To the Point

[Alterity]

[Please note, this is a joint story posting by Rohenna, Domina, Malekyth and myself. All use of characters are approved. Enjoy! ]

PART 1

“Enough!”

The voice reverberated around the room. The speaker stood at the dais, facing the audience seated in a crescent before him. His voice carried across the ornate dwelling, shifting and echoing towards the high ceiling of entwined branches and the skylight in the centre.

The Knight, Sir Hyel had projected his voice over the uproar of his compatriots, using centuries of practiced oration to pierce the din. It was fortunate that he had never acquired the poor habit and reliance on using magic to amplify his voice that his colleagues had. His voice crashed through the turmoil and silenced the cries of outrage.

“All I ask is one hour of observed trespass in order to remove the ilk from the Woods. I realise full well what it is I ask, what rules I ask that we break. But we cannot maintain the shield forever.”

The Archmage looked at the Governor as he continued.

“The tree is dying.”

Again cries of outrage burst forth from the gathered elves. Questions lashed out about tactics to save the tree, about tactics to rid the forest of the ilk themselves. Giving them a few moments to express their frustration the Loremaster held up his hands for silence once more.

“We have tried everything we can think of. Drudaic magics failed, Arcane magics were practically absorbed, alchemy was able to slow the spread but not top it. It is foolish to delay longer… Please, Grant me leave to bring them here!”

The Governor slowly stood, silencing a fresh burst of anger from with this slight motion. “Hyelaran, I do understand why you wish for this to come to pass. Yet… I could see us allowing the half elf, at least she is half our blood and the Forest would allow it. I could even see us allowing the Iryodian, he did not answer the call but the Woods should not shun him. But a full blooded human? This is madness, you of anyone should be aware of the damage they cause, look upon yourself!”

The Slayer of Zumen - the Winged Death and General of Canas - stood taller under the weight of this counter argument, the Governor had a point, but his was better.

“The human is blessed by Shamesh himself, He who ridded us of the I’Tel’gothrim plague, He who saved the other Trees from their assault, and He who continues to prevent them from mobilizing. She is nigh Scion enough to be summoned by name! Shamesh has bestowed upon her an aura which should have the Forest react slowly to her presence, and should prevent the Shard from corrupting as they leave. She, like the other two, is imperative to the safe removal of the Shard.”

The Governor too drew himself up to his full height, and looked upon the elf that had rediscovered the Baraan Portal Network. “I will say here and now. The three of them will have permission to enter the Forest for one single hour; if they have not left by the end of the hour then the Woods will devour them. They will be under close guard during their trespass, and will be slain if they damage the Forest. Lastly, Hyelaran, you will never again ask a favour of Rian. You have used up all of our generosity towards you, for now and forever.”

The Governor turned and stepped out of the chamber, and soon after the rest of his compatriots did as well. The Head Librarian of the Great Library of Cear slumped against the dais as the last elf left, exhausted to the core.

[Alterity]

The wind blows softly through the Fort City of Ravenswatch as it bustles to life in the early morning light. The cool billowing breeze brings a hint of a life-giving rain to come, an end to the temporary drought; farmers and merchants alike rush to and fro preparing for the coming storm. Birds fly high overhead, joyous for the return of summer to this part of the land, and preparing to return to their ‘summer’ nests and roosts; likewise to avoid the imminent downpour. Many of the avians avoid the Ravenswood, avoiding the eternal winter that has settled there.

A solitary half elf stands on the cliff outside the gate, gazing out across the valley quietly. She smiles softly, inhaling deeply, the promise of summer upon the wind. Smelling the rain, the half elf glances up at the sky as the cooler breeze tangles around her; she checks for rainclouds before quietly moving towards the city gate.

She passes by bustling merchants with carts as they head towards Cear, hoping to outrun the rain, letting the storm clouds shy away the giants that would assail them; they don’t even notice the lithe shadowy elf as she slips through the gates, her footsteps barely audible on the cobblestones.

Passing through the gate, she takes a right beyond the Ravencrest, moving towards the hill, moving towards home. Suddenly an grey cat appears upon her path, staring up at her with its wide eyes. The half elf glances down with a smile, nodding respectfully to the feline.

