Fenn and Kyalia followed Jameson and Fenn could feel the fury radiating off Kyalia.
"Kyalia..." Fenn started but Kyalia just scoffed at her.
"Don't apologize Fenn. You just eliminated my one chance of seeing home again because of your temper and your inability to keep your mouth shut." Kyalia said, shaking her head. She was actually devastated about that, she loved her home more than anything in the world, and although she was exiled from it she longed to return to it every single day. And now it might be destroyed without her ever seeing her family or her friends ever again because of her decision to befriend a witch. She was beginning to see why they didn't usually get along.
"So do me a favor right now, and at least try to keep your mouth closed. I cannot deal with any of the crap that comes out of your throat right now." Kyalia hissed and Fenn nodded, hanging her head. Fenn knew she ruined it for Kyalia and regretted it now, more than anything really. She knew how much she missed her home and she knew that it might be her fault that Kyalia will never see her home again so Fenn did shut up, walking across the sewer from Kyalia.

Silver looked to the elf woman who blamed her companion for what had gone wrong. He looked to Jauffre and he just shrugged. "Its a long story silver, obviously the witch over there spoke a few words that she just shouldn't have said." He informed the old dragon. Silver then nodded and moved to walk beside Kyalia. Silver felt it bad to see a pretty little elf be sad about something that was to be honest a reasonable reason.
"Look Kyalia was it?.. Ishmael is only going to the city with survivors, while he is there he will ask the elves if it's alright if you and the others could enter. Just trust in his ability with the voice that he can convince the elves to let you in. Perhaps when you do you should let them know what that emptiness was like and that the lesson was learned. Besides that, the elves are the only defense this world has against the demon hordes and they need all the help they can get. The humans may have numbers but their iron and steel wont stop all the demons thrown at them. You saw that in the city." He looked down at her with as much sincerity a dragon could give. "They need your help just as much as you need them. They will see it, if they have not already." He nodded and then proceeded to join Jameson.

"Jameson, when you have the time we shall talk.".... There is that better, Jauffre told me about you and what you inquired. I know something about this Barghest. What I do know will not calm your heart. He said into the mans mind. In fact you may already know what I am about to tell you, he like most under the mans leash saw his power and wish to be bathed in it. Eliphas makes lots of promises and thus enlisted this Barghest into his ranks as his private little hound. He informed him. He then sighed. The winds have told me this much. Eliphas will throw his best at us and there is nothing we can do but fight as hard as we can. The winds also tell me that he is in search of a man named Samuel. This man has imprisoned one of Eliphas's mistresses and he wishes to free her. Another great foe added to the ranks must be avoided. Which is why I will remain with you lot. Jauffre and his polymorphing abilities will enable him to locate the man and hopefully before Eliphas. For if Eliphas does,... he will know a new meaning to pain and suffering That was all he could say and when he looked over to Jauffre and nodded the bronze dragon turned himself into a falcon and flew off into the wind. The search for Samuel began.

Valken was met with two large presences, their auras were immense. He was quiet among the chatter but that's all the information he could go on. His eye sight had diminished so much he couldn't make out the outlines of the large lizards and he had to rely on his echolocation to make out their forms. Sure enough someone had went on about the elven City and he was welcoming them there. He was fading in and out if the conversation and Ishmael ordered him to go with Cassandra and help them navigate.
Valken nodded, "okay." Next he didn't know what threw an arm over his neck, but he took a few seconds to realized it was Cassandra. He grunted and stumbled but as he walked with her he extended his tongue out from his mouth and brought some of her hair into his mouth like a grazing giraffe. "Saying that we 'might' need her magic is not helping her cause."

Jameson nodded thoughtfully as each member of his group said their piece. He nearly fell over when Cassandra unexpectedly tackled him, he glanced at Valken's tongue as it took a mouth full of her hair. He reached into his pocket, choosing the highest note from his harmonica as he brought it to his mouth. He lightly blew into it, just enough to cause Valken a little pain.

He smirked as he turned from Cassandra and faced the rest of his group. "Alright my fellow outcasts and ne'er do well's, Follow me and I will show you possibly the safest place in all of the land. For the sake of my own privacy, I ask you to never speak of this place once you have laid eyes upon it. It is a well kept secret and its location must never fall into the hands of the enemy." He gestured for them to follow as he turned and began walking toward the large woodland that lay west.

