~ ~ ~ The roan Centaur accesses the powers of his mind, specifically the ability to change shape, and visualizes the form of a Griffon, triggering the change.  The Tetsubo and all his other equipment vanishes into his body.  The humanoid torso shrinks down into the equine body while the arms elongate sprouting feathers to become the wings.  Kael's face stretches out forming a beak while feathers sprout out around his head and elongated neck.  Several taloned claws sprout from the hooves becoming leonine like paws in the back and eagle-like talons in the front.  The rest of Draego's body as does his tail becomes more lion-like in form, completing the shape change. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Shaking himself from head to tail, Draego gets a feel for his new form walking in circles a few times and strongly flapping his wings.  Once assured of his control over the wings and new limbs, Kael trots toward an out cropping of rocks atop a cliff face, and leaps out into the open air with nothing but a mile long drop down to the woods below.  Riding on the thermals and air currents, the Talon of Malar rejoices in the freedom of flight banking and diving to reacquaint himself with the abilities of his new body in flight before banking away to the southeast, and begins his long journey to the interior of the High Forest and the Star Mounts. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ As Kael flies from the environs of the Lost Peaks, several giant Vultures come to investigate this invader to their airspace and challenge his passage, but as they draw close enough to recognize the invader as a Griffon, veer off to seeker safer meals.  After that brief encounter, nothing further troubles his flight through the rest of the day as the Centaur turned Griffon soars steadily closer and closer to the storm enshrowed Star Mounts.  As the sun touches the western horizon and twilight covers the eastern lands beneath the storm clouds, the Talon of Malar flies above the northern reaches of the Star Mounts, and begins his descent into the mountainous wilderness to land for the evening.  Lightly touching down in a wide valley, the Malarite relaxes from the long flight, and again accesses his mental powers, resuming his normal Centaur form with accompanying possessions. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Getting his bearings while what little light remained, Kael easily determines the direction of southeast just by looking for the flashes of lightning raining down in the distant parts of the Star Mounts.  That alone would help to ensure the Hunter of Malar would not lose his way during the darkness of the night.  Drinking deeply of the stream water flowing through the valley, the Centaur slakes his thirst and then his hunger by chewing on some seasoned jerky from one of his satchels before setting out toward the brilliant flashes of lightning in the night sky. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Not far from where the 'Griffon' landed, a troop of small, humanoid, dog-like creatures otherwise known as Kobolds watched the landing, and in sufficient numbers to give a creature of that ferocity and strength a run for its gold, spread out to begin stalking the beast.  The Dog Men creep through the scrub and lightly forested valley toward where they last saw the creature land, and when they get to point where they get a clear view of the area, are surpised to find instead a Centaur drinking from the mountain stream.  This of course perplexes the savage little Dog Men, and makes them more wary as they spread out to begin encircling the area around their prey for the attack.  Armed with an array of weapons consisting of spiked clubs, crude axes and short swords, javelins and spears, the Kobolds ready their throwing weapons as they close within range around the Centaur. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Unsurprised by the appearance of the Kobolds coming out of the woods all around him, Kael quickly looks about him in the quickly fading light, trying to count the number of foes he faced and the weapons they carried.  Knowing they were likely to surround him from all sides and throw first before attacking pack-style hit and run, the Centaur leaps to the left, bolting toward the nearest ones, and close the distance to melee with them. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ The nearest three Kobolds, coming at him from the left, throw a couple of javelins and an axe at the charging Centaur, and all miss pitifully with their throws falling short.  The Dog Men scramble away in separate directions while drawing their melee weapons, as their prey comes toward them, so the others may attack from behind. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Kael chases down the fleeing Kobolds, picking the slowest one, and tramples over it, easily killing the first of them.  The Talon changes direction to continue chasing the others, and holds the Tetsubo at the ready for a little game like some present day polo action with their heads. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ More Kobolds come out of the woods behind the Centaur as the chase begins, and launch their own slew of weapons at their prey... axes, javelins and spears.  