“Are you lost, little one?” she inquires of the grey coloured cat, stooping down as the cat nuzzles against her leg and scratching it behind the ear. For the moment she is absorbed in the cat, all else is forgotten.

As the cat rubs up against her, and she scratches it behind the ear, a message is imprinted upon her mind. It is as if someone holds the letter before her, she can read the words so clearly. At the same time, far away, a white cat nuzzles against an Iryodian elf and a tan cat steps into the embrace of a relite. The half elf inhales sharply as the magic manifests itself within her mind. She makes her way quickly up the hill to her home, changing into her leathers and packing a small bag hurriedly. Before departing, she scribbles a note for her mate and grabs a warm cloak. Within moments she is making her way to the Ravenswood.

Mistress Shayde,

I do ask that you attend upon a favour for my persons. I have need of your exceptional woods and scout crafts as soon as is possible. Please head to the Woods of the Ravens and step upon the eastern path for half a league. You will meet two other mutual friends there. When all three of you are in place, you will learn more.

Your friend, Sir Hyel Loremaster

[Alterity]

The sun shines high above Thrall’s Gate, blasting the Exemplars and Thralls with Rel’s favoured light. Many of the Exemplars, and Thralls alike, spare a glare for the relite and her Companion; coming to the not-illogical conclusion that she is somewhat to blame for the current summer drought, for this heat stroke waiting to happen.

Many of the farms are already damaged by undead attacks from the Mistress, or from construction workers patching holes in the walls. Others are shrivelling from the lack of fresh rain; even with the manual irrigation in place. It will be a long and harsh winter for the fort if it can’t produce enough food for all of its residents; much to the misfortune of the Thralls.

The doors to the Temple of Lochwar stand open, inviting the populace in… And allowing air to flow in the stifling corridors. Priests speak the summer prayers, praying to Rhauth for rain, and Innenia for healthy fields; convincing merchants to provide tithes and farmers to pay for prayers and protection from the Church. The Cuhannan Embassy, as usual, remains quiet from the outside; servants with fans keep the important guests cool at their own expense.

The relite sits comfortably in the sun, playing with her golden hair. She watches the Lochwarians march about religiously, well disciplined even in the scorching heat, in their tin-can armour. She turns to her elven companion with a bright smile.

“It’s such a lovely and bright day! Wish I could go for a swim about now…” she says, glorious in the light and warmth of her god. There is the soft mix of a snort and a snarl from a Thrall as he overhears this, he keeps his head down to avoid punishment from the woman, quickly moving away from the pair.

“A swim would be most appreciated. However, duty first Lady Celestia” the isle-elf replies, as stoically as he can. He glares up, squinting at the sun. His single eye struggles to see into the horizon through the heat.

Slowly a white cat and a tan cat pad up to the pair of would-be heroes. Both sit there staring at the pair; the white cat at the elf and the tan cat at the relite.

The relite kneels down next to the cat “Oh, hi cutie! Wandering cats, how lovely!” she says between giggles. The elf fixes the cat with a curious glare; much less affectionate for felines than the relite, as he gives her a warning “You should be cautious. They could be an arcanist’s familiar.”

As the Relite kneels down to pet the cat, the tan cat steps into her arms and the white cat walks over and nuzzles against the elf. Far away, at the same moment, a grey cat nuzzles again a half elf. A distinct and similar message imprints itself upon the both of the minds of the pair, the non-hostile mental intrusion sneaking past the relite’s defensive aura and the elf’s arcane defences.

The relite startled by the sudden imprint and blinks in surprise “Eh? Did you… See that? Err… Think it? Hear?” she inquires of her companion. The elf seems to be taken aback by the imprint, but he simply looks to the relite as she speaks “How curious you should also…” he begins, clearly understanding her meaning.

The relite looks back at the cat and pets it quietly, it falls over and purrs in satisfaction. “How odd…” she continues as if he hadn’t said anything, “To Ravenswood…? And… From Hyel.”
The elf mostly ignores the cat, as his mind attempts to decipher the meaning of the message, to create clarity from the odd events. “Indeed. If the Loremaster truly does mean to relay this message then it is beyond me to deny it. I suggest we investigate Ravenwood?”

