Ruins of Innocence

[Draven Alcanis]

Varia:  "We will get him someplace safer...and the rest of us as well by going 'through' the mountain," I remarked once Perrine had returned to the cave.  "Erron and I can guide all of us through the very rock itself to the other side of the mountains, and there will be far fewer dangers than trying to travel over them.  In the condition that you are all in, it would be far easier and give us the most chances to let your wounds heal...Or have you tried traveling over difficult frigid terrain with serious injuries before, Warrior Perrine?"

The last was spoken calmly, but with emphasis as to where I was hoping to guide us, and on the equine woman's title.  Erron resumed his place near the cave entry, watching the others with a literally stony expression, though his senses were attuned to our surroundings as well.
"They wouldn't last two hours hiking over the mountains, let alone a couple weeks trek back to Penny Falls," he rumbled, voice deep and gravely, the ground vibrating slightly.  "I'd be surprised if either of the females had been away from the protection of a city for more than a week, and on their own at the same time."  He gave Perrine a baleful eye before snorting slightly,  turning to look back out of the cave.

[Cynergi]

"Well one of us hasn't and she should not be out here to begin with." Perrine smiled at Erron as she walked past him. She otherwise ignored the rest of his statement. There was no time or need to argue such things anyway. As soon as they reached Penny Falls this little adventure would be over after that.....She felt sullen all of a sudden. Something Elita seemed to pick up on. The Unicorn finally sheathing her blade. "I noticed you are not wearing your usual armor, Perri." Finally turning around to face the mare she closed her eyes and bowed her head muttering something under her breath. It seemed like the air around Elita suddenly exploded outward slightly. The dried blood that matted her four just leapt right off and vanished leaving her looking clean again. Perrine, who had turned to look back, only watched for a second. "I am no longer a Knight just as you are no longer a priestess. I was.....expelled so I had the freedom to search for you." There was just the slightest hint of regret in her tone. Elita only hung her head a little not knowing what to say at that point. Seems she was out of words recently. The situation right now was just too tense. No one was getting along and it seemed more and more obvious that something was amiss. Elita looked back out the cave and just could not shake the feeling of darkness in the air. Perrine quietly folded her  arms over her chest. She must have had the same idea as Elita was having. She seemed to know about the sword that now hung at her hip. There were going to be questions soon and she didn't look forward to that. "So.....what do we do now?" This was the first time Elita attempted to seem civil and she was probably just asking the obvious question that was on everyone's mind.

[Draven Alcanis]

Varia:  I took a deep breath to reply when someone else spoke.
"How about following the sand dwellers advice and get some rest, unless everyone is intent of causing my head to split open completely," muttered a rather caustic sounding voice.  I turned to the human who was struggling to sit up, his eyes unfocused and from the efforts, wasn't completely aware of what was happening.  Moving over to him, I gently pushed him back down and thumbed his eyes open to get a better look.  They were glassy, and seemed to wander despite his desire.

"What's your name?" I asked, gently feeling for a pulse at his neck and looking for any other signs of trauma he might have suffered.  His brow furrowed for a moment and he shook his head, eyes closing.
"...Sethis," he replied, the frustration vanishing from his features....along with his consciousness as he slumped without warning.  I sighed before rising to get a small bowl of the tea and taking it over to he human.

Lifting his head I placed the cup to his lips and poured just a little of the tea into his mouth, smiling with relief when he swallowed reflexively.
"Well...two of you aren't ready for travel yet, and even Erron can't safely carry this human and Perrine over the mountains, or keep them warm," I said at last, looking back to the others.  "At least wait until tomorrow so that the herbs can aid in restoring your strength and let your injuries start healing..."

[Cynergi]

