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Knowledge is Power : by Loki

Amagato closed his eyes. When he opened them again his sight was augmented to extreme degrees.

Still yet many miles away he saw them. They came like a fantastic wall of living hate fueled by the yawning breath of Hades herself.

He shivered once involuntarily at the site of them bearing down on the horizon.

The small creature at his collar mewed at the hundreds of birds overhead thrushing across the dusking skyline. far away Rangers perked upright in thier wooded homes with thoughts of forest fires or flashing flood waters

Its an Exodus. Placing a smallish hand to the ground he felt the reverberations

With a word he deactivated his seclusion precautions. Hanji-kI

Instantly he dropped the concealment orb he used. The wujens aura flared up the size of a volcanic eruption. He knew it would be a beacon to only the soul-searching site of the Hellorcs preternatural eyes.

Come then my old enemies, let us meet again as we did during the days of my youth.

Aboard the swaying howadah atop a towering war-beast Ravensclaw sneered at what he was seeing.

Warchief........its Him. The Drago-mage is there already.

GOOD! SET COURSE FOR HIS LOCATION! THE HUMANS LIFE FORCE IS INCREDIBLY POTENT. WE WILL USE HIS ENERGIES TO POWER OUR MACHINATIONS, IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE YOU HAVE EXTRACTED ITS ENERGY FROM HIS HUSK DYING OF SKIN

Scanning the twon and surrounding areas the nero-mage noticed several other "black" spots that were impenetrable to his all seeing eye. He thought to himself each of those area have just earned themselves a special visit by the Shadow guard.

Thats when he saw it. As the diameter of his large lens swept across the image of the local landscape a brilliant hemisphere of light nearly blinded him. The eminations of this life force was greater than any he had ever seen in all his eons of scouring. It was much more intense than what he had been searching for.

Ka-Thrall. I have told you that my scrying device is exceptinally aware of power spectrums.

unused to hearing his name he fired back, OF COURSE. I HAVEN'T GONE DULL ANY TIME RECENTLY NECROMONGER.. WHAT IS YOUR MEANING?

look at this signature Brother in Arms.....

Ka-Thrall swung his gaze from his battle grid maps to the blood pools that held all the images of different ppl and lands. Each was a gauzelike window of real time happenings. But one threw light fom its surface like a pulse of solidified lightning. Its intense light illuminated the entire end of thier spacious cabin like a piece of sun.

WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE SAVIOR IS THAT? it was all he could muster as he shielded his eyes for a better look. IS IT THAT INSECT AMAGATO? HAS HE GAINED THAT MUCH POWER? Ravensclaw thought he dectected a hint of uneasiness in his Generals voice

No, Amagato is over here in this clearing at Her land rune. His wrinkled and crooked finger pointed to a much lesser silver light in the middle of a field far away from the secnd source.

COULD IT BE THE ONE THE WERMACHT IS AFTER?! HOW COULD THAT BE. THIS IS THE ENTIRELY WRONG PLANE. THAT WOULD BE INPOSSIBLE.

Improbable is how I would chose to word it.

I do not know for sure exactly who or what could make such grandiose imprint. Its in excess of anything I've ever seen Incredible! It blots out all surroundings. Wait a moment, I will narrow the scope

Waving his hands over the maroon pool of ichor he quickly passed filters over the vision, as he tried to quell the golden brilliance.

Enthralled the Warchief was fully behind him looking over his shoulder while shading his eye.

Whatever it is, its in that structure there.

PINPOINT IT AND MARK IT FOR ACQUISITION. I WANT THAT POWER SOURCE. AND IF IT IS THE ONE WE SHALL BASK IN THE APPRECIATION OF HER EMINENCE

And if we fail we shall burn in her Fury

CIRCLE AROUND TO HIS LOCATION. FROM THERE WE CAN SPREAD OUT WITH INTERCEPTOR CELLS

Is that wise warchief, it would seem that this new informatin would overshadow our previous...