The relite is already a step ahead of the elf, “I’ll get preparations ready for our leave”, she lets the elf know, her curiosity driving her forward. She scoops the cat up and motions to one of the Lochwarians. She informs him of her departure and tells him what their team needs to do in her absence, how to keep the defence of the fort in check.

The elf nods to the relite’s preparations and begins to prepare his horse for the trip. As she returns she suggests that when they get to the giants that he stay near her and the giants will leave him alone. The elven wizard shrugs and simply turns them and the two horses invisible as they mount up, ensuring the giants leave them alone.

The pair quickly thunder off towards the Ravenswood, making it to the entrance to the woods in as quickly as feasible. Their cloak of invisibility prevents anything from hindering their approach, and they needed only to take a water break near the Grove south of Tristan.

Mistress Celestia,

I do ask that you attend upon a favour for my persons. I have need of your supernatural heritage and divine aura; and your skill with the blade. Please head to the Woods of the Ravens and step upon the eastern path for half a league. You will meet two other mutual friends there. When all three of you are in place, you will learn more.

Your friend, Sir Hyel Loremaster

Master Male’kyth,

I do ask that you attend upon a favour for my persons. I have need of your Arcanum and skill with the blade. Please head to the Woods of the Ravens and step upon the eastern path for half a league. You will meet two other mutual friends there. When all three of you are in place, you will learn more.

Your friend, Sir Hyel Loremaster

[Alterity]

PART 2

The flora and fauna of the forest is mostly buried beneath the unmelting snow, burrowed away for the ‘winter’. She had walked softly, yet the snow still went up past her knees, making it difficult for her to sneak through the winter wonderland.

Shayde Mel’for-Card waits patiently in a small copse, a fur lined cloak surrounding her. She watches the expanse for others, unsure of whom her unnamed allies will be. She keeps to the shadows to avoid the prying eyes of the fae, and any other travellers.

She breathes on her hands to warm them up in the chill air, rubbing them together quietly to avoid detection and glances down the path. She spots an incoming light, perhaps a will’o’wisp, accompanied by a shadow.

Her allies? Or something else?

[Alterity]

Male’kyth Illithana and Lightbringer Celestia Domina dismount their horses outside of the snow covered gate to the Woods. The elf looked about for some sign of flora and fauna, looking for anything that might be related to their mysterious message. Malekyth ties his horse to a tree and steps towards the gate, ready to get underway.

Celestia looks around at the snow, happy that her bloodline protected her from the chill of the snow, from frost bite. As she dismounted her horse disappeared into nothingness, and she followed the elf towards the gate, cat still in hand.

“Now we are here, time to investigate…” the elf says as he casts an aura of heat, melting the snow that would otherwise be knee, or hip height. The heat makes the travel significantly less inconvenient; and as the Lightbringer mentioned – at least the snow wasn't trying to eat them.

The forest is quiet as the pair trudge forward with their moving puddle, and the pair travel the half a league east, almost as if the Woods itself wanted to show them the path. As they near their destination the elf notices a shadow separate itself from the trees, standing in the path before them. Stopping to stare at the shadow, neither of them can really make out who or what it is, so they continue on; neither warrior is worried about any dangers in this forest. As they draw closer the individual recognizes the pair and steps completely outside of the shadows, and she is instantly recognizable to Malekyth and Celestia.

“Celestia… And Malek of Iryod. A nice day for a stroll?” the half elf inquires of the pair, not yet knowing that this is the two allies she was waiting for, but suspecting it.

The howling wind makes it difficult to hear one another, but they manage; and the Lightbringer replied with her typical humour “Better than staring at a Lochwarian for six hours”, bringing a chuckle from Shayde. “What brings you both here?” she asks as she finishes chuckling.

It was then that the group noticed a black cat sitting on a snow pile, watching them. The black cat stands out well on the snow where it hadn’t been a moment before, sitting patiently. The half elf glances towards the cat, attempting to not give away her secret mission, even to friends when the Iryodian asks her directly “I assume you’ve been summoned here also, Shayde?”

