Another full drum stick of red meat finds the throned womans small red lipped mouth and is enveloped and cleaned w/a single pull. The bone is flicked and flys this time to the far shaded corner and clatters to the floor. ((Sia notices the bear sized shadow wolf's eyes open. It has no scent but it's eyes glow amber and she can see it's white teeth now as it spies the large bone))Several more follow. Some of the bones are thrown to the chemlin which cleans them and tosses them to melt into the bodies of nearby skeletons dogs that patrol under the mammoth table.

"I'm glad to hear such words. Your first emissinary, the centaur kin, was not in alignment of your fair words beautiful Arienne."

Her childlike bright almost glowing green eyes scan Ari from floor to head and back again.

"3 thousand years ago I would've taken pleasure in the horse mans slow torturous death on one of my desert flaying wheels, followed by the complete annihaltion of all the loved ppl and places I learned of from siphoning his weak dying mind.

But recently I have developed fresh interests. And 10,000 years in solitary imprisonment will teach anyone patience.  Or insanity."

The chemlin cackles loudly in a high pitched series of sharp tones. It backgrounds the sounds by digging scrawling furrows into the top of the stone table.

"The turmoil we created by lack of permission w/you may suffer a lack of interest sooner than you think. Suffice to say proper sanctions and precautions would aid in your control of this land. Such things are known to us. Gillette is one of my best field generals and has yet to lose a confrontation.  

Rightfully we both have reason to accuse the other of wrong doings, but you will find that debate short lived as I have only one way to resolve such disagreements.

The centaur that trys to appear human...............what?.............. what's this?

Oh, I see now.

A Silenni is it?

Hteel? Heil maybe?

Yes.

Very well then.

Heil, as well as you to I and I to you, may well prove to be worth much much more if still drawing sustanance.

So maybe everyone can keep their flesh on this day?"

The chemlin cackles again wildy, squinting it's eyes and flaring the fin atop it's skull.

"You may wish to attempt to hear my words for the truths they contain"

Her eyes move to the others, as she talks, and repeats the long undressing look, ignoring her noisy creature.

"You all carry potent weapondry or icons. But today you do not possess the knowledge needed to destroy me

*All magic items flare back on* ((there))

 She drains the dark wine from one thick stemmed golden Norse goblet and then another equal sized  one cast of reflective platnium.

The small leather creature winks out of existance.

The petite fire haired host tinkles laughter. "As far as etiquette and bruised titles, I know naught, you expect introductions from those that recognize little more than a war banner. In our own defense this place of yours is hardly more than a rogue blight lying seperate and unattached from any homeland of distinction. The presence of yourselves does not constitute a heirarchy and a village has little to nothing of rights in the scheme of the world. Besides you have no written law of any depth, nor legislature or govering body. I would venture to say ...........................*looks deeply at Raven* .............that you are more scientists than leaders of men. This place has not ruler nor govt.

Our encampment lays outside of your township's boundaries I belive. Your further regions are undefined and unmarked?

My peoples are borne of strife and conflict. Perhaps you should understand our mindset.

For an example, you were surprised by our appearance and had no real premeditated plan or procedure. Especially in the scenario that we did less than expected and didn't announce our intentions or gain permission from thou self-appointed protectors.

Sia notices the small wiry creature sneaking near her on the floor. It slinks pressed down near the chairs  base.

We on the other hand knew of all of your movements as soon as you set out of your homes. And we have spent all of our resources learning of you and yours.

As far as you all being simple farmers go, milady Arienne, your own superbly crafted dwarf embattlement suggests otherwise. We believe you are not true warriors w/ the possible of exception of Miss Silvara's potent brand of energies.

Aside from your own towers we forsaw no real opposition. But we will admit after watching, we realize this area attracts many talented travelers for some reason. Many of whom by comparison, we know, have done no more in the realm of introductions than us. Do not try hide your bigotry of us. It does not become you.

We have no desire to sack this place or we would have already attempted the feat.

What do we want? The question will become, what do you want?