Several of the weapons impact on Kael's hide, but without sufficient kinetic force to penetrate and cause harm to him.  The rest of the weapons hurled at him fall short. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ None of the Dog Men, try as they might, who became the focus of Draego's pursuit, could out run him on open ground, and only those canny enough to dodge in brush or thickets impassable to the large Centaur could escape him.  The next Kobold unable to ellude Kael gets batted into the air when he smashes the Tetsubo into the small of his back to fall lifeless in a holly bush. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ The Kobolds with their melee weapons of short swords, spiked clubs and axes surround the Talon of Malar, and continually attempt to attack him from behind.  With the spinning of the Centaur, the Dog Men are unable to come even close to getting a good strike on him. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ The Malarite rapidly spins in place, laying about with his Tetsubo and kicking out with his hooves, and smashes another one of the Dog Men dead with the staff.  But during one of his kicks, Kael accidentally connects with a boulder slightly hurting his hoof and slightly laming him, which slows down his movement. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ The remaining Dog Men jab and slash with their short swords, axes and clubs, hoping to get in a debilitating hit to one of the Centaur's legs, and their hope pays off.  One of the Kobolds scores a clean hit but to the Centaur's abdomen with an ax, and this encourages the others to continue the attack due to his success. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Slightly injured, Talon continues whirling about only slightly slower to attack with both his hooves and staff against the Kobolds, and with this combination, easily slays three more of them thanks to his great strength.  The Hunter of Malar knows they'll flee if he kills enough of them. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ With five of the Kobolds dead from single blows of the Centaur's hooves and staff, the remainder decide this was a huge mistake, and flee for their lives, attempting to get away. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ One such scree slope made good on its threat, and at a point several thousand feet up into a pass, slipped sending the heavy Centaur sliding down the rough slope along with a slew of other loose earth and coarse gravel precipitating a minor avalanche.  Only by quick instinct and action did Kael save himself from a likely fatal tumble to the bottom of the steep slope by deploying the Claws of Malar, and deeply sink them into the muddy ground anchoring himself from sliding further.  His Tetsubo would've been lost at the bottom of the ravine were it not corded to his wrist as a safeguard against its loss.  After his close brush with an ignominious death, the Talon of Malar, despite being a bad-ass, quickly assess the situation.  The temperature was dropping below zero, requiring the use of an Endure Cold invocation [1st level Priest].  Several feet of snow covered the ground, making footing even more treacherous.  The limited visibility caused by the darkness and the storm inspired an irrational and persistent nagging worry that he'd become lost perhaps even traveled in circles.  The Hunter, knowing he was very close to exhaustion from the long day's journey and the fierceness of the elements, decides it's too dangerous to continue navigating the rugged mountain range at night during a steadily worsening storm, and time to find someplace to weather the storm until daylight when he'd see better and be better rested. ~ ~ ~ 

 ~ ~ ~ Using a Locate Object invocation [3rd level Priest] to find stalactites, the Talon of Malar takes the better part of three hours to find suitable shelter until finally discovering the black opening of a cave at the base of a cliff face with a jumble of large fallen boulders scattered about the entrance.  It was perfect for Draego, but likely already housed an occupant who might be disinclined to share their accommodations with the Centaur.  With that in mind, the Hunter ties a Continual Light Stone concealed in a pouch with a pull away cord to the end of his Tetsubo, and stores it slanted across his humanoid back with the tied stone above his head to light the way when needed.  Focusing his mental energies to Heightening his Senses, the Malarite slowly enters the cave entrance, and by scent alone, already detects the randy musk of some kind of animal. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Removing and unfurling the scroll contained within, the Hunter slightly adjusts the pouch covering the Continual Light stone to provide enough light to read by, and proceeds to recite the invocation written upon the parchment, invoking a power much greater than any channeled before to make the Stones of the cavern like Spikes [Spike Stones, 5th level (10% failure, %d=40)].  The Centaur Priest targets the effect of the invocation at the furthest reach 90' away into the cavern, and feels the heavy flow of deific power course through him, spreading out across the floor of the cavern.  