The half elf’s eyes widen slightly in surprise or wonder at Hyel’s choice of aids; she nods. She looks between the pair “You…too? Sir Hyel?”

By now the cat had become impatient, and began cleaning itself.

A bit of a smirk flits across Malekyth’s face as he responds “Then to answer your question. We’re also here to answer the summons. I am compelled, by a warrior’s honour, to answer any call pertaining to my old ally.”

The group turned towards the cat as it cleaned itself. “What do you need us to know, little one?” Shayde asks as she hefts her pack. The cat looks up at the half elf, and then the elf, looking into their eyes. The cat them promptly ignores them and goes back to cleaning itself.

Malek looks between the two women, not in the mood to wait on moody cats; muttering “Then we’re simply to stand here in the cold and watch a cat clean itself?”

The Lightbringer looks at the cat and then back to Male’kyth, fiddling with her hair and frowning. “Maybe… Something is meant to happen?”

Finally the cat gets bored of making them wait and meows, turning and walking away. Male’kyth checks over his gear, unclicking his blades so that they are easy to draw, and ensuring that they have not frozen into the scabbards. Shayde take a second to deliberate, but then follows the cat, pulling the cloak tightly around herself and drawing her own blades; her sharp eyes roam ahead as they follow the cat. Celestia simply frowns, laying a hand upon her scabbard but following the other two.

“Does anyone know Sir Hyel’s whereabouts of late? He did not strike me as one who enjoys the cold...” the half elf asked her companions as they followed the cat. “Rian, so Sir Phelan tells me…” the Iryodian replied to her softly now that the wind had died down. Shayde turns sharply to Malek, “Rian? Gods… This is all very unusual then… A message from so far away.”

The Lightbringer shrugs nonchalantly, not really worried about why they have been called so far away, from an elf even further away. “Maybe a snow hunting task? Snow flowers or something?” which draws a chuckle from the half elf “I could think of more comfortable tasks, but perhaps”, and she grins at the Lightbringer.

Male’kyth shrugs slightly “I simply relay what I have been informed. I cannot provide you with better answers than that.”

And then the cat sits down and turns towards them. Beyond the creature is an ancient stone structure. The roof of the structure had caved in, yet it was oddly devoid of snow. Mold runs up the stone walls, tingeing the entire structure with pale green. The magically attuned mage and Lightbringer can easily sense vast dormant magics within the ancient structure; all of them can easily tell the device shares architectural similarities to the Baraan structures of old.

The three companions come to a stop in front of the structure, gazing at it. The black cat gets up and nuzzles against each of them in turn, and again a new larger message is relayed and imprinted upon each of them; this time each one reads the same.

Chosen Warriors,

I thank you for coming so quickly. As you all must know by now, I have retreated to Rian due to illness. Ahead of you stands an ancient stone structure of Baraan origin, made in the times of friendship between the Humans, Baraanman and Rian elves. To activate the portal you must place a hand on one of each of the three handles; it has need of Divine Blood, Rianian Blood and Human blood in order to function, all three of you are needed for this.

Master Malekyth, you will be able to activate it when all three of you have placed your hands on the centre piece. The three of you will be able to step through and enter the forest of Rian, an untold honour.

Mistress Shayde, please seek out my home in the tree of red leaves, you alone will be able to lead this party through the Rianian forests in the time required.

Mistress Celestia, your aura will help protect the party from the spirits of the forest for a time, focus on keeping it strong. The three of you will please come to my home, I have much to discuss with you.

But be quick, you will only have an hour in Rian before the Forest is roused against you.

Your friend, Hyel

[Alterity]

A bird arrives within Hyel’s tree in Rian, a note attached to its leg. Reading the elvish note quickly he signs in relief.

My Student.

Your allies have arrived at the portal and received your final message. I have activated the portal from our side, they must now activate it from theirs. Remember, we will be watching them.

[Alterity]

Male’kyth looks between the pair again, “Did you…?” he inquires. Shayde’s eyes widen and she looks to the other two in surprise, excitement shining in her eyes. “Rian…” she breathes out the word “Gods, what an honour…”

The excitement infects her companions as Celestia cheers “We’ll get to see Rian! I mean... This is… Insane! Amazing!”. Even the normally composed Male’kyth cannot hide the glimmer of excitement from flickering over his visage as he replied “Indeed… I have longed to see Rian for myself.”