The chemlin dissapears behind her chair. She hears a light pop sound. She then sees it poised on the back of the chair near Ari and it stands straight sideways as it moves it's claws around near Ari's side. ((*rolls* Ari doesn't detect it. Raven cannot from his side))

 

"Yes White Wizard, " Her eyes flare with green fire. "There is something,

something that is somwhere near.

Only one of you can get it and only we can have it.

 

Tell us what you know of these ruins that lay near here."

Platters levitate past the small green clad female and other guests while the towering red efreet points w/one hand from 50' behind the throne, w/a look of disgust

Two 13' half giant skeletons both heave a platter onto the table and uncover the roasted bear.

 Siannodell allowed the Weremachtt's words to sink into her mind, and pressed her lips into a grim, thoughtful line. Her brown eyes followed the movements of the impish creature and as it neared her own chair, she tapped her staff loudly on the floor next to it, trying to scare it away with a shooing motion. It disappeared, only to reappear even closer to Arienne, who strangely enough, seemed unaware of it. Sia cleared her throat and nodded at Arienne to get the elf's attention and used the head of her staff to point to the creature. Whatever mischief it intended, Siannodell intended not to let it get away with it unnoticed. When the roast bear was heaved onto the table and uncovered, Mielikki's High Priestess gasped loudly in repugnance and shock, covering her mouth as her eyes widened in horror.

 

She had eaten only the single slice of bread and a handful of nuts which now threatened to come back up at the grisly (( grizzly haha )) sight of the cooked bear. Sia had been amazed at how the goblet refilled itself as she drank, but the High Priestess was certain that there was extremely powerful magic here, and it did nothing to calm her worries. With a soft sigh and shake of her head, she regarded the petite, red-haired woman at the head of the table. "Excuse me, but I would like to speak," she said politely. Her voice was calm and oddly firm, not one that a person would expect to come from a slight, older woman like Sia. She stood from her chair and half-bowed in reverance to their hostess, leaning a bit on her staff.

 

"Firstly, allow me to thank you for your hospitality, and apologize for the rash attitude of my friend Hi'el. His temper sometimes gets the better of him and his actions might better be explained if you will let me elaborate on the tenets of our religion." Sia moved away from her chair and slowly approached the Weremachtt, rational and kind thought showing in her doe-like eyes at the chance to expound upon her Goddess. "Many of the villagers follow the ways of my Goddess, Mielikki. She is the Mother of Nature and animals, and we, as her followers, are bound to protect her credos. While I respect that you most assuredly have different ways of doing things where you come from," she said with an uneasy glance at the Shadow Wolves. "You also surely understand that anything that goes contrary to our religious beliefs will be questioned. And much of what we have observed and seen of your ways so far seem very far removed from our faith. Your use of undead, and those..." she gestured to the efreet, not knowing what they were. "Demonic things...the fact that you, yourself, are made out of some sort of black jelly-like stuff and obviously not human or any race that I have ever encountered, the fact that you not only hunt such animals as are under our protection," she said with a shuddering, disgusted motion to the bear.

 

"But that you hunt animals for mere sport...the idea that you claim to have lived thousands of years, which may be true, and perhaps has made you uncaring to other races that do not live so long...indeed, that live only a fraction of that time." Sia paused and shook her head, her gaze full of disbelief that this woman would not understand her point. "All of these things are unnatural to us and go against our teachings...and lead us to mistrust, Miss...Weremachtt. We do not wish to war with you, and I daresay that it would probably decimate the village and surrounding areas if such a thing were to come to pass. Our natural and magical forces might actually surprise you, but in the end, I think the cost would be very high for us. My Goddess needs living bodies to serve her cause...not martyrs. But as her mouthpiece for the Temple here in Elmshade, I cannot allow such things and not challenge them. By turning a blind eye to some of your practices, I would not only lose my granted powers from Mielikki, I would lose my sense of respect and self-worth."

 

Sia stopped within a few feet of the tiny, delicate woman with the bright green eyes. She slowly, purposefully removed her holy symbol from around her neck and held it out to the stranger on the throne. The silver unicorn pendant shone softly with a luminescent, golden-white glow that seemed to radiate from within it. With a friendly smile, Sia nodded at the proffered symbol of her faith. "Feel it," she suggested. "It will not harm thee unless you be evil. I offer it to you so that you may see that the magic inherent in it is quite real. And it is made real because of my...our...faith." The High Priestess paused again, allowing Weremachtt time to hold the pendant if she wished.