Ka-Thrall drew up his full size dwarfing the older death-mage with his sheer physical size, DO NOT QUESTION MY AUTHORITY SOUL-CRUSHER OR I SHALL SEND YOU BACK TO THE ABYSS DISHINORED IN A SCREAMING BALL OF WHITE HOT AGONY.

Bowing away he submitted, As you wish Warchief.

Plucking at the tendons of the Psi-harp he sent orders to the horde.

ouside the entire formation swung wide and curved to its new destination.

Meanwhile at the grassy field under the newly born night sky Amagato noted the change in thier direction. Soon it would be time. He hoped he could do enough to help this area and its denziens

He swallowed hard, To do so he had to risk their wrath to learn more of thier master

The massive collective of marauders picked up thier pace in unison with the resounding drums tempo. Cut limbs of Ash with ends bound in human flesh beat the hollowed drum. Each drum is the girth of two barrels with tops skinned using the leather of fallen priests of various faiths of the White and pure. Or some other comparable fashion. The beats they emit are deep and powerful. Unnatural. Like giant headhunter tribes the sounds advance. Each of the enchanted notes drives lunacy and fear into the minds of men and thier allies while raising the fighting minds of the Horde itself.

Droning onward the Horde swings towards the sparring fields homing in on the mark of thier master and the old life force that contained the power of a hundred do-gooders. Both became beacons to the leaders of the deadly procession.

From his throne of bone, inside the structure atop the towering warbeast, Warchief Ka-Thrall gave orders to his first in command, the ancient necro-priest Ravensclaw, SKIRT THE SOUTH END OF THE TRIBAL-VILLAGE.

BRING US AROUND FRONT AND CENTER OF AMAGATO IN CASE HE FLEES.

I WANT THE VILLAGE TO BE HIS ONLY RECOURSE.

Still slowly playing at the tendons of the strings intersecting the blood filled skulls and shruken angel heads laid across the table the mage did not look up, I do not believe he will flee Warchief. He knows we are coming. I can feel his prying magic, even from under my cloaking hex. Let me send a Dynator to contain him

The dry grin he gave was eerie, HMM. NO. SEND THE MERCANARIES WE ACQUIRED.

HAVE THEM DETAIN HIM UNTIL WE ARRIVE.

BUT WE WILL NEED TO HASTEN OUR APPROACH.

AFTER SEEING THE GATHERINGS AROUND THE UNDERWORLD GATE I SAY WE SHOULD NOT RISK ANY FURTHER LOSSES. SOTHICUS FELL TO THEM AND WAS BANISHED BACK TO HIS SHADOW DIMENSION> I WILL NOT UNDERESTIMATE THIER ABILITES AS HE.

LET US SUPRISE AMAGATO AND HIS PET TRIBE

RAVENSCLAW>>>CALL THE STORM

This took even the old mage by surprise. Are you su...

NOW!

With a slight stutter he replied, yes Warchief, allow me to prepare the relics needed for such an undertaking

Sitting in the calm field Amagato drank in the fertile beauty of the rolling fields. It reminded of his on own home nestled in the verdant valley between the snow capped Silver Mountains. Stroking the slumbering lemur in his lap he enjoyed the smell of honeysuckle and the slight drone of lazy bees collecting sweet nectars from the wildflowers. lockheed streaked after dragonflies, snapping and gulping down the ones she could catch. Each sucess she marked with a happy whislting sound and a bustle of fluttering wings as she savored the taste.

Heh, heh. You like the blue ones best do you? Well watch for eagles out here in the open my girl. The scared hunkering down she displayed as she looked up from the tall grass brought a chuckle from him.

The days breeze spoke to him in hushed reedy tones and lulled him slightly. The old man longed for the widespread peace and serenity of his early days w/those he loved. It had been a lifetime ago since he had felt such a contentment.