Elita stumbled on her hooves for a second. Her energies hadn't quite recuperated as much as she had hoped. Elder's Edge had drained her completely and even Varia's help hadn't done all that much. That attested to the sword being so silent when she had retrained it She shuddered to think that such a simple cleansing could have that kind of toll. She looked to Varia with some disdain at her comment, but gathered her manners. "Maybe because that particular sand dweller is unaware that if a a Hydra gave us this much trouble and left us nearly helpless then we will have no chance if a certain Great Wyrm Dragon named Xerxes, who just happens to make his lair in The White Giant's slopes, decided to come down and investigate all the recent commotion...." Pauses and sits down right next to Sethis. "....we will all wind up like a certain army of wolves that trespassed upon his territory some 200 years ago." She sat back and closed her eyes. "We are not trying to ignore your advice, but you need to heed ours as well. We are not safe in these mountains. Especially since we are in such poor shape." Casting her glance outside and sighs as she see the light is quickly fading. Behind them Perrine snorts softly and scratches her head. Realization sets in around that time. "We are not going anywhere." She states cooly as she finds a comfy spot near the back to lay back down again. "By the time we get back up to the path it will be dark. Without light or a company of well armed men with us we will be asking for any number of problems to pounce on us. Besides...." Looking at all the others. "....If Xerxes even gave a damn about us being here he'd have come looking already. As much as I want to get underway it is too late now to go anywhere with any amount of safety." Perrine laid back and got comfortable by fetching out and unrolling her bedding from her pack.

"Varia says we need rest? Then we need rest." She points out towards the mouth of the shelter. "As long as someone keeps watch we should be fine. We can take shifts and keep the fire burning. Who wants first watch?"

[Draven Alcanis]

Varia:  "Erron doesn't require sleep so he will be able to keep watch while the rest of us rest," I said, pulling out the thin blanket roll I had and spreading it out on the ground.
"Silently move us through the mountain once everyone is asleep, Erron," I sent to him silently, meeting his gaze a moment before curling up.
"You know that will just lead to more questions," he responded, giving a grin and turning his gaze back out to the mountainside, settling himself a little more...or rather just sinking into the ground a bit to get more comfortable.  I returned the smile and closed my eyes, taking deep even breaths to help settle my mind...

Sethis: ...My mind drifted through fragments of memories....recent...old...emotions and sensations were faint echoes of the moments they occurred.  I saw them drifting past me, twisting and shimmering in a void of darkness lit only by the star like experiences around me.  There was movement...not just of the stars, but of myself...towards what or from what, I didn't know.

"It's been a long time, my nether child," said a feminine voice, cold and yet somehow soothing even as the whispers echoed lingered in the darkness.  "Your time is almost here...to rise again in a world that has almost forgotten you..."
"Who..."
"I am the Void Mother...the darkness from which all things come from...and eventually return to," the voice responded, amusement and stern reprimand all at the same time.  "Part of your path has been revealed...with more to come."
"...Nyxis?"
"Will be there with you when you awake.  Be cautious...the other Avalar is with you now...Be careful who you trust and listen to your feelings," the voice told me, the amusement vanishing with the seriousness replacing it.  "Without Darkness, there is no light...without light, there is no darkness..."

(Sorry, may try to add more later, but minds not working much.  Any chance the mountains might cause dreams or rather, there's the chance for dreams to occur between a gathering of people with such varied talents/magicks?

[Cynergi]

High upon the slopes of the mountain named "The White Giant" sit's the Skyborne temple. This is the home of the Goddess Of Winter, Karea, who is also known as the "Windy Mistress" The temple sits upon the very peak of the mountain and has remained undisturbed for many centuries. Hundreds of feet below the temple, on the north side of the mountain is another point of interest. A large cave nestled in the slopes that is home to a powerful great wyrm named Xerxes (Zurk-seas) The Wind Over The World. His lair is a vast system of huge caves the run throughout the top of the mountain and boast an unimaginable horde of treasure. Xerxes himself dwell within the heart of these caves guarding both the temple high  above him and his massive horde. The Frozen Mountains are his territory and he guards these lands against those who would dare challenge him might and that of his mistress, Karea. Currently he was awake. He had been awakened from his slumber by a great deal of commotion far below though he had yet to leave the comfort of his great lair. He had thought of dealing with this recent disturbance, but had been retained in his lair by someone of whom he was very fond of. He lay still atop his largest horde. A gigantic pile made of platinum, gold, silver, and many rare and precious gems. This spot was his favorite by far and lay at the very center of his lair. The great wyrm lay half curled on the top of this pile of treasure. His scales were like the finest diamonds and sapphires shining brilliantly even in the dimming light of the torches that currently lit his cave. He was more than 200 feet long with wing span that easily doubled that. His scales are smooth like the finest glass and as thick as the strongest armor. His age shows only in his sheer size. Upon his head sits two great white horns set to either side. The curl neatly back around in an elegant arch to end at the sides of his eyes. Those eyes are like intense emeralds with onyx in the center. Right now they were settled on a small figure set before his gaze at the foot of his largest treasure pile that he often made his bed.