 

"All of which may not matter to you in the least," she said with a sad expression. "But as for what I want, as the High Priestess of the Temple, I want you to respect the tenets and principles of Mielikki...while you are here. This means leaving the animals and forests of this area as they were before you arrived or in better condition than you found them. It means not hunting the animals for sport alone. It means having a deep respect for our natural beauty here that we try to preserve and keep from being spoiled or ruined by those of a more war-like nature." Siannodell gestured around the room and back towards the way they had entered the huge chamber. "I can't read any of what was written on your walls, but the pictures say enough. You obviously hold some respect for water and trees...the living things and the elements," she said, her brown eyes focused intelligently on the small woman without fear. "So, I believe we may not be as different as I first thought. You asked what we want. I have spoken my peace and hope that you have heard what was said, as well as what was not." Siannodell closed her eyes and silently thanked Mielikki for guiding her words and giving her the courage and strength to speak her mind. She opened them again and stared quietly at their hostess with a faint smile, then turned and made her way back to her seat with a slow, measured step. "And you have wonderful magic chairs, by the way," she said as she sat once more. 

Raven waits patiently while Sia talks to Miss Weremacht, and contemplates on what she said about the ruins. He rubbs his chin in thought, his suspicions validated. She was here for something else, and it had to do with the ruins. Dammit, what is inside the ruins that would attract such beings. He shook his head, running his notes on the ruins through his head. It only made him more determined to find the Ancient Key, and get inside.

 

 

Drannon looked around nervously, anxiously awaiting Ariennes return. He was worried sick about Pheral, and her condition. He needed to get back to Ariennes tower soon and administer more medications to her. He turned his attention back to the slave pens, casually looking at the creatures in them. Maybe he will find out whos talking in his mind.

 

 Arienne listened to Sia's words of wisdom, glad that the woman was not taking a provocative approach to negotiations. Still standing by the chair, she wrinkled her nose at the impish creature the High Priestess had pointed out. With a frown she watched it, narrowing her elven eyes at it suspiciously. Her mind worked at the Weremachtt's words, wondering what resided in the depths of the ruins that would attract such interest from things so...foreign.

 

When Siannodell was done speaking, and had made her way back to her seat, Arienne spoke again in a quiet voice to the Weremachtt. "We are only just now learning more about the ruins. We have yet to discover much about them, or why someone like you would be interested in them. Or, for that matter, how you could have come by such knowledge. We have been trying to keep them a secret and avoid having the curious masses swarm them until we can determine more." She glanced at Raven cautiously and then back to the red-haired woman on the throne. "But if you were interested in an alliance of sorts, perhaps we can share what we have learned of them thus far with you?" 

 Arienne's delicate face registered shock as the Weremachtt's grasp melted Siannodell's Holy Symbol. Her blue eyes darted around the room as if waiting for a bolt of Goddess-inspired lightning to come sizzling down from the heavens and strike the red-haired, green eyed humanoid on the throne. But nothing of that nature happened, and the elven mage turned her attention with great concern towards the High Priestess as she rose from her seat and approached their Hostess. Her gaze flicked to Raven, to see how he was handling this awkward situation, but he appeared to be unconcerned, or was hiding any unease he might have been feeling well beneath a calm exterior. The captured drow had also shocked Arienne, and she was starting to think that the ruins and what lurked beneath Elmshade might be more than the Trinity could handle alone, regardless of what little power they might wield. One look at the tremendous chamber they were in, and the denizens in the employ or slavery of the Weremachtt, was enough to convince the mithril-haired beauty that any power the Trinity held was as nothing compared to some things.

 

Understanding lit her face as Siannodell mentioned the fact that her Holy Symbol affecting the strange woman the way it had was an indication of evil. Arienne didn't like it any more than the elder human woman, but she also knew that sometimes compromises had to be made in order to survive and attain certain goals. The elven lass didn't blame Sia for being so upset, and even understood the logic behind every reason for her anger and indignation. She would stand beside her friend, if called upon to do so...but she had to wonder if this meeting would end satisfactorily for all of them...if it could end that way....