Grinning lightly at the memories of his youth he raised his lined face to the golden sun and felt the goodness of its warmth. He thought back to all of his kind that were all now gone. He was among the last. Wondering if his sister was still alive he concentrated with a meditative focus. Nothing much. He assured himself she was only sleeping. If the last few elders were gone he would know.

Wouldn't he?

Perhaps she would wake one day soon, for many of the old world evils again roamed the planes. The Wermacht had seen to that. That thing had the uncanny ability to track anything across and number of worlds. Its abilities seemed without limits. The Planeswalker had become very powerful since he had known of it. Too powerful. Others were taking notice now. Previously unconcerned parties he scoffed. Perhaps too late. For every ally Amagato gained the Weremacht unearthed and enslaved a dozen more hellish entities. Its sites had become to high. Only he knew much of its true history. The others were all now dead, or enslaved in thier undeath to It. Soon It would come for him.

And he would relenquish its coming. Wether by age or battle his end was near and he welcomed the thought of resting his tired bones

His smile flattened. The old Wujen smelled salt in the air with his augmetned senses. Scanning the mid-morning sky he looked for the tell tell signs. Oddly enough he saw nothing except wisps of cottony clouds. Even the small lemur raised his one cyclopian eye to scan the horizon.

But nonetheless he knew the smells, he knew his old friends, the four winds A storm was coming.

((S'ok. I just wanted to make sure you were still involved beofre I moved on. Good to have you post. Thanx! And how bout that pic? I found it by luck. Took like two minutes and I thought it was perfect. Sometimes I win ! ))

Blinking once slowly Amagato paced his thoughts. The hurt anger he felt was obvious in his dark expression.

Gillette you and I both know that those two beasts murdered innocent ppl in cold blood and abducted that small child. Those were her parents and you have scarred that infant for life. this is unexcusable and no amount of your petty arguments will change my mind.

Not only are you and your master complete monsters you are unholy blights composed of evil that has yet to be matched in all of my lengthy travels.

To bring children into your fold is the utmost atrocity! I will not allow it as I will not allow your forces to pervade this good community. until my dying breath I will oppose all that you strive for. in the end fate shall come full circle. of this I promise.

I am not beyond understanding all things point of view but you and the Weremacht exceed even my depth of patience.

Gillette was obviously pleased by his rousing of the old man. He seemed to feed off of conflict. Careful old one. Try not to burst an artery. I wouldn't want to be cheated of depriving you the last of your thin life.

Still sitting cross legged the pale-assassin leans forward with his palms up and to his sides as if passing holy psalms. Those ppl who harbored the child of light were not her blood parents. They shared no blood at all with her. You may come to understnd this one day. I also know that if my allies had fufilled thier tasks the child would be beyond all scope of your understnading. She would be elevated to a new level of existance but you have cheated her of her destiny. Death was not to be her future, she was to undergo a transformation that was both beautiful and metamorphic

raising his chin and speaking sideways he explains, The entire process was to wage a new war on the Prince of Lies but the ppl of this village have toppled that hope for the time being and in doing such they have attracted the attentions of some very begruding persons.

Not that I mind but they have practically declared enemies upon many who did not deserve thier war-mongering aggressions. The White Mage was the most diplomatic of the pack but I fear even he cannot see past the limits of his understanding. I do not blame them I had just hoped for more. Probably too much to ask for considering it is a gathering of farmers and cattlemen.

And now you Amagato, my old Sensei, are even enraged and have fallen to threatening verdicts in the stead of your usual calm solice and unswaying neautrality. I am surprised. So much has been offered and et all youcan do is focus on a few small points of debate.

Amagato collected himself and fel back into his calm demeanor, as if realizing somthing., You are so right my old student. you retain much of what I schooled you. So please tell me, what exactly is it you have come to do? The horde is not an affair i consider a light task. What is so important that it takes a force so large to make sure it is posessed?

That old man you will have to divine for yourself. It is something so powerful you could not hope to use it or detroy it. I think in time you will call upon us.

You don't know do you Gillette?

Of course I do. I am the most trusted advisor to her Majesty! Soon you will come to understnad this.