His most prized possession stood before him. Her elegance was unmatched in his eyes. How he adored simply watching her when he was awake. "Why have you come before me, precious? His voice thundered softly throughout the cave. Below where he lay she stood looking up to her master with concern. She looked like a great panda and shared the fur pattern though she was more like a raccoon in form. She had a long, luxurious tail that was white enough to make the virgin snow upon the mountain jealous with the drakes black upon the top of her tail. Her fur matched that. From the black patches on her face stared the ruby hues of her eyes. Her crimson hair cascades about her narrow eyes and her full face. She stood there dressed in only a simple white dress. "Master? What is it that wakes you?" her voice echoes about the cave sounding like a melody upon the winds. She bowed out of respect to him and averts her eyes to the floor of the cave where she stood barefoot. Ears perked as she heard his low growl. He was not angry in the least, but simply thinking to himself. "There was a noise outside. That which was great enough to rouse me from my slumber." He lifted his head just enough to gaze toward the entrance to this section of his lair. "Surely you heard it...or at least sensed that something was amiss outside?" Lowering his head to once again look upon her. She didn't move nor look back at him, but kept her head bowed. "Yes, Master." Now lifting her head slightly. "I have sensed it." The tone in her voice dropped a bit indicating she had news he was not going to like. "It would seem that several have come into your lands. I feel them far below in the valley at the foot of the mountain." She went quiet awaiting her master's reply. Xerxes was quiet for a few moments as he took in the site of her. "And what else is there about these trespassers you withhold from me?" His tone deepened. He hated it when she was not completely forthcoming. She paused for only a moment longer before she turned her gaze fully upon him with a slight frown on her face. He hated that too. He wished only to see her smile. "Master? Death Gale has been slain......." She quickly bows her head again not letting the dragon see her saddened face. She hated to bring him such news. Xerxes remained quiet though his lifted his head higher now.

"Death Gale.....that retched hydra? Dead?" Xerxes sound both surprised and yet somehow amused. He sensed her anguish. How he heated that feeling. She was saddened that she had to see him awake and tell him just why he had been awakened. Xerxes merely smiled and felt touched by this. She did care for him that deeply as he cared just as deeply for her. His long tail sweeps around to her. The very tip of which touches her chin lifting it slightly so he may see her face again. "Do not shed tears for that worthless creature. I have no concern for him.....but his defeat does interest me. Anyone strong enough to defeat some mongrel hydra may feel bold enough to seek me out." He shakes his head in disgust of the though. "You know how I just hate visitors in my lair." he watched as she nodded her agreement. Whilst she did not mind visitors she disliked those who came here thinking they could challenge her master in his own home, but there was something else she had yet to tell him and she knew full well he was just waiting to hear it. "Well?" He asked trying not to sound too impatient. She sighed and once again averted her eyes. "Two of them had found your garden, Master. I do not know how. I was tending to it when they suddenly appeared there in the snow." She sighed softly as Xerxes' eyes widened greatly. "They did not see you, precious?" There was a deep note of concern there and she could feel it grow. "No, master. They did not see me nor did they sense me. I did not attempt to approach them nor allow myself to be noticed by them." She spoke as Xerxes took notice of the faint glowing around her. Even now she was masking her very existence from the world around them. "They dare disturb my garden?" He honestly didn't care about it one bit and his mocking tone showed it. He was relieved they had not seen her. He could not, for the life of himself, figure out just why she insisted on tending to them. The frozen wolves upon the side of the mountain. "They did not. One was an equine that I believe hails from the Copper Kingdom." This caught his attention as she mentioned it. "Penny Falls?" he quirked an eye ridge at the thought of that city nestled in the cliff in the shadow of a loathsome volcano. Cooper Kingdom was a name he had given that region beyond his borders. "And what of this other you mention?" He lets out a small yawn though it still seemed great to her. "An Armadillo, Master. I have not seen her ilk before in these lands. There was something else about her though.....something I cannot quite put my finger on...." She seemed to drift off there a little and fell quiet. Xerxes knew not to push her too far when she felt uncomfortable with something. "That is merely two....you mentioned several? He spoke up a bit breaking her line of focus. She snaps out of it and looks back to him again. Her Rubies meeting his emeralds "Two others approached from the north. I find it odd as I am sure one of them was also from the Copper Kingdom. She had with her the Angry Blade. I am sure it was. None can mistake that blade's presence" She seemed a little more upbeat now. Her tail swept the floor of the cave at her feet.