Shayde turned to the pair, beaming a smile of pure excitement at both of them “Let’s get started…” and rereads the note out-loud.

With the messages delivered the cat that Celestia was holding prisoner, and the black cat both disappear. As they group enters the structure, they notice instantly the promised centrepiece; it is equipped with three handles and an arcane rune on top in the shape of a hand.

Shayde quickly places her hand on of the handles, followed by Celestia. Malek places his hand on the final handle and chants in Rianian.

And nothing happens.

Then he notices the hand shaped rune and places his spare hand upon it, chanting again. As he does so…

Zap

The world goes black, and the trio feel as if they are being pulled in a hundred directions. Time seems to stop, or flow continuously forever; a single second drags into hours, years, millennia.

And then the second ends, and they arrive. And the world goes bright.

[Alterity]

PART 3

Once again they are in a forest, but a forest which is much more ancient, and without snow. Birds flitter between branches as small furry animals chase one another up tree trunks in play. The base of each tree is massive, oaks, birch, ironwood, zalantar and more; a massive plethora of trees; a true forest in all respects. The foliage overhead are a wide variety of hues, permanent alterations simply for the sake of beauty in a land where nothing ever need die, except when it must.

Even as they look around at the beautiful landscape, the can see a large bird carry away a mouse; a meal for its young. They spot a snake lash out from a tree and strike a bird mid flight, swallowing it whole in an instant. As the friends of the bird fly higher to escape the snake, an ape reaches out of the canopy and catches two more of the birds; stuffing one in its mouth and throwing the other to the waiting maw of the snake. Teamwork.

There is no doubt; to survive in Rian is a feat, to survive and thrive takes a mastering of the elements at work in the ancient forest. Especially for newcomers, as they find when they hear a growl from the tree behind them.

They instantly pivot in place and look towards the danger, the elf drawing his icy blade with haste. Shayde’s gaze is torn between the wonders of the forest and the dangers of the panther, unwilling to focus on either at the expense of the other. Her blades still in hand, her body tense and ready, she eyes the large cat. She deliberates for a moment and comes to a decision, slipping her blades away slowly and bows her head. Malek hears the sound of the blades being sheathed and instinctively does the same, tentatively.

The large panther stares at Shayde hungrily for a few moments longer before ceasing its growling and continuing its nap. Celestia lets out a sign of relief, content to not have to fight the creatures of Rian; “The forest goes on… Forever” the Lightbringer murmurs mostly to herself.

“I am blind here… I know nothing of this place…” Male’kyth says as he turns to Shayde “The message said stated that you would guide us Shayde, and that you would protect us Lady Celestia.

Shayde nods slightly as she exhales slowly, glancing at the others and then closing her eyes for a moment. She opens them, looking to the ground and listening before gazing around at the enormous ancient trees. “I think… We have to… Feel it…” her voice is uncertain. “Go within…”, gesturing forward without a word she moves in that direction slowly, watching and listening as she moves. The other two follow the half elf, trusting in her skills as a scout.

[Alterity]

The forest seems to murmur to some mildly discordant melody; a conversation unreadable to all but the most trained ears. There is almost a tangible taste of danger upon the air, a scent of wariness and mistrust, of unhappiness with the trespass. Leaves swirl about them, catching lightly on their clothing before whisking away. Insects fly near but do not sting or bite, and mammals and reptiles watch them pass from the shadows, ever alert. Shadows twist and turn around them, large shadows and small shadows, unknowable creatures stalking this intruding prey.

But nothing attacks.

Nothing hunts the trespassers.

The forest seems eerily still in this morning light, perhaps it is asleep, perhaps it is simply waiting. Shayde manages to aim herself towards their destination. “It’s so beautiful here… Just breathtaking…” she murmurs softly.

“Everything feels alive…” the Lightbringer acknowledges this by running a hand lightly a long a tree as they pass, producing a subtle sharpening to the song of the forest. She steps closer to her companions to keep them within her divine aura.