SO trusted that you are sent from important gatherings? heh heh heh. I think not. I believe you are being used my son. We shall see who attends whos funeral. All that I have taught you and all of your inner strength and you still succumb to the promises of one who would sacrifice you for thier own advancement without so much as a seconds thought? I pity you and I grieve for your future.

That is not true! I am invaluable to Her! I have slain hundreds of Her enemies to earn my title! And I shall send a thousand more to her including you Amagato. Your death I shall prize among my highest accomplishments.

The lovely elf listened to Amagato with growing interest and concern. His thoughts were rapid, but she had enough intelligence to keep up with the flow of his thoughts, and answer them back in return. Arienne wanted to take full advantage of the telepathic mode of communication for as long as it lasted.

I believe that the Weremacht could have easily struck any one of us insane, dumb or dead if she had chosen. I am not sure why she didn't, except that I think she needs us in some manner. Perhaps to recover that which lies below the ruins. We believe it to be an evil artifact of great power, and surmise that is what called her here. As for her chemical make-up, I would give eyeteeth to have a viable sample to study, and would be most willing to work with you to find some alchemical way(s) to battle, defeat, or permanently trap this creature. I have a lab at my tower where I conduct most of my research. You are more than welcome to explore it and anything in it, if time permits, my friend. Arienne frowned as she cast her mind back again to the unfortunate meeting with Gillette's mistress.

If I were more powerful, I could Wish us back to that exact moment and you could hear the conversation for yourself, Amagato, but I lack that advanced degree of magical ability. It comes from dividing my time between the Arcane and the art of Alchemy. Even so, perhaps Raven would be able to tell you more about exactly what was said. I may have misunderstood the Weremacht's intentions, but somehow, I don't think so. If she is as powerful an 'un-artificer' as you have said, I admit my despair. How are we to face a foe who has such power...she looked quickly at Gillette and then back to Amagato...and allies, at her disposal? I would say that she has become cold and very arrogant in her infinite time to conquer others. I do not know if this arrogance is a weakness, or if it is simply, as you say, her being used to having power on par with Gods' and a blunt nature. Your information will prove invaluable, I think. Thank you for sharing...but you cannot mean it about these being your last days? she asked with dismay.

Arienne folded her hands calmly into her lap and closed her eyes, by all appearances, concentrating on her breathing, though she was still sending thoughts to the oriental man at her side. I would rather have Silvara, Raven and Siannodell's input before attempting to use the symbol to call to her, but I am not sure how quickly my friends might be summoned. If you feel that there is urgency enough to warrant trying to use it without their guidance...perhaps we may use it as a tool, but I still do not understand exactly how, Amagato.

Her sapphire eyes opened again as Gillette spoke. His non-chalant attitude concerning their losses at the temple was designed to provoke her, and Arienne was smart enough to recognize it, but the barb hurt anyway. Her jaw tightened and her face grew flushed with anger. The daggers radiating from her gaze would have been enough to kill the pale elf if she had held such power. "You know nothing of the depth of our losses, Utinu en lokirim*," she spat, the elven flowing from her tongue in her hate. Arienne reverted to her native speech when riled, and the assassin's words did indeed anger her. "Auta miqula orqu, Gillette. Lle naa haran e' nausalle ar' antolle ulua sulrim. Amin feuya ten' lle.**"

The grey mage of the Trinity took a deep breath and averted her eyes from those of Gillette. His pupils were strange, and she found it disoncerting to look at his eyes for any length of time. She ignored his comment about Spyke, silently asserting to herself that she would slay her beloved pet first before allowing him to fall into Gillette's vile hands. As the discussion between Amagato and the Ash elf continued, Arienne's confusion was apparent.