Raven walks over to Sia, and wraps a comforting arm around her shoulders, his face saddened by the loss of her Holy Symbol. He looks to her caringly... "I will try and undo the damage to it when we get back to the surface. Unfortunatly I can make no guarantees."

Raven steps away from Sia, and looks to Arienne with a smile. "It will be ok." He glances to Silvara, who stands silently at the opposite end of the table. She hadnt said much anything sinse arriving, but he was glad she was here. He then steps up to the Weremacht, looking to her confidently and strong. "You claim to know so much about us, and pass ignorance on us about you. You explode like a spoiled child, and shout at a guest of yours... not to mention an old woman. Please calm yourself, this is a piecefull gathering." Raven grinns at her... "In fact you know very little about us. To think we are defenseless is ere on your part m'lady, your ussumptions are hasty. I may not know of you personally, but I do know of your type and have dealt with such accordingly. Mother Siannodell was right about one thing, you are a bully. I do not cower to bullies, I am FAR above that." Raven sudenly thrumms with power of light and goodness from within, of its purest form. Him and his robes seems to glow whiter, the irredescent runes across his robes flashing slightly.  It radiates out from him to span the entire large room.

Raven turns to pace in front of the Weremachts throne, rubbing his chin. The radiating power lessens to surround him in a soft golden aura. "You have paraded your powers, and minions before us the entire time we have been here. I must say as a host that is in poor taste, but sinse it is your who are actually the GUEST around here... I will overlook it. You blatently destroy a preciouse Holy Symbol, treasured by a friend of mine. I would ask you to apploligize to her, but I know it would be a waste of breath." He looks to her again... "Again it is you who are the guest in our world Weremacht. You stepped into our world. You must first respect our ways, so we may learn yours." He continues to stand looking to her confidently. "You came here for a purpose, and I think I know what that is. The Ruins. I have been studying the ruins for years even before the Trinity, and I have already uncovered some of its secrets. I have discovered a strange evil source of power, deep inside them. However the majority of the area is protected by a field of power, and I cannot get details, but I found out enough. I knew it would eventually attract something, and due to its nature.... Elmshade would be better off without it. Perhaps negotiations should continue, but with a little more professionalism." ...he glances over to Silvara, and Arienne.. "I was gonna tell you two... but we were interupted." he shrugs, and looks back to Weremacht.

Raven smiles to her waving a finger around the room.... "I am impressed with your tunnelwork however, and I think your services could be useful to Elmshade." He looks over to the Drow... "We have been plagued by them for many years, and I suspected tunnelwork. I thank you for capturing them, and sealing the tunnels." He looks back to her and politely nods. "You have exposed a weakness of ours true, but that is mainly due to the lack of... how would one say.... underground beings. The only species we have here on the surface that has skills underground, are dwarves. And we are located too close to the elven cities for too many of them to be around. The elves and dwarves dont care for each other too much in our world. So indeed there is a possibility of comming to some agreement with you without hostilities, and anger. We, as the Trinity, came here from request by priestess Siannodell, and Hiel. To negotiate your stay here. If you are able to provide your own stock of food, thats great. If you wish to conservativly hunt for food as we do, thats great too. Were not here to pass judgement on you or your comrades. We just want a CALM and PIECEFUL agreement. If that includes the ruins, then I am willing to share my knowledge with you in exchange for your protections underground. We can all live here in piece with one another, its just that you must try to respect the religiouse aspects of our community. You dont have to like it, just avoid it if you must. But it is here, in a place you are guest in, and we request you respect those ways while your here. You never know, you may like makeing friends in Elmshade. The people here are very friendly, you may have to keep your incognito form.... so not to scare them, but it would be worth it. I know quite a few farmers wives who can bake up the most deliciouse pies and cakes."

 

The small woman looks blankly at the respective speakers as they take turns repremanding her.

She then throws her head back in deep resounding laughter.