Valken snapped and suddenly snarled, shaking his head and pulled back from Cassandra and tucked his arm around his torso and threw him to the floor in a roar.
"Fuuuuck Yooou!" He opened his mouth agape and spat on him. "Next time, I'll piss on you and make you my bitch!" He was lucky that valken wasn't using his talons and he paced around like a tiger trying to occupy himself from jumping on him.

(I understand that I am joining late but I would very much like to join feel free to ignore my post if it interferes with your storyline)

Loque was pulled by the chain around his neck so hard that he stumbled and fell on his forearms and knees. He attempted to stand up but a sharp pain was inflicted on his left flank, he looked and saw a man he had grown to hate. The trader, a slave trader who had no compassion for any soul that passed him by, he was a rather well built man but it was not this that instilled fear into his captives it was his demonic grin. So sinister whenever he smiled one could see maggots writhing in his mouth. But no longer would Loque fear this retched creature called man, today was the day he would set himself free. He knew it was his day to fight a fellow captive, he knew his fellow captive well enough to know he would not win. Loque was well trained but was malnourished and could hardly fight a much larger man, so he had devised a plan with the man to ensure both of their survivals. They were to pretend to fight and the man would beat Loque to the point that he would be given a weapon to finish Loque off with, it was then that the plan would take action. the man would plant the weapon in the ground next to Loque, they had to hope that it would be a knife or else it would become extremely difficult to complete the plan. After that they merely had to fight there way out. Loque stood and saw a pit had been dug for the two of them to fight in, he saw no weapons in it yet but knew it would happen eventually. He saw his 'opponent' and they exchanged nods and slowly climbed into the pit, Loques chain was taken off and he lightly massages the area on his neck where it had been resting. He saw the warrior get into a fighting stance and he did the same they circled each other briefly, until the warrior made the first move. He cocked his arm back very far for the punch and made it obvious Loque should duck, the swing came wide and Loque easily went under it but shockingly the man grabbed the back of Loque's head and kneed him in the stomach. Loque was dazed for a moment, but the next blow came swiftly and precisely to Loque's jaw. Loque fell to the ground and the wet dirt splattered itself on his skin. He saw the warrior lean over him and pull back for another punch, but before he delivered the punch the man winked. Loque was reassured the act was still on. But blow after blow Loque felt more and more dazed, eventually the slaver told them to stop and when he did so the man looked at the slaver and waited for his answer. The slaver smiled with that wicked smile he bore day after day, he tossed down a fairly sized short sword to the man and he picked it up. The warrior walked over to Loque and stood above him blade in hand, he raised the blade and brought it down. It stuck into the wall of pit, very nearly missing Loque's head. The warrior grabbed Loque's hand and helped him up, then got on one knee and made it clear Loque should jump up. Loque briefly ran and jumped off the mans knee, after Loque had gotten onto the main surface the man threw the sword to Loque. Loque caught the sword just as two men rushed at him axes drawn, Loque turned to face the closer one. The man had his axe raised above his head just enough to give Loque a clear target at his flank. Loque waited until the man was within striking distance and quickly drove the shortsword into his sternum. The man's eyes opened widely as he gurgled on his blood his axe fell from his hand and embedded itself into the ground, Loque quickly pulled the blade from the mans chest and grabbed the fallen axe. He quickly spun and threw it at the remaining man, it landed between his shoulder and neck. The warrior had already climbed out of the pit and had disarmed the slaver and had him on his knees a chain wrapped around his hands. Loque smiled and walked leisurely over to where the slaver was being held, Loque twirled the knife in his hand with each step the demon's smile faded.

"Is that your worst boy?" It shouted "A little show and some twirly knife tricks? Is that meant to intimidate me?"

"No," Loque said throwing the knife into the demon's shoulder. The demon howled in pain and Loque grabbed the handle and twisted it and the demon screamed once again. Loque waited for it to be quite and when it started panting he pulled the knife out slowly. The demon let out a whimper and then began to chuckle.

"Come on boy, you must do more than that to scare me." The demon said, Loque raised the sword to the demons neck and pressed slightly into the skin just enough to draw blood. It smiled but Loque would not be fooled by any guise it put on and he smiled as he aimed the swords point towards the demons neck. Its smile faded and Loque thrust the blade in and out and in and out enough so that a noticeable hole was showing. Loque let the body fall forward and he looked at the warrior who had helped him escape, they simply nodded at each other and parted ways. Loque headed to the south and the man to the north, neither had anything but the clothes on their back and any weapons they could find from the grounds on which they fought. Loque carried with him the blade he had used to kill the demon, its blood still staining the blade.