She didn't have the knowledge to make the connection between the two regarding the talk of the little girl. Arienne didn't know that Sydney was the so-called "stolen possession" of the orcs of which Gillette spoke. She didn't know that the little girl held latent powers. She hadn't had a chance after the battle to discuss such things with Siannodell, who was close to knowing the truth. So, Arienne was in the dark. But she discerned a note of uncertainty in Gillette's voice as he assured them both of his importance to the Weremacht...and it brought a very small smile to the corners of her mouth.

((In elven: * "Son of snakes." ** "Go kiss an orc, Gillette. You are king in your imagination and much wind pours from your mouth. You disgust me."))

(Your a really good Rp'er you know? I like the way you seperate the chars knowledge

)

Amagato nodded in understanding his apparent happiness was evident in his spry answer, A laboratory?! How grande! yes, perhaps we can design a weapon against the Wermacht. I would relish a chance to drive any form of spike into the plans of this abomination.

You are wise beyond your years I suspect. I tend to agree with you that a true tactician would see past this facade of politics and into the future of coming events. We need to take advantage of these seemingly destined roles and play them into our hands. No single individual, wether it be mortal or god, knows what the days to come shall yield.

If the Weremacht is so sure of the events to come I may dare hope to turn that against It.

Smiling mischieviously he adds, If there is one certainty in the multiverse it is uncertain chaos of the Future.

I have seen my end in my dreams. My time is short. I have walked these lands for far too long and I greet Death with open arms. My place in the celestial buearacreacy is waiting. My passing on isn't an end it is a beginning so I do not fear it.

But until then I shall oppose the workings of the Weremacht and It's minoins with every fiber of my existence. I cannot stand by and abide another complete nation falling prey to Its enslaving will.

And the gods help any that stands by this entity caled the Weremachtr for I shall lay my soul to the fire for any Holy aid that I may employ in my stead.

The Dark be damned we will stop the Weremacht from practicing Its will! No amount of physical power will be a match for the honed mental fortiude of the prepared mind. Thru knowledge we sall conquer our adversaries!

His hard look radiates a feeling of reinforced faith

Gillette toook the look of a wounded animal as his confsed hate swelled in his deflated ego. The two beings before him caused him both questions and fear. His steelen concentration faltered for a fleeting moment. The disgusted pain that warped his features was evident as it torqued the wrinkles into the depressions of his nose and cheek. We shall see what your forked tongue spews forth in the presence of the truth you trolloping pagan.

The pale elfs calm demeanor was brimming with underlying malice as the hate flowed freely from his inner being. His dead eyes flickered with his cold gray power, I shall see you squirming on your pretentious words fair lady... a day shall come to pass when your people will suffer from your disrespect.

How he both despised and wanted the silver mage. Her face filled him with fire as her words branded him with feelings of amplified denial.

Thoughts of suffering unto her grand wyvern mount sprung into his vengful mind as he eyed it's size. At the same time his mind painted flaring depictions of cold couplings with her slim form even tho his life path vowed chastity against the pleasures of the flesh.

Focusing his emotions and honing his energy into a harrowing point of venom the Death Elf fell back into his comfort zone of misery. You have picked your path my friends. The day of judgement is at hand and you shall all be held to the flame of your faiths as the powers of the multiverse are released.

Prepare to be measured peasants for a day of reckoning is coming and your souls shall be imperiled.

And for all of the swirling emotion in the air Gillette portrays his most refined essence...the core of a stone cold natural born killer. His hardened body accentuates his chisled face bones. This man is the herald of the Weremacht for one lone reason.

He is the physical embodiment of violent death.

As if on cue red lightning slams into the sod nearby sending a shower of shattered sod and earth into a hail of earth born pellets. A thrumming wind roars across the horizon flattening the tall grass against the ground.

Heavy clouds breathe a frosty gale across the heathered plateau as the temperature drops drastically to freezing levels.

Amagato looks to the sky frowning. He searchingly finds the soft hand of his newfound ally and warns her with a sweaty grip, Be wary my friend. The natural elementals have left us and something un-natural comes this way.

