't changed at all!" He looks at them a little uncertainly, "No... I haven't." The dark haired woman exclaims, "You don't recognize us?" The green haired woman goes in and hugs him warmly, "Why didn't you grow up?" The dark haired woman speaks a little softly to her, "I TOLD you... he's a halfling. They don't get any bigger than that." The green haired woman nods to her and turns back to Thorn excitedly, "Don't you remember? I'm Boots! ...and this is Salem! Waifs for life, yo!" Thorn looks at her a little confused, "Boots and Salem?" and then he brightens, "Ladies! ...come in! Mi casa es su casa!" He looks them over again as they come into his room, "Wow! You two are ... much older." Salem nods questioningly, "It's been 25 years!" He nods, "mmm for you..." Boots looks at him curiously, "Are halflings ageless like elves?" Thorn barely manages in a quick, "no" as Boots continues on, "Where the hell have you been?! You never came back to Lyrabar!" He smiles, "Adventuring!" Boots blinks at him, "That keeps you young?" He laughs, "It's only been 2 weeks for me." She looks at him a little more confused, "Well that's weird..." Salem nods, "Back in Lyrabar... when I last saw you, I was training with one of the local mages named Samira... and she said Boots had magical talent too... so when she was older we enrolled in her the arcane university." Thorn looks at her surprised, "Really?" Salem nods and continues, "Our father wasn't really too keen on the whole "waifs" thing." Thorn feigns surprise, "No? ...but you had such a ... shining future!" Boots nods, exclaiming, "I know! We were good at it!" Salem continues, "So we both were enrolled in the arcane university... I even worked my way up and became head of the sorcerer's tower!" He smiles at her impressed, "Really?" She nods again, "Right before... well there was no more sorcerer's tower." He frowns, "Yeah... that could put a serious crimp in your plans for the future." He ponders for a moment, "What about Knives?" Boots start to cry! Thorn hugs her, patting her soothingly, "Aww, there, there." Boots wraps her arms around him tightly getting a few clear words out between sobs, "He defended us til the..." He nodded, rubbing her back to calm her, "As he should have. Good man." Salem tells him that they came to Sanctuary as part of the refugees... the headmaster at the time had perished, but his assistant, Sarah Mercer led them to here. Boots nods, "We call her Mew... she's kind of a tyrant!" Thorn grins and nods, "So... magical aptitude... both of you!" "Yes!" Boots smiles, "You should see me cast spells!" He takes a step back and gestures out for her, "Go ahead." He nods encouragingly. She summons a beautiful celestial hawk, "I can summon all kinds of celestial things!" He nods to her, approvingly, "It's beautiful." Boots smiles happily, "So what have been doing for the last 25 years... or umm.. 2 weeks?" Thorn laughs and Salem nudges Boots, "We should let him rest." Thorn shakes his head, "No, no. We can chat. Stay. You have 25 years of stuff to tell me about...I may not have much, but I can listen." They tell him all kinds of tales about a thieves war when the black mark came back and stirred up trouble. Salem tells him they were still looking for Thorn... and all of us. They were eventually killed off, along with the Jester's crew. They tell him tales of the arcane university and all the hijinks they had there, fairly happy lives until the war. They talk for most of the night. Thorn apologizes for being missing for so long. Boots smiles up at him, "But you're here now! You're going to help us right?" He nods to her, "Yes, I will." She smiles cheerfully, "I knew you'd be back! I never lost hope!" Salem glances at Thorn and shakes her head behind Boots, who is now yawning and leaning against Thorn sleepily. Salem drags her off to sleep.

Aspen and Alexia come to escort us to Venchelay. Yuki and Alexia chat briefly about Kai and love and the young student mage seems interested in Yuki's gems. We overhear a conversation of food being prepared to be taken to "the island" a small island with a small tower out on the lake... where Master Rosche resides, Kai's grandfather. Wren, Yuki, and Kale head to the island with the young mage to see Rosche while Aspen and Alexia take the others to see Venchelay, a green-haired, older yet age-less elf. They find him whittling. Erevin and him share the skill. They talk about the Destiny and needing his help and he agrees to go see the ship again and do what he can to help, using a cane to walk.