(Ok so if is traveling a road I will be walking alongside a road literally at any point.)

Jameson side stepped the spit with ease. He felt the mucus ball as it whizzed past his head and landed on the ground behind him. He mockingly looked the demon from head to toe as he snarled at him from a crouched position. "Ya know Valkan, not sure anyone has told you this, but you sure are cute when your mad." Jameson shook his head and turned, all the while chuckling away to himself. He was beginning to enjoy the company of this Valkan character. His constant short fused temperament made him an easy target for Jameson's fun.

Jameson kept his ears pricked, ready for the beasts counter strike, as he knew it would most likely be coming his way.

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "You men are ridiculous,..." She responded to their actions. "Let's just enjoy this moment of peace while it lasts." Men and their jealousy, how foolish can they be even at times of war. There were moments where she would have enjoyed this. Maybe even humbled herself in their delight ,but in times of war weaknesses such as love could be exploited. She could not let herself get to that point when the enemy would use them or her as leverage. They can stay as mutual friends for the time being. As long as this Eliphas lives she could not expose herself to such emotions. "Let's get to this paradise of yours so we can prepare for the coming battles."

Meanwhile Ishmael followed Nova's lead as they head for the white gates of the elves. With him was Hotaru occompanied by a young boy named Danny and over a dozen survivors. The gates were not the only beautiful thing with vines covering them. Dotting the vine were buds and white flowers. Upon the gates a design of a horned Pegasus on each door facing each other. Dotting the walls were also large towers and fountains. Ontop of each tower were golden ballista. Each ballista had a trio of elves in golden armor. The fountains poured out regular purified water that filled into a canal which feed back into the fountain. The fountains provide water for the animals of the Forrest. However, they were still not normal, each fountain was enchanted with a defense. If the city was attacked the moment they reach the walls it activates, a wave of crushing water in the shape of stallions will rush from it. That was one the 3rd line of defense, the ballista were the 2nd line and the 1st line of defense.... Just showed itself as they stepped closer to the gate. Giant Forrest guardians known as Ents moved to block their way. "Identify yourselves,..." The two said in unison. These Ents dotted the outside wall as payment to the elves of their testament to mathura nature.

Alduin watched as those few survivors that were unlucky to make it outside the city with Ishmael and his band of heroes marched out of the gates of their once beautiful city Lithuim. The survivors ranged from women and children though. Men unless old were seen to them as agrivators for rebellion and were put down right away. These survivors were now turned into slaves with chains about their wrists. These chains were hellish too and tightened to the point the wearers would never get used to them. Each time they moved their head they felt it cut into them choking them but not enough to kill them. The music of children crying from the torture filled the ears of demons with delight as they watched. Other demons such as the babau pillaged the homes taking anything valuable or in any case usable for the war effort. Even the food was taken as spoils. Alduin smiled all the while this happened.

---

Kyoto rose a brow as he saw what went down between Jameson and Valken. This only started because Valken wanted to get high off of Cassandra's scent. These two are completely whipped. Each one cared for Cassandra to the point one had to aggrivate the other. Almost like the way animals do around mating season. They fight for the right to mate with her. They hoped they could impress her enough to win her over and much to his expectation she simply shot the whole display down with a call of peace. She was right though, this puppy dog love these two have should be saved for another time. This sacred paradise of Jameson might be secret but for how long. When the evil of the mountain has pushed its arm over this area it won't take them long to find it. In times of war nothing is safe. He then looked to one of the dragons who was counseling the elf known to him as Kyalia. Her mind was on what family she had left and how much she wanted to see them again. Her feelings were understandable of course.