"You don't say......that blasted thing can only be held by those of the Primrose bloodline. I made sure of that fact." He watched as she nodded in agreement with him. "Yes...I believe she was daughter to Priestess Elara Primrose, Master. There was a strong magic about her. It was drained from her when she pulled the sword on Death Gale. I wish I knew why she had the blade with her." Xerxes smiled hearing her voice lift with such interest. "A good question indeed. Mistress will most certainly have taken notice of that bit as well. I can only imagine what mischief she may have set in motion. There was one more?" He looked up and reached up with his left paw to lightly scratch under his chin with black claws like the sharpest of swords. "Yes. A human. I cannot tell where he is from. You know how those humans are." She chimed. Xerxes didn't seem to really care about the human. "Filthy creatures, humans, like roaches. They are everywhere and as soon as you squash one two more creep up." Sighing and getting up off his belly. The whole of the cave shook as he did. "I suppose I shall have to deal with these trespassers quickly. If the Equine you mention is who I believe it to be I will have to travel to see Priestess Elara and remind her that her people are allowed here as long as I am not disturbed. The others I will have to make examples of. There are still a few pikes left along my path with which to mount their filthy heads....unless you wish to tell me that which you still withhold?" He cranes his head down towards her inquisitively.

"Mistress has bid you leave them be. They are under her watchful eyes at the moment and I do not believe they will try to seek you out, Master. I can sense other forces at work in their being here and those forces seem to have no interest in directing them here." She sounded a little more cheerful so Xerxes smiled. This made him happy. He detested having to deal with  anyone outside of his own realm. "Good! Hopefully then they will make haste from my home before what little patience I have left runs out. It is bad enough they disturb me and kill...oh hell I do not care about that worthless hydra. They did me a favor of sorts I suppose I can allow them passage as long as they stay away from me!" She smiled and giggled at Xerxes revelry as he slumped down again upon his treasure and curled back up to rest. "I shall see to it that they do not disturb the lair, Master. You rest as I have other duties to tend too." She smiles broadly relieved that he was content to go back to sleep. "Yes....precious." He simply yawned and slowly closed his eyes. She seemed to shimmer slightly and then just winked out of site. Xerxes thought on the matter for what seemed like an eternity though it was only a few moments in time before he nodded back off again.............


(This is just filler. I figured it may add something to the story later. I dunno. It was just in my head screaming to get out. The mountains may have some effect on them dream wise. Karea may reveal a little more about what is going on or maybe where they should head? Something to that effect I would think.)

[Cynergi]

( I just drove 6 hours to get home and I am very tired, but I wanted to get this done and posted in hopes that we can get this story moving again)

Perrine closed her eyes and simply drifted off. Weary from the fight with the hydra and finally succumbing to her own injuries. Elara, who remained next to Sethis, seemed to have done the same though it was hard to tell since she had her hood pulled over her head. This was probably the first time Perrine had any chance to sleep since this whole adventure started and she was not passing the chance to get some rest up.

[Draven Alcanis]

Varia: ...Erron had us moving as soon as we were asleep, and I left that part of our groups journey in his trust.  Taking nice deep breaths down into my stomach, I allowed my Sa to drift, in hopes of obtaining guidance from Grel and the ancestors who had come before me...

...I felt the change immediately, the feel of sand, the warm desert winds, the cool air of the evening indicating that I could open my dreamer's eyes.  Seated on a dune of rust red sand, I was in an ever shifting landscape of sand, portents and mysteries.  One part of the sky resembled deep night with the stars shining brightly, but also contained the brightly glowing orb of the sun itself, the light doing little to banish the darkness.  The other half was bright day with no clouds, but containing the full moon, large and silver; which slowly shifted through its cycle's from waning, new,waxing, and back to full again. 