((aw, thanks, Loki! I think the same of you, ya know. I guess we should be decent by now, as long as we've been gaming, eh? Again, sorry about the delay in posting. I finally graduated - W00T! And now I have a wee bit of spare time before the holidays and then the trip to Hawaii, so I'll try and keep up a little bit before all that goes down. Not sure on your estimated time-line of events, but I'll be gone from Jan. 6th - 28th, just as a heads up.))

There was sadness in the silver mage's blue eyes as she listened to Amagato's mental words and understood. Whatever power I have at my disposal is at yours as well, my friend. If we should survive long enough to concoct some sort of weapon against it, I would gladly do so. His radiance of faith in their combined abilities to overcome the Weremacht stilled the anxiousness in her breast a bit, but Arienne didn't want to underestimate the foes they would be facing. Will you and I be set against him? she asked the old man in reference to the assassin who sat before them. Perhaps I should not, but I fear him almost as much as I fear the Weremacht. The way he looks at me makes my skin crawl.

Indeed, she tried unsuccessfully to stifle a shiver that raised goose-bumps along the fine hairs of her graceful arms. As Gillette spoke, the Sithican wyvern behind them whined loudly, sensing the pending change in the atmosphere. Spyke bugled out his discomfort and fear as the storm began to abruptly intensify, and he beat his large wings in agitation. He was semi-insulated against the cold, as his feathers provided a small amount of protection against the elements, but Arienne knew that this storm was going to be unusually bad, even before Amagato's grasp found hers and he gave warning. We should escape! she gasped through the mind-link to the oriental sage with obvious nervousness. Spyke can fly us both back to my tower where at least we would have some protection against the elements. My friend, I am no weather-conjurer. I do not possess that kind of control, though perhaps the druids will aid us. The paladin which helped us at the temple also awaits my return to Sundabar. If I can get back there, I can return with him to Elmshade and that would be yet another ally to help fight the Dark. I will follow your lead, but I admit my anxiety for both us and any who are caught within the wickedness which comes this way...She tried not to flinch when the lightning struck so close by, but again, her nerves were jangled.

Arienne was waiting for some sort of response from Amagato when she felt a small, very faint tug in her mind. It felt familiar to her, like a link that had been gone for quite awhile, now, suddenly spark back into life. In fact, it felt like...the silver elf shook her head to herself as if unbelieving. Rashwen? she thought. It can't be, after so long...but...

But the presence felt known, none-the-less, and Arienne would know that feeling anywhere. Her small psuedo-dragon friend had been missing for so long that Arienne had thought her gone forever, but...that feeling...

Her blue eyes narrowed and focused again on Gillette, wondering if he was somehow trying to manipulate her thoughts, but she couldn't prove her suspicions yet.

Amagato looked over Gilette sharp features to surmise the coming storm. He had learned to read the clouds to predict the coming weather but he didn'tunderstand what kind of storm threw down lightning and such a vicious cold simutaneously. He could see the bulging black bellied clouds with thier green tinted outlines moving against the gale winds.

Not even the offshore Nordic hurricanes could accomplish such a feat. The hardened old human had endured much and witnessed even more in his long life of travels but this made even him uneasy. He shared a glance to the nervous beast behind them. He knew to heed the animals senses. He could see the drones of deer followed by other non-herd animals fleeing the roaring wind driven....snow? That was unseasonal. And only fire could puch badgers and bear from thier lands

The first flakes hit him in the face more like pellets of frozen sand. Holding up the back of his hand he noticed the small droplets of red fluid that spattered his gnarled appendage.

The snarling grin that consumed Gillettes wolven face was demonic as the red rain painted his pale features like a hellish egg of easter.

Amagato's face was grim w/worry as he rotated to his eleven ally. Milady the time has come to flee this place... we are in grave danger I fear. Even in light of my protectve wards I beleive we should leave this area in lieu of more hallowed grounds. Please...for your own sake...take leave of this place before it is too late.