Valken rolled out his tongue to smell the air around Jameson, " Funny.. I've never taken you for the homosexual. Regardless I suppose it'll make it a little easier for me to take you sexually...so I suggest you watch your back." Valken put is tongue back in his mouth and it dawned on him that he was simply an' agitation for the sake of agitating. Generally this is the kind of behavior prepubescent Fiend boys would do, in which case the father would stomp on their shoulders until they'd behave. But because the agitation was of another species it must not be the regarded in the same way. Still, he knew what he was and there was only one way he knew how to deal with agitations.
He heard Cassandras voice behind him and his ears curled backwards at her. "I am not a man. I am a demon...or a male.. but not a man. Don't degrade me in front of the agitation, please."
Slowly Valken moved away, the cloak that he wore concealed his movements and his body. Like a servant he rested on his heels beside Cassandra and waited for any sort of movement. It may seem that Valken is playing pet towards Cassandra and he supposes that's what it would look like to outsiders. But by what he learned in his culture, females are different from males and thus should be regarded differently than other males. Frankly it's no different than the idea of chivalry except while humans have a patriarchal society, Fiends actually have more of a matriarchal culture who mostly decide all the rules. In fact, there is a dead volcano where Valken stayed to learn about his race for many years and he found that it was mostly segregated by gender. The fiend males were on the ceiling of the volcano, and the females were on the floor. The only instance where they are together is if a couple were ready to be together and they would live with the female on the floor only to sleep, eat, and raise children together. If the taken male had to do any other tasks then he would have to go on the ceiling to do it.

But this is not the warm confines of the dead volcano.

Nova, Elendil, and Dorian stepped closer raising their hands in a salute. "I Lady Nova request the gates to be opened, we have survivors from Lithuim." She answered the two Ent Gate guards. They immediately recognized her as she spoke. Her hair gave it away to be honest. They looked to those behind her and regarded them as the survivors she spoke of. Ishmael and Hotaru included. The Ent on the right looked up to gate house. With a loud voice it called to the elves inside it. "Open the gate, Lady Nova returns with survivors, notify the Queen!"

A couple seconds later the gates began to open and the people were greeted with a welcome committee formed by Elven Pikeman. These elves like others ere in gold armor. A elf captan emerged to greet them but he stopped mid way. "Where is Captain Avalon and Lady Ariol?" Nova frowned at his question and he rose a hand seeing the answer on her face. "Never mind,.... Where are the other survivors?" He asked. Nova looked behind her and back at him.

"These are the survivors. Or are you talking about the others that were with me?" She answered. The Captain nodded and replied with." Our Eagle Scouts told us and the queen that Kyalia the Exhile, Fenn The White Witch, and Cassandra The Rogue was spotted with you. We expected to see them." He paused waiting for her answer.
"Well they were afraid that you would not allow them inside due to...." She was cut off by a raised hand.
"Normally we would have, but the smoke from Lithium changes everything. Do you know where they went or where they are staying? I inquire because the Seer council and the Queen both would like a meeting with them, correction all of you." He asked. Nova nodded and he rose another hand gesturing and a elf warrior came forth to stand by him. He then turned to face the very elf. "I want you to pick four of these Pikeman to come with me and Nova, the rest will prepare housing for these survivors and our allies." He said.

The warrior nodded and pointed to four Pikeman and performed some sort of sign language and they stepped forward and then moved out of formation to join them. The rest were then ordered in the same manor to escort the survivors including Ishmael and Hotaru to the places where they would stay. The Captain then nodded to Nova. "Take us to this spot..." He said and Nova, Elendil, and Ariol both turned and moved back in the direction that they had come.

---

Hotaru was in awe of everything and even more surprised as to the reactions and words of the man who seemed in charge at the moment. It would seem the elves where putting all past judgements and feelings towards certain people on hold. There must be some meaning to it that she was certain she would learn when the others arrived. When the elves began to escort her inside she saw how much the stories were true, the elven city was breathe taking as the sun gave each building a blue hue and floral growth was everywhere. It was as if the elves left the land intact and just built into it or around it. They even had cherry blossom trees. "This place is like heaven...." She found herself saying. One of the elves escorting them looked to her and smiled proud of her compliments. However she froze as she saw a familiar face. A man began to approach them. He had black hair and black robes. His smile was inviting and his sight much to her liking. She smiled and looked down to Danny. "Danny, I would like you to meet Wol Ryung" she said. Danny furrowed his brow and looked up. "Whose that?" The boy asked. She answered with two words."My father.." Danny looked back at the man.