The channeled power encompasses 10 X 20 square feet of the cavern floor wall to wall, creating hidden spikes in the same quantity between himself and the unknown creatures, which began to stir. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Despite the precautions taken by the Talon, the six heat sources somehow, whether by sight, sound or smell, detect the intruder at the entrance to their lair, and stir from their places of repose climbing to their feet, whatever they might be.  The pony sized creatures shake themselves off, and with prey in sight, quickly sprint toward their prospective meal. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ As the creatures move to close the distance between themselves and their prey, the Malarite Centaur again proceeds to read from the scroll, calling upon another powerful invocation to create a mystical Bow of the Rainbow [Rainbow, 5th level (10% failure, %d=34)], and upon completing the prayer, appears in one hand a multi-hued composite short bow formed of the colors of the Rainbow.  Stashing the scroll away, the Talon of Malar prepares to use the bow against the creatures. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Meanwhile down below, the beasties gracefully bound across the irregular floor of the cavern, confident of their footing due to their familiarity of their lair, and as a result of their rapid pace, charge into the midst of the Hunter's trap [Observation 25%, %d=75].  Odd bleating roars of pain come from the injured creatures [53/89] who'd rushed through Spiked Stones, and were now severely limping [Save Spells, d20=4] at a much slower pace [MV 8 (norm 12)] toward the entrance of the cavern. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Lifting the bow into position, the Centaur targets the beasties as they're yelping in pain from their encounter with his make-shift 'minefield', and lets loose a slew of the magical, different-hued arrows on them [ROF 4, 3/4 hits].  All but one flies true. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Down below on the cavern floor, several of the limping creatures get skewered by the magical bolts [31/89] dropping half their numbers [Morale 11, d20=11] in their tracks.  The rest arrive at the base of the steep slope, and at their best wounded speed, slowly scramble up toward the invader. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ As the strange creatures climb the steep slope towards him, the Malarite Priest unleashes the last of the magical varied-hued arrows from the 'holy' bow at them [ROF 3, 3/3 hits].  Each flying true strikes one of the critters. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Squalling beasts scream out as they are struck by the mystical bolts [18/89], but [Morale 11, d20=14] cease their attempts to climb the slope to slink away and lick their wounds.  They retreat toward the depths of the cave, but pause leery of where they smell the other beasts lay dead and their spilt blood from the Spike Stones hurt them [Observation 25%, %d=76]. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Watching the beasts retreat from the slope to lick their wounds, Kael pulls free the pouch covering the Continual Light stone, creating a beacon in the darkness and blizzard, and deploys the Claws of Malar, causing them slide forward locking into place.  The Centaur crosses over the crest of the slope leading into the cavern, and cautiously descends the snowy, earthen-scree slope, firmly planting three hooves while positioning his fourth [DEX 16, d20=1]. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ The pacing beasts watch the Centaur's descent, but having suffered extensive damage from the intruder [Morale 11, d20=12], were unwilling to tangle again with him.  They growl at him as he reaches the floor of the cavern with little problem, but keep their distance [60']. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Gracefully negotiating the steep slope down to the bottom, the Talon of Malar causes the Claws to retract, and in the light of the Continual Light stone, looks the surrounding area over.  Around the immediate cavern floor, the Hunter notes the spoor of the beasts, and also detects tracks of the two-legged kind not related to the beasts and scattered pieces of wood, sticks, branches and logs [Observation 72%, %d=28].  Obviously something else other than those creatures lived here.  Turning his gaze upon the still living beasties prowling in the darkness beyond the perimeter of the Continual Light, the Hunter considers his options regarding them.  He'd already killed three of the unusual beasts, and severely wounded the others.  The creatures were a mystery he had yet to view in the light, but were clearly of a predatory nature judging by their movements and vocalizations.  Intrigued, the Priest invokes the Power of Malar, calling "Great Herne, grant to Your Talon, your power.  Freeze these creatures!  Stop them in their tracks!  Let them serve your servant as hunters." [Hold Animals, 3rd level; Initiative, d10=2] and channels the energy of his God down on the creatures. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Unwilling to allow the invader to linger or further trespass in their territory [Morale 11, d20=2], the creatures charge when they perceive the hesitation in their prey's behavior as a moment of weakness, and though severely wounded, rapidly close the distance to the Centaur [Initiative, d10=8; Save 16, d20=2/3].  Only one of the creatures succumbs to the Priest's invocation.  The other two creatures savagely attack their prey with claw, horns and bite [1st - 1/5 hit (dmg 3); 2nd - 1/5 hit (dmg 5)]. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Like some bizarre blending of a Goat and Lion, the Sa'ir possesses the large hindquarters of a goat and the powerful forequarters of a large lion.  The leonine head sports a goat like beard and a pair of sharp, upright goat horns perfect for goring.  As the creatures attacked, Kael feels one sinks its teeth into his left hind leg and the other gore him in the abdomen with a horn.  The Centaur bucks, and lashes out with his hind legs at the creature which bit him [1/2 hit (dmg 12], and sharply nails one hoof into its abdomen bursting internal organs and sending it flying away from him dead.  Whirling about to face the second beast, the Hunter, like a present day bull wrestler, drops onto the Sa'ir grabbing it about the neck, and with his great strength and mass easily bears it to the floor, applying a choke hold [2/2 hits]. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Often such severe weather would drive foolish, unsuspecting creatures looking for shelter into her cavern complex and her fearless guards negating the need for any hunting.  Although, on this night, the creature which entered their lair was neither foolish nor unsuspecting nor prey for the Sa'ir, who quickly fell to the Malarite Hunter's attacks.  It was the screams of her injured children that awoke Aurelia from her slumber.  The Lamia scrambles up from her warm bedding, and listens to the cries of pain and rage coming from her wounded children.  When the cries of her children go silent, she turns to the last remaining victim who'd fallen prey to her insidious charms, a Formorian Giant, hideous beyond words to describe, still sleeping and softly snoring in a corner of the cavern, and softly whispers "Gaush, Gaush!!!  Get up, you flea-bitten oaf!!  Go kill whatever has harmed my babies!!" pointing toward the cavern leading to the entrance of the cave complex.  Aurelia was only too glad to get rid of the Giant because of his grotesque appearance and rank odor, but would miss his giant endowment, satisfying and pleasuring the recurring animal lusts of her body. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Sneaking through the low ceilinged portion of the caves, the Stalker of Dead Places clears the narrow bottle neck just in time to watch the battle begin in earnest between hir Formorian... and... a... gorgeous... auburn haired... roan Centaur!  An infinite moment of perfect clarity burns the image of Kael Draego rearing up to strike into the Beast Woman's mind, before triggering unexpected and powerful involuntary shudders of bestial lust to course through hir entire body.  Only in hir wildest dreams had shi ever fantasized of an actual seduction with, let alone actually enslaving to hir will, such an extraordinary specimen.  The Lamia, hir feral desires ignited, salaciously roves hir yellow feline eyes over every enticing aspect of the newest species of intruder to stumble into hir lair, and lustfully envisions the other not so apparent aspects.  Every sensual aspect of both hir humanoid and animal body responds with fevered passion and undeniable biological need brought on by his close proximity.  Shi had to have him for hir mate! ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Hungrily focused on every move of the Centaur, Aurelia barely refrains from cheering on the successful and devastating attacks made by Kael Draego, and clasps hir hands forcefully together with savage glee at the punishment dealt out to the Formorian.  When Gaush smashes his spiked club into Kael's equine barrel to the sickening sounds of breaking ribs, the Lamia silently gasps 'NO!!!' in dismay, reflexively reaching out one desparate hand to stop the action, and almost blurts out loud the command 'Don't kill him!'  But the blow was struck before any actions of hir could stop it from landing.  Amazingly, the intruder survived the Giant's club, and even more amazingly, in a second exchange of deadly blows, dropped the Formorian dead in his tracks. ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ Marvelling at the strength and vigor of hir newest stud to be, Gaush's dead corpse toppling over snaps Aurelia back to reality, and prompts hir hasty departure back into the cavern depths.  Shi had a Centaur's seduction to plan, and everything had to be just perfect.  The Lamia quickly devises an ages old ruse to entice the Centaur into hir seductive embrace.  It is all too simple a trap.  What Centaur stud could resist the grateful and appreciative overtures of a captive Centaur mare freed from the vile clutches of hideous deformed Giant. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Almost six seasons past, all trade along the western routes of the Anarauch desert ceased because a flying horde of horrific, three-headed, beasts were preying upon all unwary travellers and devastating heavily guarded caravans for a hundred leagues in all directions.  