Continuing to take the steady deep breaths, I allowed my gaze to wander until something showed that I knew for an omen.  Sand shifted with a subtle silent hiss that approached and receded much like the waves against an ocean shoreline.  rock became exposed only to be covered again as the dunes undulated and wavered like so many gigantic serpents in a mating knot. 
The sands immediately before me boiled and frothed, my gaze drawn to them as miniature mountains of rust red stone rose, pathways forming in the sand taking on a darker color as they snaked across the image.  It took only moments to recognize it as a map of the plains and mountain range before Penny Falls, which also rose into view.  A small tiger's eye appeared near the base of the mountain range across from Penny Falls.  In the city ruled by Elita's family, both a moon stone, and a cracked bloodstone appeared, the latter seeming to grow a little darker with each moment.

Something else moved on the map, and to the north west, I saw a recessed valley at the farthest edges of the mountain range.  There it curved slightly before opening towards the back of the mountain range in a rough oval, where nine jagged pieces of crimson veined obsidian pushed their way out of the ground.  Even before the sands started to darken from that valley, I had an ominous feeling about those stones, and just what they might represent.  The spreading tide of black across the sand filled with sorrow, anguish and blood.  I nodded in silent understanding and gave thanks to my ancestors, Grel, and the wisdom of my Sa for the guidance I had received; then closed my dreaming eyes once more so I could get some actual rest...

[Cynergi]

Wynstar stood quietly in front of his throne, but refrained from sitting down out of fear for the figure before him. He could feel those crimson eyes of hers staring right into the heart of his very soul. Though she bore a smile across her face her eyes showed him the great amount of her disdain for having come here to stand before him. Or was he made to stand before her this day? She held her arms across her chest and stared at him silently. He had been summoned to the throne room only moments ago by his stewards. Their terrified expressions and constant mention of a "ghost" demanding his presence gave him a sinking feeling that was only cemented once he saw her quietly standing there in the center of the room. "Wynstar Thunderhoof of the Copper Kingdom. Do you know who I  am?" The calm in her voice only made him feel that much more uneasy. Of course he knew who she was, but not why she had appeared here. "Indeed, Milady, I do know you, May I inquire as to why you demand audience with me?" He had to muster his composure at the moment. Her eyes narrowed at him and her smile slowly faded into a slight frown. "I have come here because a certain incident has taken place upon Xerxes territory." Her soft voice managing to echo around the room. They were currently alone and all the doors were closed for privacy. "Incident, Milady. I am not aware of that which you speak." Wynstar replied calmly now taking a few steps towards her. She placed her hands on her hips with her long tail lightly sweeping the floor behind her. "Your Daughter, and a few who travel with her, were seen in Xerxes' territory. Two of them violated the White Giant." Wynstar felt a cringe as she mentioned the dragon's named and the mountain. She merely raised an eyebrow and frowned slightly. "I do not believe that you wish a visit from the master to resolve this little matter, do you? I am sure he would be more than willing to seek you or your wife out to "discuss" the matter further." Her tome dropped to one of warning. Xerxes had made it abundantly clear that he had no desire to cause conflict or start a war with neighboring kingdoms. He was happy and content to simply be left alone high in the mountains. "No. I do not wish to cause him further inconvenience ." Briefly clears his throat. "I shall speak to my daughter upon her return. I have sent the others to retrieve her from her pilgrimage." He hid the fact that he had only sent Perrine and the one called Varia to find her and he had no Idea they had ended up in the Frozen Mountains. They should have been near the southern borders not up north. She only straightened her gaze to him. "See to the matter, Wynstar. I shall tell my master this matter is resolved for now. If I must return here or if the White Giant is violated again I cannot guarantee he will not pay you a visit." He breathed a very small sigh of relief as the figure before him shimmered briefly and winked out of site completely.

It was about this time he heard the voice of his shadowy friend from somewhere behind him. "That was close. This incident was unexpected. We cannot have that dragon or his......"servant" getting involved. Our plans would be discovered. Though......this could also be made to work towards our advantage." Wynstar didn't turn around much less move from where he was. "I thought you said you were keeping track of her! How could my daughter have slipped from your site?" He was highly unhappy at the moment. There was only a minute or two of silence. "As I advised you yesterday, M'lord. My "scouts" lost site of her shortly after that little incident in the town. She was swept away by some human who was accompanying her that morning. This latest revelation would point to them having used some form of teleportation magic to reach the mountains......as to why I do not know." He remained hidden in the shadow. "I will send the dragons out to find them. I want to know exactly where they have gone." Wynstar turned to walk back toward his throne to sit upon it. "She must be brought back to Penny Falls before she can stir up too much trouble from anyone else!"