Wren tells Kale to stay calm and assures him Rosche is harmless. They go up to meet a beautiful silvery haired woman who greets them cheerfully and accepts the food that they bring... it looks like Argent, but she has no memory of them. Simple round room inside, cluttered with books and several other young ladies. One of them looks like Samira... and Melanie... and a few others they recognize and another dozen that they don't. Wren looks around confused, and shivers... leaning closer to Yuki, "This is a little creepy..." Yuki is now clutching Wren's sleeve. Wren looks around carefully, barely able to notice the magic enchantment over the amazing created women. Rosche looks much older... he doesn't remember them... Wren tells him that he helped them. Yuki tells him that he ripped their clothes off and he looks at her, waving his hand to magically rip hers off! "Kiii yahhh!! He's still a PERVERT! He hasn't changed!" Yuki waves her ribbon, creating new clothes. Rosche nods slowly, "They do seem vaguely familiar..." he looks over to Wren, "Do I need to rip yours off too?" Wren laughs, "You haven't really seen mine before... but I'll tell you what you might remember..." she walks closer and sits on his lap, looping an arm around his shoulder. Kale starts growling, but Wren casts him a glance, reminding him to be calm. Rosche nods to Wren, "It is coming back to me a little bit..." She nods encouragingly, "You helped us with information about a boat and you gave us your book about spheres." Yuki looks at him, "Sir... we can fix this... but we need your mind." He shakes his head at her, "I can't help anyone..." Argent lays a hand on Rosche's shoulder, turning to look at Wren and Yuki, "I'm afraid if you need his mind... then your cause is lost." Yuki shakes her head, looking back to Rosche, "But you're the Stormbringer!" He shakes his head, "I'm just an old man... who's lived far too long... if you need help, speak with my grandson... he can help you. You should hurry." Wren tilts her head, "Why should we hurry?" Rosche looks at her sadly, "He's going to die soon... they all die." Wren's heart goes out to him, seeing the soul broken by tragedy, and she hugs him comfortingly. Yuki stands taller, "They wont die. I'm a priestess of Sune! I'll heal them. I will die first." He nods to her sadly, "Most assuredly." Yuki looks at Wren, "We need to fix this." She nods back to her, sliding off of his lap. Argent tells them they should probably leave, they're upsetting him. Yuki turns back as they head out the door, pointing at Rosche firmly, "Remember! You... you... PERVERT! The Rosche I knew wouldn't have allowed for this to happen. Pull yourself together, sir!" They leave with Kale. Yuki lays her head on Wren's shoulder as Wren drapes her arm around her, both of the walking a little sadder, "Wren... I don't like this world. Rosche is... well he's a pervert... but he's not supposed to be like that... and Axton is Harbinger... and everything is wrong." Wren nods to her, "We'll fix it."

Posy fills in Uther and Ursus on the information about the barbarians and Uthgart. Destiny and Venchelay converse on the ship... she tells him that we need the residual energies within him to restore her full ability. "Lord of Ardourn... your mastery over time... we need it." He looks around at all of us, "Is the situation that grim?" Wren frowns and sighs, "This world... compared to the other..." she nods sadly. Erevin frowns, "It is dire. Thousands... tens of thousands have died... whole cities devoured." Yuki sighs, "My boyfriend is the prince of loss! Many heroes dead!" Erevin nods, "Many many heroes died... and many dragons." Venchelay nods, "Very well then... I will help you in any way that I can." Shri steps next to Erevin, taking his hand, "You know... he is an old... well I don't know what he is, but... that doesn't sound like he's going to survive." Wren frowns, "Is there any other way to get the information?" Erevin shakes his head, "I can't ask him to die for this." Venchelay shakes his head, "You don't have to ask... my wife has passed on and I have no other reason to hang on... if you will swear to undo this, then I will make the sacrifice." Wren is concerned that his soul will be forever a part of the ship, wanting him to be sure of his sacrifice. Erevin asks if we will see him again. He answers, "You will see A me... if you come to Sanctuary... or if you are in Sanctuary." He sighs, "Oh, I though I left that mind behind..." Shri nods, "We will come to visit you." Erevin nods, "Often." She takes his hand, "Your sacrifice will not be in vain..." with her last word, she gasps out as a sword comes out of her chest, figures appearing on the boat... Raven is with them. Other drow. A snarling 15' tall white bear with a scar over his milky white eye, the other eye blood red. Uther whispers, staring at the bear, "...father." Erevin turns, "Now Venchelay!" A drow woman, one of the circle of 8, pulls her blade out of Shri, dropping her to the ground, "You'll never get the chance to experience a traitor..." Erevin brings his moonblade up to take the drow's head, but she meets it with her own black blade, "Lord Erevin... I've been waiting for you for 25 years. I knew you'd return soon enough." He growls at her, "Then you have waited for your own death!" She narrows her eyes, "You killed my brother!" Erevin nods, swinging his blade again, "Then I'm off to a good start then!" "Come and take me if you can..." She taunts him and glances at her black blade, "Come Eclipse... let us take their moonblades!"