Gilette's smirk grew like twisted smoke as a thin cackling laughter came from his slightly jerking chest. The Ash elf stood up on smooth hydralic legs and held his palms up to the sky. Lifting his chin to the boiling turmoil above he laughed even harder as the Reign of Blood began to soak his frail looking skin.

The words he spoke to the unnatural clouds were of an archaic eleven dialect all but dead to anyone aside from his doomed clanmans and the most studied Athasian linguists "Kurn deathadda Elmshaddem Slayvu Albershiee"

Far above them the hero's could vaugely see dark forms spiraling down from the lightning churned skyline just beneath the twisted clouds

The scarlet rain which began to fall shocked Arienne into action and her pulse hammered with anxiety as she quickly stood and regarded Amagato. "You must come with me!" she pleaded through their mental link. "Spyke can carry both of us, but I think you are right, my friend. The druids are better equipped to handle such un-natural forces of nature than I am, and perhaps more-so than you, as well." Her dark grey cloak whipped around her like a live beast in the grasp of the steadily increasing winds. The silver curls of the elven mage had become a tangle now tinged with deep red. Arienne's blue eyes scanned the clouds above and widened in alarm as she noted the black shapes descending and one look at the insane ash elf before them convinced her that the time had indeed arrived to take flight. "Come!" she bade the oriental man as she ran towards Spyke's nervously milling form. He snaked his black neck down and hunched, lowering his back for his Mistress to jump onto.Within seconds, she had mounted the wyvern and held her hand out to Amagato to help him aboard.

Amagato sneered once to Gillette and turned his back to him. Over his shoulder he promised the Death Elf, We will soon meet again my pupil. And it will be the last days on this Earth for one of us

Gillette ignored him and called up to the blood red sky, TETANIUS! Launchey Vorum Tu Veremacht! Ach'ek Killeney!

Visiably shaken Amagato hobbles his way to Arienne and her mount. Levitating up he takes her outstretched hand and allows her to help him on. Reaching into his large sleeve with one free hand he produces a small amount of fine powder. With a short recital he tosses it above them. Another precaution..... I had envisioned another use for it but it will have to do.

The small dwoermer becomes obvious as the thick warm red rain and frozen sleet falls harmlessly against the invisible barrier sphere around them. A simple ward against the elements. I created it to keep the rain off of me on long walks.

Lightning crashes into the orb and is harmlessly dissipated. Amagato's small voice adds, As a bonus it seems to work quite well against many forms of the more common elements. We should hurry, it will expire shortly my Dear.

He looks up out of the corner of is eye. The form descending begins to show it's gargantuan size.

Maybe your Druid friends can change this storm. I can make quite a difference with enough time but this is no simple weather summoning I fear. I have heard of it but I didn't think it possible.

Carefully helping the elder human into the saddle in front of her, Arienne kicked at Spyke's hind-quarters and got him airborne. He struggled against the volatile winds, flapping harder to even stay aloft. "Stay low," she commanded the Sithican wyvern. The huge reptile complied and Arienne nodded her gratitude at the orb Amagato had summoned that kept out the worst of the elements. "Thank you for the shelter, short-lived as it may be," she told him.

"What sort of storm is that?" she asked as she kept her eyes on the ground passing quickly below them. "I've never heard of a rain of blood, Amagato, and I didn't understand the words Gillette was yelling. I heard the name of the Weremacht, though, so now I'm really worried." Her expression confirmed this statement. "He's insane. Drunk on power or...something similar. We need to find Siannodell and see if she's heard from Justinius and the druids about the storm. Surely they...." she paused as the same familiar voice entered her mind, stronger this time.

"~Ari come to Rashwen. Rashwen need Ari, else Rashwen no more. Please come to Rashwen...~"

"Rashwen!" she thought. Arienne sucked in a surprised breath and tried to pinpoint the location of the one who had sent the message. Only seconds later, Spyke passed over several humanoid forms heading toward the Sparring Fields. She recognized two of them. "Spyke, land! There!" she commanded the serpentine beast, who again did as his Mistress asked. With a great flapping of wings and a shriek of displeasure at the steadily worsening weather, Spyke thumped his huge bulk down a few yards from Siannodell and the others. Arienne hailed them and kept her message short and to the point.