She does not stop the rolling laughter for a long moment. "Bully? Temper tantrum? I speak of reworking temples, implementing defense plans, flying cavalry, arcane lore, and creating seige engines. And you fall to name calling? Hahaha, I have never allowed anyone to insult me so in my presence and live. You cross thresholds you do not comprehend. I have a much different idea of what a "bully" is.

I have my own concerns about your wisdom. A statement of ignorance is not a term of insult it is a word of description that reflects the fact that one knows little of a particular thing. And in this case it could be no more true.

Those that are good and just and work the bone as tools are both many and frequent. Even in these lands I  have seen it. To deny the fact is sheer madness. I have battled them and they deserve homage. Ask your gods about the gift. Even you can do it old one.

This thing was a relic of yours? Again, your own ignorance led to that demise. And I am evil to not convey the facts to you I suppose. Intimidation is not in my arsenal, but the power of the unknown is. Knowledge is the greatest power I know of. It is what you have little of at this time.

I must admit, my humanity was left behind eons ago, as was my etiqutte. My ppl are warriors at heart. If my age puts me out of touch with nature then so the same must stand for your high gods? I dislike hypocrisy in any of it's forms. You are right tho, I care not for anything less my own, same as you and yours I should hope.

Fools, I cannot but help to muse over your folley. Your metal burns at my touch, not for any will of mine. I am cursed and forsaken forevermore, I suggest not touching my being with item nor flesh. Both will end in the same caustic pool of waste. I am doomed to live as this. Surrounded by the unliving, uncorpreal, and solid admantium and granite. I can know no feel of flesh or most anything that has not been protected against my touch. It is my bane.

I learned of you recently from watching. You did nothing but just sit within that time. I scryed with a simple device. Any with a small bit of talent could do the same, stop your weak excuses.

I am confused with your displeasure master Raven. I am obviously older than this one but yet you chastise me for hard words and fearful images unto an elder. Hahahah, I have never understood Humans or elves. We are called no less than barbarians by you and you expect civil treatment from us. The next force that comes here led by the scent may need you to tell them that. Heh, Guests? My foes would consider the arrangment being prisoners. If you ever speak to me like that again I will do things to you that are truly evil, regardless of what the powers have told me otherwise.

My memory, silver one, barely remembers the seasons of my youth. I fondly recall having much in common with your dwarves lineage. But things have changed now. It is humerous that I still find the same accusations unto me as when I was first banished from my home all that time ago.

 

 

 

In fact I tire of this pointless driveling banter. I have heavy matters that require my immediate attention.

I care little for your opinions on my "parade" or "show of power" We are, what we are and always will be as such. If you perceive our everyday existance as this so be it. Against what you believe, other's perceptions of me are for the world of humans and their ilk, I do not have the capacity to fathom what feelings anyone harbors towards me nor will I ever care again.

We share some of the the same gods preacher woman, but sadly you cannot see it. Your loss, we give more back to the flow of the world than you could guess. I have wonders that you would devour, but you shun the different and unknown. Yes, you will be dead soon. Especially with your unlearning ways of resistance.

I will not repeat myself as to the life and protection that we bring to the places we supplant in. You are not listening. Simply put, you kill for food. We capture that same food and give it one more chance at life thru defeat of it's captors. And from th fallen none is wasted, everything has a use to us, every sinew, every bone, every organ. But apparently this way is lost upon you. I could could prove our ways to you but the moment is lost. you have chosen a future of a diffiult path.

I now see where your opinion of right and wrong clouds your judgement. I have offered aid and sage advice, but you complain about feelings, approach and assumptions of drive in that stead.

The Ruins contain something darker than you may ever know again and it may well burn your existance to the ground. It has power enough to contain the old ones even now, you will not be a match for it in the end, for it can sear your souls as her idol did my flesh.

You few mages have fun with those things buried in the dark. I, my aid, and my knowledge, have all been refused. Very well then, I will have to pull the artifact from your ashes.

You like the tunnels? I will leave them. They are complete and vast enough to sink most of your town and the tri towers, by carving away the last supports. The 4 deepest chasms are very close to underground core fissures full of liquid magma. Be wary. A small force will break the shell and send the flow into your town.