Perrine had a thousand dreams she could never recall and a thousand more she spent a lot of time trying to forget altogether. None of them seemed as vivid as this. She stood alone amidst the raging fires of a burning city she knew all to well. All Around her Penny Falls burned. She could see the charred corpses in the streets and the vague images all around her of people running and fighting in the streets. She stood before the doors of Balius' shop as it burned to the ground behind her. The old griffon was nowhere to be seen. The scene felt eerily real. So real, in fact, she swore she could feel and smell the city burning. She saw the edges of the pools in the center of the city through the dancing flames. Heard the distant screams of it's citizens as they fought and fled from unknown attackers. She wanted to race to their aid. To stand in the city's defense, but she could not. She stood her ground before the burning ruins of her home. Facing an enemy she knew was hers and hers alone. The enemy stood a stone's throw before her. The figure was roughly her height and made from some black flame that danced steadily upward. It had a rough humanoid form with these bright red burning eyes that stared right into her very soul. In it's hand was a whiter glowing blade that drown out the noise around it with a pounding thrum that echoes from the walls of the nearby buildings and cliff face. Perrine held her own twin short swords though they seemed useless against what appeared to be a powerful weapon in the hands of a powerful enemy. She wanted to speak. To demand an explanation of what had happened and why, but she simply could not muster a single word. She stood facing the enemy down with rage burning in her heart. She had to fight. She lunged forward breaking out in full stride. Her twin blade came high above her head as she quickly closed the gap between her and her foe. She mustered her strength and brought both blade down to crash upon her foe. The enemy brought it's own blade up quickly across it's face and head and, with one hand, deflected Perrine's strike with ease. Perrine recoiled back from the sheer force of the strike amazed at how easily she had been countered. The swords in her hand rang like bells and were then drown out by a unearthly and piercing scream from the enemy's sword. That scream she had heard before. It couldn't be! For just a moment the flames wafted about her enemy and wavered just enough to offer her a peak at her opponent's face. A Nightmare stared out at her from the black flames. She could see just enough of the face to see the dark equine they hid. Deep red eyes that looked sunken and angry. The grey colored horn and dark purple of....of her hair. In all that there was dread. That face, only briefly seen, she somehow recognized. NO.....she thought to herself as everything slowed to a crawl.

Perrine roused from her sleep with a  start and a loud gasp. Disoriented as she sat bolt upright from where she was laying. Loud enough that it caused Elita to wake with somewhat of a start herself. "Perrine? What's wrong?" Elita had fallen asleep still sitting where she had sat next to Sethis. Rubbing her eyes to get the sleep out and seeing her friend looking  about as if she didn't know where she was. Perrine shook off the sudden dread she had. It had only been a dream.....or was it. She swore she could still feel the heat of the fires and the smell.....the smell of.....


(I will leave it there for now until it is established where they wound up while they slept)

[Draven Alcanis]

Varia:  I woke to the panicked cries of one of the other females, my gaze going to them in confusion since I could sense no threat through the earth or any indication of such coming from Erron's senses.
"What's wrong?" I inquired, sitting up and looking to them with concern.  "What has happened?"
"A bit of a night terror I would think," Erron muttered, rising up out of the ground a bit and snorting slightly, not with malice or arrogance, but simple fact.  "Her breathing and heart beat have been racing the last few minutes.  Somethings' upset her..."

As he spoke, the cave dome started to recede, sinking back into the ground without a trace that it had ever existed.  Behind us were the mountains, towering and imposing in their silent vigil from ages past.  Before us were the plains country that surrounded the Kingdom of Penny Falls, though we were still to the north west from what I could feel.
"...Erron...?"
"This felt like the correct path to take," he replied, giving me a a bland look.
"He's not wrong either," said another male voice.  I looked to the human who was slowly sitting up, wincing with discomfort and pain, his different colored eyes slowly regaining focus.
"How are you-"
"Like a twelve headed hydra is trying to tap dance on my skull and while singing a bawdy drinking song in a dwarven tavern," he groused, scowling as he put his left hand over his eyes while steadying himself with his right, taking deep slow breaths.  "Please...be silent a moment..."