Rumors of these flying creatures' depredations reached the Hunting Lodge, and inspired one of the largest and most disastrous of High Hunts for the Lost Peaks.  The largest Hunting Party of Malarites ever from the Lost Peaks, roughly four fifths of the following, 157 members, issued forth on the High Hunt for the fiercesome beasts of rumor.  Only 63 Malarites, Draego among them, returned from that High Hunt across the desolate western verges of the Anarauch desert. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ The hunters had become the hunted, prey for a large pride of Chimera and a Yellow Dragon which had overrun the western Anarauch desert.  Only after three fifths of their number had fallen, did the High Hunt finally end with the death of the Yellow Dragon in it's lair and 17 Chimera killed throughout various locations across the Fallen Lands and the western Anarauch desert.  The Dragon's lair, an ancient fortress long fallen into ruins on the edge of the Fallen Lands and the Anarauch, served as the central focal point for all the attacks, and discovered inside were:

• bones innumerable strewn everywhere;
• the skeletal remains of animals and people;
• corpses of animals and people in various stages of being eaten numbering in the hundreds;
• several of the unusual goat-horned, lion skulls of the Sa'ir;
• the descicated and nearly petrified corpses of 3 long dead, partially eaten Lamia, who died birthing the offspring of the Dragon, the Chimera, proven by the removal of a stillborn Chimera cub from one of the Lamia's burst womb

 ~ ~ ~ The large loss of worshippers from the Lost Peaks Hunting Lodge in an ill-conceived High Hunt swiftly attracted Malar's wrath and displeasure, evidenced by two near simultaneous events before the eyes of His followers.  The first event was, when possessed and 'blessed' by the Beastlord's divine presence, Hunter Sebastian rapidly transformed into a never before seen hybrid, centauroid werewolf form, which by default automatically bestowed Huntmaster status upon him, willing or not.  The second event, the punishment for failure and incompetence enacted through the possessed Sebastian, might have ended with the swift and bloody death of the former Huntmaster Kar'al'Shaw were it not for the audacious and unexpected intervention of a Talon of Malar. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Even to this day, Kael Draego had no real explanation for what *prompted* him to speak up on behalf of Kar'al'Shaw.  True, Shaw was the Wild-Elf Huntmaster, who spared Draego's life and avenged his Herd in exchange for him being the Hunted during one of the High Hunts, and who afterward convinced Malar to make him, a Talon.  However, to attribute to Kael any sentimentality for Kar'al or special loyalty beyond that owed any Huntmaster would've been blatantly wrong.  And the other Hunters of Lost Peak knew this to be true of the savage Centaur, and so were just as dumbfounded as was he by his *uncharacteristic* intervention, considering the paralytic awe they felt being in their God's presence. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ The centauroid werewolf, Malar's Avatar, had angrily grasped Shaw about the neck before anyone could so much as consider bowing in reverence. The Huntmaster himself barely croaked out "My... Lord..." before being single-handedly lifted several feet off the ground to stare into the savage visage of his God.  As it seemed the Beastlord was intent on ripping asunder the terrified Elf, Draego had reverentially interceded. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Blunt and to the point, the Talon, with *unusual* detachment, calmly asked of the Avatar, "My Lord God, will You put on *him* the burden to *find* You *new believers* for Lost Peak?"  The Centaur's impertinent question inspired from the assemblage of Malarites a collective gasp of astonishment and several muttered exhortations to stay silent before their God. The Talon ignored their pitiful mewlings as he understood better than most that his life was Malar's to do with as He pleased, and that their God valued directness and savagery.  Stalker echoed the exhortations of His followers with a deep threatening snarl, implicitly commanding the silence and obedience of His Talon, and made plain His dominance over the situation at hand. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ The Lord of the Hunt returned his attention to the failed Huntmaster, but no longer with the intention of eviscerating him on the spot.  Instead, Malar furiously spat His curse upon the Wild Elf, declaring with a sinister snarl, "You will pay for the loss of My worshippers!  4 days do you have to get to the lodge at Lost Peaks [an impossible task without the aid of magic or psychic powers], if you hope to keep any semblance of your human form, or else become like one of these Lamia, you will." and dropped the disgraced Huntmaster to the ground. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ For several heartbeats, the bewildered Wild Elf stood before a shrill scream issued from his throat, and cressendoed at a high-pitched shriek.  