“Alive… That’s a good way to explain it… It’s different to… Back home…” Shayde replies, still in a state of awe. The Iryodian frowns slightly, unable feel the true life of the forest due to his training in necromancy, and says so; conjuring a flicker of disdain or despair from the half elf. To the Iryodian’s credit, he does avoid touching anything, refusing to risk accidentally corrupting the life with his death magics.

The half elf frowns slightly as she senses the forest’s dislike, having hoped that her diluted blood would be sufficient to ease the way. “I might be the strangest one here...at least your both elven” Celestia replies to Shayde’s concern; perhaps, it is suggested, it is Celestia’s lack of elven blood which produces such ire in the forest.

Slowly they make their way towards where Shayde sense their destination to lie. Soon she is rewarded for her efforts as a red leaf slowly falls from the sky before her. She reaches up and catches the leaf lightly within her hand, gazing upon it for a second before moving forward with determination.

Within moments they come to the base of a massive redwood tree, with great red leaves of a thousand hues; a radiant shifting of redness as one looks upon the canopy of the ancient tree. The tree had a diameter which could easily surpass sixty meters, with a large hole within the base; a doorway of sorts, created naturally. All three members of the party look upon the tree with awe, impressed by the sheer size of the tree with red leaves, knowing instantly that they would find the Loremaster here.

[Alterity]

Loremaster Calls from within the tree-cave, weakly.

"Thank you for coming my friends, please come in before the forest finishes its assault upon you."

Taking a deep breath, Shayde glances at the other two, and steps inside. Cel follows along a bit defensive of the surrounding area. Malek goes inside behind the women.

"Greetings", the old man smiles.

"Greetings, Sir Hyel" in the elven tongue. Shayde bows respectfully, murmuring.

“Hello, Hyel.” Cel smiles and waves lightly.

Hyel nods to each of them in turn.

"Welcome, to Rian. I have called you here for a dire reason...I have taken the Spear of Zumen with me to Rian, a foolish mistake, as it is causing death to some of the life here."

Shayde’s eyes widen but she remains silent.

"This tree has offered itself for my purposes" Hyel motions to various alchemical tubes and systems.

“Wha...?” Celestia looks at everything around her.

There seems to be vains of green like the core of a leaf running around the lab of sorts. Tome upon tomes, incense, odd twisting formed wood that almost make shelves and what normal people would consider deformities in the trunk. There seems to be, with some attention, spots of oblong black stains on the tree in various places. It pulsates as if it was a bruise on a man’s arm which draws a disturbed wince from both of the women. Tables filled with various types of powders only an alchemist of an advanced calibur might identify; yet hardly the time for continued examination and observation as Hyel speaks up to draw their attention away from the short sight seeing.

"I require you three to return the spear to the land of Dasaria, and guard it and its shard...Secretly."

Cel frowns deeply at this comment.

“Well, secrets is something we do best. But...are you going to stay here?”

"Yes, I must. I have not finished curing myself of what ailed me. I have been… Preoccupied" the elderly elf replies with a hint of a smile.

Malek simply listens and does not interrupt Hyel out of great respect for the Loremaster.

"The reason I called you three is because you are of diverse backgrounds and are of diverse groups. All three of you are powerful in your own right and prone to discretion. I am able to trust you to keep it away from the other shards, and keep secret to the rest of Dasaria as long as required, revealing it only when needed. Know that letting the shard get within close proximity to the other shards could cause harm to Dasaria, although it is not yet known what will happen if all five shards gather close together. They are powerful, and it is best that they remain apart. I will let you three choose whom among you is best to hold the shard, and whom is best to keep them safe."

“Master Hyel. I cannot accept the spear myself, Its mere touch would corrupt me and my magics...However, I would guard the one who does bear it with my life." Malek says and nods knowing the intensity of the Artifact’s power.

“Well um...I've seen most of the shards and how Phelan has kept his safe. I’m well informed on the standing of the current shards” the Lightbringer offers, almost shyly.

"Lady Celestia. She has the purest heart and would be most safe from its corruption." Malek adds his vote.

The Loremaster nods.