---

Wol Ryung was helping out one of the elven weavers when suddenly he was approached by a elf man carrying a bow. "Ryung, your daughter Hotaru, she is at the gate as we speak." He told him and he looked in the gates direction and saw that it had opened and sure enough there was his Hotaru. She carried her staff and stood beside a tall man in shiny armor. Also with her was a young boy which made him raise a brow. He took notice of the people behind her as well and he figured they were refugees. He rose up to full hieght and decided to go meet with his daughter. He noticed her reaction when he began to approach as the elves escorted her in. This made his smile ever bigger. He could not resist in lifting her up in a big hug. "Welcome my little Hotaru..." He said as he placed he back down. "Who is this young man?"

The lich smiles. This would take more finesse than basic monions. He calls for Joan, and says "Bring me a Boneclaw." A crazed-looking man walks out, and he is quite deformed. His arms looked to have no muscle in one place or skin for that matter, and his arms had a huge hole that you can see through. He also had wickedly long claws that would go into his fingers slowly then speed out in a blur. "Yessssss masssster? You called meeeeee?" Skizzerax tells him to scout out the city, and be stealthy about it. This trip would take a while.

Barghest was done with these little errands. He would deal with the lich, and be swift about it. He stepped through the dimensional portal that connected Lithuim and Eliphases Citadel. The fabric of reality sprinkled at the edges of the tear, Barghest leaped into the city with a menacing roar. His eyes glowing red with anger. Barghest stepped into the cities outskirts without giving the members of the demon army a proper greeting. He was above them, and they would be right to know it. He scanned the hillside as he marched forward. On his way here he had informed his steward to prepare his armies. He would march upon the Lich with all of his forces at once.

Barghest called upon the shadow of the new moon, and so it came, he became undetectable, as though it were the darkest part of night. He marched ever onward, taking in the scent of the lich which he had acquired through a stray scrying orb. This fool was careless. He would take advantage of that...

Jameson~

Jameson nodded at Cassandra as she spoke her words. "Aye, you may be correct Cass, you may be correct." For now he simply left it. Perhaps he was being selfish. This Valkan was a strange creature, but he was a strong one as well. Jameson respected him for that. He gave Valkan a nod before leading the group ever further west. Before long they were on the edge of the forest. it was here that he would have to ask them to put his trust in him. The glade was not somewhere that rested on this plane of thought. Nay it was a secluded place, created by the Silver wolf in order to protect The White Mage of Arcus. Jameson shook his head as he hoped that he was not home at the moment.

Jameson turned to the group and cleared his throat. "Now is the time I ask you all too put the highest trust in me." He Direct his thoughts to the dragons. I am going to put them to sleep, I will need your help to carry the through the portal. "Now, rest easy my comrades, for you will shortly be in a much safer place." As he said the he threw a round object on the ground, upon contact it exploded, throwing a cloud of dust up in the air. It was a powerful sleeping remedy that took effect almost instantaneously, his allies would awaken in The Glade, a sanctuary taken from this world and moved unto a plane of it's own. It was a beautiful place, and a safe one as well.

Jameson had covered his mouth with his sleeve, in order to not be effected by the dust cloud.

((NOOOOOWWW, before anyone in Jamesons group loses their shit, allow me to explain. The Glade is a beautiful and Secluded place, any who wish to come, I ask that you do your next post waking up in the glade. The glade appears different to everyone who enters it, so describe it in your own way. What ever it is you wish will come to being their, otherwise it is a simple forest clearing with cliffs on all sides and a pond in the middle, a waterfall lies on one side of the pond. Now anyways, Jameson will explain how The Glade works in his next post. If you do not wish to come to the glade, simply have your character wake up on the western treeline of the forest. If you wish to come I ask you play along though, this is a very important place for me and my characters.))

Ishmael watched as the whole thing conspired. The elf captain was actually concerned about the others. You could tell from his voice and when Nova nodded in his answer he immediately began to give out orders in preparation to go after them. He then ordered the rest to escort him and the others inside. Apparently the elves were confident in their abilities that they did not need his help. He then saw Hotaru freeze and followed her gaze to a man who walked ever closer to her. He wasn't human that was for sure but the elves trusted him if he was here. Then it all became clear as Hotaru revealed to the young boy Danny that this man was her father. If this man was her father then this whole time she was not all the way human either. He did not take the time to notice it before and he had to scratch the back of his head. He decided to step over to meet this father of hers. "Greetings I am Ishmael, it is a pleasure to meet the father of the young woman who saved my life,..." He said.