Collapsing at the clawed hooves of Malar, Kar'al doubled over into the fetal position, whimpering and clutching his blood soaked groin in horror and pain.  For a brief instant, he'd felt a tingling in his groin before the excruciating wrenching sensation of his external genitalia inverting itself and rearranging their location and function inside his belly occurred. The Lord of the Hunt pronounced Kar'al'Shaw's doom, grating out "A day extra you will gain to reach Lost Peaks for each lost life you redeem within yourself.  For you are now My bitch!" ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ And it was true.  Gone from between his legs was any manflesh, having been replaced by the flow of bright and plentiful estrus blood from her new tingling and swollen womanflesh.  He was now a she.  And no sooner had Malar declared her new status, than mystical forces from the Black Bard savagely ravaged her newly bestowed maidenhead, and tortously blessed her womb with His corrupting essence and power.  Wracked with pain from the unholy rape, the Wild Elf, thrashing and flailing about upon the ground, repeatedly screamed aloud her agony as the plundering energies of Render rent her asunder and pierced her core.  A convulsive shudder splashed new bright blood down her legs as the Lord of the Hunt further explained her situation, growling "And all My favored beasts will Hunt you, and take their pleasure upon you to ensure you fulfill your obligation to Me." ~ ~ ~ 

 ~ ~ ~ A rapid montage of images showed a momentary glimpse of all those who would be hunting her, creatures like the Jackal and Wolfweres, Wolves, two headed Death Dogs, Minotaurs, Ettin, Goblinkind, Hieracosphinx, Lizardmen, Wererats, Werewolves, Werelions, Owlbears, Perytons, and even Centaurs. The Beastlord growled down at her, "No escape will you find in death, only pain.  For you are now immortal until you redeeem yourself and all the fallen Hunt member lost on this High Hunt.  The Hunt is on!  Swift and nimble, prey, flee from the Hunters!" and with those final words, made a shuddering departure from Sebastian's body. ~ ~ ~ 

 ~ ~ ~ Whimpering and trembling in shock and pain from the horrible violation of her womanly core and from the traumatic change, the former Huntmaster shakily climbed to her feet, and fled into the Fallen Lands.  She returned to the Lost Peak hunt lodge several weeks later completely transformed into a Lamia and heavily pregnant with cubs.  Kara Shaw, as she refers to herself, is still a Lamia to this day, and haunts the Lost Peaks.  The former Huntmaster provided a regular litter of huntable creatures for the lodge on High Hunts such as the goat-lion creatures, and even a few new members for the lodge.  It remains a matter of conjecture among the Lost Peak lodge about whether Kara Shaw would choose to revert to his Wild-Elf form upon fulfillment of her obligation to Malar.  Some doubt she would accept the chance, and choose to remain as she is. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Following after his animal friends, Kael concentrated his mental energies [CON chk good], and heightens the sharpness of his senses.  Through the darkness and tight caverns the Talon crept staying alert for any dangers.  The ceiling of a few locations along the way required the Centaur to completely lower his humanoid torso in order to get through those sections of the cavern.  But eventually with the help of the Sa'ir, the Priest of Malar tracked his way through the beast's lair to find the Lamia. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ When Draego first came in sight of the Lamia, he could feel the powerful tingle of her allure and attraction.  It was magic of some kind [Charm Person] which unbeknownst to Aurelia didn't work on this particular Priest.  The Beast Woman sobbed and whimpered in fake pain and fear acting as though the Giant had returned with the its guard beasts.  Looking particularly bedraggled and abused without losing any of her physical attractiveness, the fake Centauress when she does catch sight of the Talon in the torch light, immediately exclaims as part of her act, "Please save me!!  The Giant captured and holds me prisoner!!" ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ Sleeping through the remainder of the day, and through the night until near midnight, Kael Draeqo awoke extremely refreshed and relaxed from the deep slumber.  Both Sa'ir were snuggled on either side of him in the Lamia's bed, helping to ward off the chill of the cavern with their body warmth.  The Centaur stretched all four legs and his arms, straining his muscles to work the stiffness out of them and get the blood flowing.  Raping the Lamia had alleviated a growing tension in the Talon, and brought him a temporary contentment with the state of the world.  He'd leave the Lamia alive, and perhaps one day find his way back to this cave to renew their passionate embrace!  The Priest of Malar glanced over at the stallagtite, he'd draped her arms about, and slowly climbed to his hooves, extricating himself from the Sa'ir laying about him.  Vawn and Tau also started to stir, and rolled to their paws and hooves, shaking themselves off.  