"Trouble has found us, Mother Sia! Gillette has summoned some sort of incredibly powerful storm against us, and I fear we are all in terrible danger! I'm taking Amagato and heading to my tower! Don't go to the fields, come find me at the tower! We have to stop him, somehow!" Again, Arienne felt the link between she and her long-gone pseudo-dragon stronger than it had been. Her sapphire eyes narrowed in confusion and she looked around the area. "Rashwen?!" she called out with uncertainty.

Amagato shows an unexpected display of agility as he deftly swings his body around Ari in the saddle and ends up facing to thier rear, back to back with the elven star-mage Ari learns that his martial art abilities may be far from totally dried up yet.

The small male twists his hands in a new somatic pattern. Before he invokes the next series of words of power he mentally answers his friend. The storm is one of the products of one of the many artifacts that the Weremacht has stolen from its many conquests. These items of unimaginable power it has distributed among its faithful.

In fact Dark artifacts are the main obsesion of the Wermacht since the Athasian age of Blood three thousand seasons ago. Some it destroys and some it takesby force. Sometimes wiping out entire nations or worlds that oppose it.

The Heart of the Ebon Flame is among the most powerful of those stolen relics and it may be in the possession of the Hordes master necro-priest, Ravensclaw. Fifiteen thousand faithful tried to protect the artifact from the Wermacht's advances but now they all power the Black Flame's spirit. During this process it became bound to the God-slayer and it still does the bidding of it's master.

The artifact allows them to bend the rules of time and space. This storm is more than a mere weather anomaly....... It is a tool.

We should distnace ourselves from this place of the Drinkers rune-glyph.Tetanius is the personal pet of the Wermacht and an age old friend. He has been subjected to the same artifact Apparatus as the Weremacht itself giving vast amounts of power at a cost to thier humanity.

We need to regroup and focus our resources if we are to resist the advances of such power.

I am sure that it's spys have been observing this area for months. The time for subterfuge is lost. The time for fortification and reinforcment is now. Only knowledge will preserve these lands.

I pray that we can come together fast enough to unify our wisdom.

The glowing oriental rune tattooed on the side of the mages skull glows brightly as he invokes power from a weave far from the strands that the Elven mistress taps into. The intertwined tendrils of hly light form a huge glowing shield of golden energythat springs into being protecting the rear flanks of thier flight path.

Perhaps ...together..there is a chance to not only survive but to gain knowledge from such a meeting of allies who share a common denominator.

The abrupt decent sent Amagato into reserved hysterics. Milady we should all evactuate imediately lest we should defend ourselves against a creature with the temperment of a cat with a mouse.

I do not have the reserves to open a path directly from here to your abode. I am depending on your mounts swift speed. please warn your allies and let us all avoid uneeded losses to our already limited reserves.

He looks to the mammoth form lowering itself near Gillette.

I implore you your grace time is of the essence.

A quick and practiced chant creates a 30' disk of silver disc that hovers just off the ground (improved tensers disc) Any that would regroup with us is invited to travel with us to the protected home of the good maiden Arienne...if so invited by her favorable will. I am your ally in this.

A polite bow of his head attempts to show his respect to those Arienne addresses. Ask of me what you will.

My platform can support twenty horses fair lady. If this aids us I am glad to donate my energy.

Amagato's words gave Arienne a sinking feeling, and the expression on her angular features showed the depth of her dismay. Artifacts?! she asked with sincere dread. I've never heard of these particular relics, but if you say they have conquered worlds with them, I do not doubt you, my friend. She turned a fearful look behind them, afraid of what she might see, and then landed the wyvern anyway. We won't be on the ground long, please, I must warn them!

((Very brief interlude here. ONward to Starsinger Tower, HO! Sally forth!))

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