She stands and holds out one dainty hand. A large shard of black obsidian crystal rises fom a black place in  her palm. A small purple flame flickers inside it. In an odd dwarven dialect she speaks long gruff words to the icon.

The pool of metal that was the idol shimmmers and twists on the granite tabletop in a dance of metal working.

The purple flame inside the massive black shard flickers and dances anew with more vivid light. The small pool of metal smokes and forms into a perfect 3dimensional likeness of a pegasus with a single scintillating horn protruding from it's forehead. the wings also glisten in the same fashion. ((restored. Hmm, power score. Wearer casts as one level higher. Lucky you))

If you ever would have need of our aid go to our mark and call my name to the winds. I will hear. I will come. And there will be little talking the next time. I do not flatten this place and take what we need because I cannot obtain what I want without you three. And if I gain the thing I covet i will take it to a place far from here forever.

I am bound by my word. Again the curse.

Again she holds the crystal to the ceiling. "Aneck-chalk"

Everything goes black for 3 full seconds.

The residents are now standing on the plains where the tent once stood. A soft breeze blows the dust where the  visitors have worn away the sod. Some places on the ground smolder lightly. The birds flying overhead can see the 1/4mile rune scalded permanently into the earth.

 

They are all gone otherwise

.

 

 Sia looked around as if in a daze. In truth, she was dazed. The Weremachtt’s words echoed again and again in her mind, and she wondered at the fact that she still lived and breathed. She held the restored Holy Symbol within one aged, trembling hand, marveling at the new beauty that it had acquired. She looked around at the others and saw the same look of blank surprise echoed on their faces. The High Priestess took note of the creatures fleeing into the forest and a small, satisfied smile crept onto her face at the sight. She studied the ground and puzzled at the way parts of the meadow seemed seared or burned. I'll examine it later, she decided. With great reverence, Mielikki’s High Priestess sank to her knees on the changed earth and began to give thanks to her Goddess...

"Thank you, Great Mother, for allowing me to speak your will. Thank you, Holy Mielikki, for granting me the strength and wisdom to show the outlanders the way we follow. I’m humbled by the power that I’ve witnessed, Mother Mielikki. I thank you for the restoration of the symbol you’ve given to me for safe-keeping. I don’t understand why the Weremachtt restored it, except that I think perhaps something we said must have reached that cold soul. Great Forest Mother, thank you most of all for allowing us to live longer to serve you. My faith was sorely tested this day, My Goddess, and I humbly beg you to allow me to dwell upon my shortcomings, so that I might better serve you in the future. I will take the message of your Faith back to the village and those who also follow you, and let them know your will was worked here today. They shall know that Mielikki was triumphant, and that Her High Priestess in these lands did not fail. I have learned many things, Great Mother. Things I shall have to pray more upon and think about as we go back to the normality of our lives. One last prayer before I continue your work, Holy Mielikki....please grant the one called Weremachtt peace. Let her find beauty in more than the coldness which surrounds her. If it be within your power, Mielikki...I ask in your name that you help her in this. Thank you, Mielikki. Amen."

When she was done, Siannodell slowly got to her feet, wincing as her knees creaked a little from the arthritis that sometimes plagued her. She leaned against her staff with her head bowed and took a few deep, cleansing breaths. When she opened her brown eyes and looked up at the mages, she offered them a sincere smile full of warmth. "Thank you, my friends, for your support. The Goddess will bless you all for upholding the ways we have followed here for so long. There is more that needs to be said between us, but it must wait until another time. I am exhausted and need sleep, if you would allow me to take my leave of you. There is much to think about, as I’m sure you’ll agree." She began to walk slowly back towards the village temple and then stopped, turning around and fixing her gaze steadily on Raven. "And you, young man," she said in a reproachful tone of a scolding schoolmarm. "We’re going to have a long talk about what you know about these ‘ruins’ and why you didn’t tell me about them sooner. Don’t think I’ll forget about it, either." She winked at him and then turned again to make her way...home.