I nodded, but pulled a few herbs together and put them in a small flask of water that I shook slightly before handing it to the human.  He accepted it without comment, grimacing as he took the first tentative sip before draining the flask quickly and giving it back to me.  He was quiet for a bit longer, then shook his head a little and looked up as his face flushed slightly.
"What the hells was in that?" he asked, looking up, his breathing a little faster, but his voice was a lot steadier than before.
"You don't want to know," I replied, packing up the few belongings I had and getting ready to move...

[Cynergi]

Perrine sat there silently staring at Elita. It was almost as if she was seeing a ghost before her eyes. She snapped out of it after a few moments. "Uh...." She wipes the sleep from her eyes and gathers her thoughts for a second. "Just had one hell of a dream." The images were sticking in her head. She couldn't seem to shake them. She refused to believe what she saw was anything more than some horrible dream. "Where the hell are we?" She finally took notice of where they were shaking off those last few chills running down her spine. "This isn't the valley we were in...." Instinctively she jumped to her feet reaching for the handles of her swords. Was this still the dream? Had she woke up or was she still asleep? Elita had gotten up and placed her hands on the mare's wrists. "Calm yourself, Perrine." Elita's voice seemed to echo slightly and her eyes took a faint and brief glow. It was a spell. A rather strong one that required direct contact allowing her to bypass Perrine's resistance to magic. It seemed to work to as the mare looked far more relaxed  than  she had a moment ago. Elita also got something back from it. Perrine was in a heightened state of alertness even as she calmed down and she was staring at the unicorn like she had seen the ghost of someone long since passed. "It appears she merely had a night terror as your friend suggested..." Elita stated calmly as she turns to Varia. Truth was she wasn't sure it was just that. Few things could startle Perrine like this had. At any rate there was little to no time to dwell on the issue. Elita recognized the area they were in now. She did wonder what happened to get them there, but figured it was something close to what Sethis had done back in the town. Now was not the time to investigate the matter. "We are near the Edge of the Green Glade Forrest about a day from home to the southeast. The closest town from here would be....." She goes silent knowing exactly where they were. "Thistlewood......." Perrine spoke up still sounding a little anxious. "There is a large stream just beyond  the next knoll that can lead up right to town if we follow it. The road from the town leads right back to Penny Falls. Might be the easiest way to go rather then trying to cut across the open fields." Perrine pointed straight ahead. Elita moved her hand to Perrine's holding it firmly in her own. "That may be, but cutting over the plains will be quicker though it also be rougher." Elita felt re-assured as Perrine's hand began to squeeze hers back. "no.....one of us is still fairly injured and I am not yet healed up myself. The road will be easier and probably a little safer. I think we should head for town and make for the city from there. We may even be able to get a cart or wagon heading to Penny Falls which would be quicker than walking it." Perrine looks to the others over her shoulder. "What do the rest of you want to do?"

[Draven Alcanis]

Varia:  "As safe as you were on the road when I met you?" The human asked dryly, getting to his feet slowly and stretching a little.  He winced slightly but made no comment in regards to any other pain he had.  "You're not taking into consideration everything that's happened to you in the slightest.  Least of all how we first encountered each other and what would have most likely happened to you if there was no warning of the Grelisalfar when you were on the road the first time...alone I might add."

I raised an eyebrow at that, turning to look at the unicorn woman sternly, Erron's demeanor changing as well as growled slightly with concern.
"A Grelisalfar?  Wandering the plains near Penny Falls?" I remarked, striding closer to the other two women.  "How long ago was this?"

[Cynergi]

Both of Perrine's ear flicked back and forth briefly as she listened. This was quickly getting tiresome. Seems none of them were ever going to agree on what to do and, so far, it had gotten them nowhere. There was still a lot to be hammered out and none of what had happened in the last few days made any sense whatsoever. Elita had been allowed to leave the safety of her home to wander alone in the great open world they had lived in. Why is it that her father, who was very persistent on protecting her, had suddenly decided it was a good idea to allow his sheltered daughter to aimlessly venture out into the world unprepared and armed with that damned blade. Elita let go of Perrine's hand turning to face the others with a rather annoyed look on her face. "I will have you know that I was doing perfectly fine until we ran across that...that....horrid looking creature on the road. A creature, I might add, that we met strictly by chance and they did not even notice us there. Ever since then this whole ordeal has been one unwelcome surprise after another. These last few days have been nothing short of disastrous and horrid." Slumps her shoulders and looks sullen. " All I want to do is just get home and forget any of this happened at all......"