---

Cassandra nodded, she had gone through this once before so she was prepared for it. When she woke up from the cloud she saw the normal look to the Glade except for a few assorted plants. They were all in one little corner as if a garden was made specifically for her. This garden consisted of death bells and nightshade. She often used these mixed with the venom from the giant black scorpion venom for her crossbow bolts. This combination was deadly and powerful. She would have to use a very potent mix if she was to defeat demons with it. She quickly began to go to work once she reached them picking the plants she was going to use. She then grabbed forth her mortar and pestal crushing the bits of flower together. Combining the nightshade and death bell together and then she took from a compartment on her belt a vial which held the very poison she needed and poured it over them. She then began to mix that together until it was very fine. It was harmless like this and if you had no sores in your mouth you could very well drink it with out any problems. However, if entered into the blood stream you could die in a couple seconds. She then pulled forth her quiver which held her crossbow bolts and laid them out and began dipping the tips of each into the poison.

"Jameson I love being here but you know we can't be here forever. I plan on returning as soon as Im at full strength and that all preparations are finished." She said loud enough for him to hear. "Also someone should remain outside the glade for when Nova or Ishmael return with news about the elven city."

---

Silver agreed to help him carry everyone, which wasn't hard seeing as the equal weight of the group wasn't much compared to his own. He was able to carry them all in with ease and when he reached the glade for the final trip he decided to take the beauty of it in. His sights on the water caused him to look to Jameson, "Jauffre would love it here,..." He said He then noticed that when the dark elf awoke she wasted no time in working on her bolts just like she said. She had plans of returning and she even suggested that someone go back in case Nova and Ishmael came back. They most likely would too so he looked to Jameson. "You should go back, you know how to get here alright so you should wait for them."

Once back on Kurn, Xukhezur sent his two remaining optic orbs south and west to scout for signs of more civilization, as he himself began exchanging telepathic messages with his protomorphic minion, as it was escorted by Captain Lu'Vayla Dezuqui the Velocimaster and four of her company to see Lord Turrex. The lord was one of the founders of that particular enclave which lay near the southern edge of the Lorosfyr. In this remote region of the underdark, the people of the enclave had had recently come into contact with a few clans of midgard dwarves, who shared the imaskari's lack of faith in the gods. It was with three of these that Lord Turrex spoke, as the captain and the Xukhezur's minion emerged into the long subterranean hall, after having been quickly vetted by the guards at the various checkpoints.

Lord Urzaius Turrex was a tall, lean and dark, with short cropped white hair, garbed in a broad-collared nightscale greatcoat and a sash bearing the sigils of his station. Wall sconces bearing everburning torches lit the hall, revealing the lord, his guards and the three immortal otherworldly dwarves he spoke with. These dwarves occupied light mithril breastplates, with exquisitely marked pauldrons, vambraces, and greeves, all of which bore the symbols and etched creeds of their corresponding clans. They all glanced momentarily at the patiently waiting captain and minion, before turning their attentions back to the lord.

"I welcome you to an extended stay, and to consider our proposal of building a portal or a vessel that can facilitate trade across the Lorosfyr. The people of this enclave are eager for opportunities to expand their horizons, and to helping this community grow and prosper to the extent that we are welcome. I understand you brought some of your finest spirits, so I've arranged for a feast to be held so that you may show us how to best enjoy them in the fitting manner. If you like, our court concierge can guide you to our kitchens, kettles and ovens, where you can sample the fare before being shown to your accommodations." Urzaius was overheard saying as he nodded in in turn to each. "Lady Echoshaft and Lords Giganfist and Underblast, if you'll excuse and pardon me, other matters of state appear to require my attendance at this moment."

"We thank you, hun. It appears you and yours will be among the best neighbors we've known in these parts," replied the thoughtful and reserved Lady Inosha Echoshaft with a smile, mostly to remind the other two lords of the fact. The two dwarven lords nodded in agreement, as their expressions began to lighten up. "Aye, we should soon provide you more detailed information regarding this area you've chosen to settle, so we have a chance to mark the extent of our claims and establish borders. Your side of the void was always more perilous than ours, and our clans will likely agree to officially forfeit some claims that we have been hard pressed protect on our own." added Lord Athek Underblast, who then turned to clap the impregnable Lord Urlgar Gigantfist on the back, who eventually nodded with a sigh of resignation. "That's better. Let us at least see what they can do with them and perhaps give us new ideas in the process." Athek said, who helped Inosha usher Urlgar from the hall before Urlgar himself could think of another reason to protest.