"I apologise Shayde, but this is your vote?" Malak looks to Shayde.
"Mistress Shayde? What is your mind in this?" Hyel also looks to Shayde.
“What do you think, hun?” Celestia looks to Shayde as well.
"I agree with Malek, if Celestia is content to bear the burden." She looks to Celestia, as the other two turn to Celestia as well.

Cel bites her lip and looks around. The sword hums extremely low. “I know...its going to be okay, ya?” Elios hums again and she nods to Hyel.

[Alterity]

The Loremaster nods, and reaches into thin air and pulls the spear out. He holds the massive spear out to Celestia. She takes the spear in her hands and looks on it from base to tip. Shayde watches the exchange, solemnly.

“I...is there anything I should know about the spear?” Cel queries..

"It will likely try to corrupt dragons, and anything else that it can. Please do make Master Phelan aware that you now hold the spear Celestia, and have him keep it to himself, even from other Knights and Ordo Mages.

"Lady Celestia, also know that, as I stood beside Master Hyel at the fall of Zumen, I know of the spears power also. I can act as counsel, should you need it." Malek murmurs to Celestia; she nods slightly to him and considers it.

“So I can’t spend much time around dragons. Got it. is there anything else I should know?”
"You three are to work together to safeguard it. It is not as unstable as the other shards while it is in the spear, but that does make it harder to conceal."

The trio nod to each other...Hyel then perks an ear. Hyel takes a bag from the table and hands it to Celestia as he speaks. "You will need to leave now, the forest is aware of your presence, follow me. Celestia, you will be able to store the spear in this bag."

The Loremaster grabs a staff from by the door and leads them towards the portal, it is already active and waiting for them. Shayde looks at Hyel with a silent yearning in her eyes. The red leaf is still in her hands. "Might we ever be allowed back...safely, Sir Hyel?" She speaks quietly as they all follow him. "You are of Rian blood Mistress Shayde, if you wish to find the way, your blood will show you it."

"Only part..." Shayde inclines her head.

"The forest allows no intruders, if you had not arrived by the old Baraan gate, and if you had not arrived with a child of Rel, then only you would have survived Mistress Shayde. Rian does not disdain the children of its children, even if less than full. I do not think your children with Master Sammil will be welcome however."

She glances to the others, biting her lip.

"And of Iryrodians?" Malek states.

"Iryrodians were welcome once, before the call. You are not unwelcome as humans are... But you cannot find your way here. It is best to not risk it."

Malek nods, completely understanding, merely asking for clarity.

“Unfortunately, all three of you need to be here to use the portal. It is an old gate, which require three bloods to use, Baraan, human and elf. Mistress Celestia's blood is not quite Baraan, but it has enough divinity to still work."

"Master Hyel, I hope your recovery is a rapid one. You are missed within Dasaria" Malak says.

"Thank you Master Malekyth, but it will be some time. For you see, I have no magic. This is why I could not keep the spear here... I cannot control its corruption any longer. My access to my repository is nearly all I can manage at this time"

"I see." Malek nods.

Cel looks curious and tries to understand it all. Shayde inclines her head again at his response, then reaches out shyly to touch Hyel on the arm.

"Do take care of yourself, Sir Hyel" Shayde’s voice is barely audible.

“I shall Mistress Shayde, thank you. I will try to help you return some day, I promise.” He smiles to Shayde as she holds tight to the red leaf in her hand, nodding to Hyel. He rests a hand on Shayde's shoulder for reassurance.

"This will help your return when you get to Ravenswood." Hyel says as he gives Malek a teleportation scroll. Malek takes the scroll, understanding its use.

"Please touch the pillars and leave; the forest's guardians will be here any moment."
Hyel states quickly to the team. “Your one hour to live is nearly up”

Shayde looks around tensely, then to the others, stepping close. Malek does as Hyel instructs beforehand to prepare. Cel comes over and hugs Hyel after Shayde.

“Keep the Sun always in your heart.” She whispers to Hyel.

Celestia follows the others over to the teleportation stone. The world goes black once more as they teleport across leagues and leagues. They return to the Ravenswoods, and the cold, shortly thereafter they return to Ravenswatch.

The End