 The mithril headed elf blinked rapidly and glanced around her, momentarily stunned. A tremendous relief and gratitude shone from within her crystalline blue eyes as she turned in a slow circle, scanning the remnants of the Weremachtt’s encampment. Disbelief was stamped clearly on her porcelain features, her mouth slightly agape. Arienne simply didn’t have the words. She looked over to Siannodell to make sure the elder woman was alright, then flicked her stare to Raven, who looked as puzzled as she felt. She spied Drannon, who seemed to be shaking his head in confusion and patting Spyke, who was chomping his bit and turning nervously.

Arienne strode over to them as Siannodell sank to the ground and began to pray. On her way, she sent her own silent prayer of thanks winging up to Mystra for whatever part the Mistress of Magic might have played in the drama that had just concluded. Upon reaching her ranger friend, she clasped him in a warm embrace. "Thank Mystra you’re safe. Do you have any idea what happened?" She let him go and laid a soft hand on Spyke, speaking a soothing elvish word to him as she stroked his serpentine neck. The large, black wyvern seemed to instantly calm at the elven woman’s touch and she leaned against him for a long minute. She turned back to Drannon and arched a slender, silver brow in amazement. "It’s been quite a day, Drannon. I think we’re lucky to all still be alive, my friend. What do you say we go back to the tower and check on Pheryl and have some dinner?"

Drannon looked around puzzled as the darkness left, his mouth agape as he gazed on the now empty area that was only a moment ago buzzing with people. He turned and saw Arienne and the others, giving off a relieved sigh she was safe. He could only nod to her as she asked him if he was alright, the shock of what happened still fresh. He finally snapped out of it when Arienne mentioned going back to the tower, so he could check on Pheryl. He heartily agreed, and mounted Spyke, helping Arienne up as well. He shook his head as he looked around once more before they left, noticing the large symbol burnt into the ground. He would avoid this cursed area for a long while after this. He spurred Spyke on, and they were soon flying back to Ariennes tower.... at a faster rate than normal.

 

Raven stood listening as the Weremacht prattled on, speaking to them once again as if they were merely insects. He half expected it anyhow, beings like the Weremacht reveled in demeaning other beings they belived to be more powerful than. He listened carefully when she spoke of an artifact inside the ruins, and its origins of evil. An evil connected to the curse that was laid on the Weremacht herself. He took mental note of this, and would be careful when exploring the ruins in the future.

Then she threatened him. Raven half expected that too. He couldnt help but think how foolish she was, thinking she knew him so well. Very few knew of Ravens past, and what his true nature was all about. Arienne was a very old friend from his past, but even she was a babe while he wandered the world. He was above these threats, and considered himself the same when compared to this creature. He just looked to her and smiled, thinking... You would be quite surprised if you tried that.

Then it all ended and they reappeared back on the surface. He noticed the entire encampment had vanished along with the Weremacht. He shrugged as he looked to the others, noting they were safe as well. Even the Ranger friend of Ariennes still stood by her wyvern awaiting her return.

Raven smiled to Sia as she left, knowing she would truely wring him of as much information as she could on the ruins.... and he chuckled at the thought of his impending doom from her wrath. He nodded to her with a smile... "As you wish mother Siannodell."

Raven stayed and watched as Arienne and Drannon flew away on Spyke, noticing the nervousness of the Ranger, and his hasty departure. He didnt blame him. In Ravens younger days, he would have fled long ago. He turned to Silvara to regard her as well, but she had already teleported back to the confines of her tower as well. Again, she didnt speak much the entire time, but he was glad she was there incase things got worse than they already did.

Once everyone had left, Raven looked down to the scorched symbol in the earth, and pulled out a piece of parchment. A quick gesture, and the 'Copy' spell was cast. An exact duplicate copy of the symbol appeared on the parchment, and Raven rolled it up and put it away. He looked back down again to the symbol thinking.... You are a pompus bitch Weremacht, but a being deserving of respect. I hope very much you are wrong about the ruins, for I wish never to see you or your kind in Elmshade again.

With that Raven spoke an arcane word, and teleported back to his tower where he began to scry the new tunnels below. There he would map every inch of them, and plan for an exploration.