Lu'Vayla and Xukhezur's minion moved aside, and gave a small bow from the waist as the dwarves passed and exited the room. From the world of Kurn, Xukhezur listened to his minion summarize what had just occurred, asking what it should say to Lord Turrex. Led by Xukhezur's telepathic commands, the minion slid through the air a bit toward Turrex, inches above the ground, before speaking. "Greetings Lord Turrex, on behalf of my creator, Farseeker Xukhezur Kavinath, I come bearing a report. The city of Lithium on the world of Kurn was recently sacked by fiendish forces, and as fortunate as it was that most of the citizens and their guests successfully fled, my creator never discovered their intended route or destination. Neither of us are familiar with the sewers they used to make their escape, nor can we reach them from the city itself. If those who plundered our armory cache in the Deep Waste are among these people, then my creator should try and use one of the armory's master tracer gems before they make it to another warded settlement."

Lord Turrex listened patiently until given a chance to respond, "Tell your creator that I will send one as quickly as I can. Captain Dezuqui, see to the matter of retrieving one from our head quartermaster after handing him this note, I will see to informing your company of your temporary absence." he said, smoothly walking over to scribe a quick coded note and seal it with his arcane mark. "Once you are prepared, we will send you to Kurn directly using our primary Batrachi Terminus."

Nova and the Elf captain proceeded down the path that they had come from in search of where her companions had moved off to. "Well I know one exiled elf will be mighty happy to hear the words coming from your mouth Captain." She said and he had to smirk. "I bet she would be." He responded as Elendil and Dorian accompanied them as well as four elven pikeman. They were not exactly a force to be reckoned with but they could hold their own against any large demon. When she reached the spot where they had separated from the group she called for them to stop. She then pointed to the foot prints made by those who were left behind. "They went that way,..." She looked to the Captain and was simply answered with a nod. She faced forward and followed those such foot prints into the forest. They hoped to find them quick and fast.

---

"I was so worried about you and mother,.." Hotaru said to her father. Ryung massaged her shoulders and he looked to the young boy once more. "So this is Danny? Is he your child?" He asked and instantly she went red in the face. She responded by waving her hands. "No he is a orphan from the city. His parents were killed. " She answered and he nodded frowning. He looked to her and then back at Danny. "How unfortunate for him, but you took it upon yourself to take care of him, to be the mother figure he would so desperatly need." He said his frown going back into a smile as he looked back at her. "You are just like your mother,.." He said.

"Greetings I am Ishmael, it is a pleasure to meet the father of the young woman who saved my life,..." A voice spoke and her father turned to look at the man who owned it. Ryung nodded and looked to back at Hotaru. "Did you really save this man?" He asked and she shrugged.
"I sort of did, he was fighting one of the massive demons and another was coming at him from behind. I destroyed the one that was going to attack him from behind." She explained and Ryung nodded. He then looked up at Ishmael. "So I have you to thank for bringing my daughter to the safety of this place." He said. He then bowed his head and
looked back to Hotaru. "Let's go see your mother, she would be happy to see you... you can come too." He said gesturing to Ishmael.

Alduin heard the roar of a mighty beast and looked in its direction when he had learned it was Barghest he smiled devilishly. He then looked away and began to laugh. "Well Lich,... looks like you bit off more then you could chew." He knew that he himself was master of the skies when it came to Eliphas's army but Barghest was the master of the land. It won't take him long to find the Lich's hiding place. He only wished he could watch as the world came crashing down around him. Barghest was brutal in his methods just like they all were. He knew for certain that this undead threat the lich provided would not last long. For now the remaining forces would wait here for Eliphas's next set of orders.What city shall they sack next? Who else would be the poor fool to be chosen as the next target?

---

When Kyoto woke up at the garden he was surprised at what he saw. He could see beautiful cherry blossoms added to the mix of the lake. The lake also had lotus flowers floating on top of it as well as places where bamboo grew. It was a paradise made for a samurai. They were all in the same place but saw different things. Cassandra was off mixing some sort of poison but he did not care all too much. She had a point though. They would not stay here for long. It was tempting remain here and let the world go to ruin and he would have done so if he was not born a samurai. The thrill of the battle was much more stronger.