The pleasant interlude was over, time to prepare for the next day of travel. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Stepping free of the bedding, Draego went over to the fire, and stirred it back to life with some added branches and logs.  Once the fire took, the Centaur laid a slab of Formorian haunch over the flames to char while he checked on his prisoner. The Talon discovered that she'd managed to free her front leonine paws, but that was the limit of how far she got in her attempted escape.  The Lamia must have given up in frustration, and drifted back to sleep when she could do nothing more to escape.  She had managed to slip free her gag also, which the Hunter Priest replaced to keep her from easily using any of her powers on him.  This had the effect of waking Aurelia from her fitfull sleep, and illicited an angry snarl, accompanied by several half-hearted paw swipes at him.  None of which connected. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Taking out a hollowed out gourd for drinking from, the Priest of Malar performed several last indignities on the Lamia by standing up her hindquarters and milking her goat udders for all they worth into the gourd.  If she didn't behave, he'd bite none too gently the most sensitve portion of her female anatomy in reach beneath her quivering goat tail.  When the gourd was full, he'd drink the warm, creamy contents, and then start again until she had nothing more to give.  After drinking his fill, the Centaur cut some burnt chunks of Formorian flesh from the haunch grilling over the fire, and enjoyed a midnight feast, before committing himself to long hours of prayer and rituals dedicated to the God Malar.  The Sa'ir helped themselves to both the haunch of giant, and to anything more they could get from their trussed up mother.  When ultimately finished with his dedications to the Black Bard, Kael placed several lengths of wood and rope from the fire to the bonds holding the Lamia's hands tight,  and told her in his deep bass voice "By Malar's command, you are to be spared.  You will be free shortly to continue on with your life.  You have greatly pleased me, and perhaps will one day have another chance to do so again.  May Malar bless you with successful hunts and bountiful prey." ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ With that said, the Talon left Aurelia to her fate.  The fire would follow the rope and wood to her bonds, and set her free or not.  He'd have to acquire some more rope at the next opportunity.  The Centaur wound his way back out through the caves into the frozen nightscape of deep snow and glittering ice.  Tau and Vawn led the way, naturally excited by the prospect of going on the hunt.  The snow had to almost four feet deep, and would most like slow down his progress.  There were a few options available to the Hunter Priest, brute strength and mass to force his way through , light weight and distributed mass over multilple contact points to walk over the snow, or the power of flight.  The Sa'ir, however, would be hard pressed to keep up trudging through the snow.  This necessitated the brute force and heavy mass approach to trail breaking so they could keep up, once they tired of trail breaking on their own. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Stabbing his tetsubo into the snow, Draego concentrated his mental energies on shaping his body to a new form, envisioning the mighty mastodon [metamorphosis, chk 3, -21 (178/199)].  The mind power released reshaped the Centaur into a small version of a tusked, shaggy mastodon [8' tall], his head and torso becoming elephantine, as did the rest of his equine body swell to greater mass and size.  In his new form, the Talon led the way down from the mountain heights plowing through the deep snows and prodding ahead of him with the tetsubo to test for sure footing.  Following in his wake, the Sa'ir soon learned to trail behind him after attempting their own struggles through the deep snows, and even with the path broken, still proved strenuous and difficult for them.  For eight miles, they trudge until finally winning free of the deep snows at dawn, and ending the need for his altered form [-24 (154/199)]. ~ ~ ~

 ~ ~ ~ Returning to his natural form, the Centaur and Sa'ir travelled more easily along the hilly cliff tops, called the Sisters.  From their high vantage point above the wide green swaths of the High Forest canopy, the Talon and his animal friends could easily discern by sight and smell the columns of smoke rising like beacons into the sky from where the land was being decimated, felled, burnt, blackened and left barren in the wake of an abhorrent menagery of fell creatures and beasts.  Little disturbed their passage as the freak winter storm drove many creatures into hiding, those able to find shelter, or to flee from the dreadful horde wreaking havoc upon the land.  The Giant Killer crept along the edges of the clifftops, and upon spying the horrendous legions near mid-morning, felt dismayed at the sight, whispering "Great Herne!  There are TOO many!  Where did so many come from?  Where are the Unicorn Lovers, the Water Singers, the Forest Walkers, the Shadoweir, the Galeb Duhr... ?  Does no one oppose them?" ~ ~ ~