The Lich felt immense magic used, and laughed. "The vermin try to outdo me? A lich older than this kingdom will teach them a lesson in manners. Let them do what they want. In fact." He brings up a scrying orb, and sees nothing at first, but then casts a spell that would show life force, and smiles at what he sees. "They are dumb enough to send this at me? This is something a lich only a thousand years old could conquer! This won't even be a sport! Barghest, you fool. You march to your death!" He just shakes his head and sighs. It was almost a pity he had to kill the werewolf king. He is such a great fellow. Maybe he'll remember his old drinking buddy. Nah, that was five thousand years ago they did that. Only a lonely old man like Skizzerax would remember that.

Xukhezur held the master tracer gem in hand, and utilized it to hone in on the distance and direction of the stolen contents of the plundered armory. The majority of the signals lay about thirty miles to the northwest of where he and Lu'Vayla were currently located, and he telepathically bade his nearest optic orb to scout head of them in that general area, and inform him of any settlements or large groups of people it may come across.

"I'm grateful they sent me an ideal partner for this task, even if your involvement might prove brief depending on when you are called upon to return," Xukhezur said to Lu'Vayla once they had both taken turns using the gem to get an idea of where the stolen item were all located. They stood about a small copse of trees beyond the reach of Lithium, within sight of a stone bridge that spanned the nearby river, that wove its way through the sparsely forested rolling hills around it. Lu'Vayla had crossed the threshold of the interplanetary portal generated by the Batrachi Terminus an hour before, to emerge in a generally isolated location that lay fifteen miles to the to south. She had ridden to that bridge as she'd been instructed, astride a swift riding horse she had conjured. Donned in a hooded dark gray cloak and dark brown hunting leathers worn over her suit of nightscale armor, she'd been dismissed by others she had passed as an ordinary surface dweller. It was at the bridge, that one of Xukhezur's optic orbs was used to contact her telepathically and lead the woman to him.

"Thank you. It's a nice change of pace from routine training and patrolling. It's the first time I've been given an assignment that has taken me beyond Toril, and I hope I can take in new additions to my spellbooks from here before I have to go. Ones that haven't yet been seen back home." she replied eagerly. "First let me conjure a horse for you, and help you reduce the size of your effigy, so you can fit it in your pocket or something," she suggested. "Sounds good, but you might also want to mask it from divination, so the fiends are less likely to locate us. I got involved in a bit of a skirmish with them, to help the people and our thieves escape. I didn't want to be responsible for arming fiends with our weapons and devices." He replied.

It wasn't long until Xukhezur and Lu'Vayla began to travel in a direction that led them towards the elven capital and the survivors of Lithium, not yet aware of the nature of their impending destination. They talked and shared their stories as they tracked the items borne by the thieves who thought themselves hidden, knowing that any attempt at scrying upon them might alert them to their continued investigation. Xukhezur's effigy 'Shroud' had been masked from magical detection and polymorphed into the form of an optic orb for the time being, carried in a pouch on his belt. However, it could still leap out and return itself to its true form should the need present itself.

The optic orb would go un noticed over the elven city as it flew over. All it would take notice of that would block it's master's way would be white walls enchanted with defenses that could be troublesome if one approached the city from anywhere but the main gate which was guarded be Ents. Upon the walls were Ballista and elves going about their patrols upon it. Over the walls it would take note of buildings built around and into the wildlife with floral life everywhere. The elves were not behaving peaceful though as each elf made preperations for the refugees of Lithuin and for war. Elven smiths sharpened their silver blades and silver arrow heads. Others tethered armor and bakers made rations for the soldiers that would embark from the city to do battle. They made elven bread that a man can live on for weeks.

It would even pick on elven warriors training against each other with their silver blades, pikes, and target practice. Major prepartions were being made and if anything belonging to Xuhkaxur's enclave was here it would be from the refugees. The elves would know anything about them.

---

Ishmael followed the man that was Hotaru's father. They both said their greetings and thank yous, the man was leading them to the location of Hotaru's mother. It was all a good distraction but he still kept his thoughts on the others. It was amazing how the elves were going to accept them.

---

Cassandra looked up after she finished her adjustments to her bolts placing them back into the quiver as they dried. She looked to Jameson and sighed. "Someone needs to keep outside if Nova or Ishmael comes a looking for us." This glade was unfindable to anyone on the outside.