"That is not going to happen.....we aren't going to make it to Penny Falls." Perrine refused to look at them. She was hiding her expression at the moment. She had taken the last few moments to think the situation through. Elita turned with a surprised look to say something, but she was cut off before she could. "Something.....a lot of things just aren't adding up here and we need answers as to why. Maybe going back to the city is something that was expected. Some one....something is watching us." Elita could only scowl at her. "What the hell are you talking about? We came all this way just to stop in our tracks when we are right at the back door?" There was a bit of a squeak to the unicorn's voice. "None of this makes any sense, Perrine. I do realize that. I also realize that we are a day away from home....away from safety." Elita motioned in the general direction of Penny Falls. "Safety? Yeah. I am starting to think that going back to the city may not be the safest thing to do. Look, Eli, I don't know why, but I am getting a sudden sense of dread. We can't even decide on one simple task here and that means we are putting ourselves at risk. It's been days since you encountered that Grelisalfar and we have no idea where he and his little band have gotten too. For all we know they could be waiting right there in town for us or somewhere near by." Finally turns around showing a grim expression on her face. "If you all want to make for Penny Falls then fine, but we need to decide what to do to get there and make some sort of plan. If we have any other ideas then lets stop beating around the bush and just put them out there. The longer we remain here doing nothing the better the chance our enemies, whomever they may be, have of finding us." Sighs a bit and shakes her head. "Right now I am just confused and running out of ideas. I wanna go home, but I need to figure out what the hell is going on around here."

[Draven Alcanis]

Varia:  "At least one of you has a brain," the human muttered, sighing and shaking his head ruefully.  "As for learning what the hell is going on...My abilities don't go very far in that direction, though I can feel that there is more to what's happening than we are consciously aware of.  Each of us with a part to play."
"Are there no seer's or oracles in this land?" I asked, looking from one of my new companions to the other.  Erron was still doing what he could to keep his sense's tuned to our surroundings, not having lost the hint of what kind of danger's we might be facing.  Our 'Sa' had indeed been right about the need for our presence here at this time, in this place.

"There is one," replied a tired female voice from Sethis's direction.  Rising out of th ehuman's shadow was a dark skinned woman, her appearance exotic and out of place in these lands, made all the more disconcerting with the weary expression on her features.  His Elemental Companion.  The human put an arm around her in a steadying fashion, a look of tender concern coming to his face briefly as he helped to keep her upright.
"What are you talking about?"
"Nyxis..."
"We need a better understanding of what's going on, Sethis," she told her companion softly, a pleading look on her face.  "The Oracle of the Fell-gallows is the closest one and the most reliable."
"Not to mention the most dangerous to get to and for the price it might demand," he replied with an edge of dread to his voice.
"Our choices are limited right now, Avalar of Shadow," I broke in, stepping forward and looking up at him, but with no hint of deference to stature or superiority.  "What are the dangers of this oracle?"
The human looked at this companion and the others, then sighed, closing his eyes, but the voice spoken in was strange, hollow and echoing...

...It was written after the third age, before Penny falls became the capital of the plains nation, and and the peace treaties between the five kingdoms were signed, a neutral ground existed at the base of the Elemental Basin where traitors and war criminals would be executed and punished for their crimes.  The woods to the southeast of Penny falls eventually became known as the Fellgallows; tales and stories spreading of those who had been slain there rising again to take vengeance upon their tormentors or spending eternity paying for their crimes.  The woods grew dark and menacing with each decade, the tress starting to resemble the  timber platforms and structures from which gibbets and nooses alike hung.

One execution in particular darkened the history of the place even more than all the worst criminals and deserted before.  In the times of the Consolidation wars, a blind seer wandered through the kingdoms, giving prophecies and portents to those who would listen, more than a few taking the words to heart.  It was only three years before the generals of the armies learned of her, and started to send riders out to capture or coerce her into service.  No money was ever asked, or titles or anything of the sort, by the blind woman, but predictions and prophecies she gave, at first much to the joys of the military commanders.

Most realized what a valuable resource they had, and attempted to restrain and imprison her to keep their enemies from gaining advantage of the foresight.  Only to suffer a devastating defeat afterwards.  Bitter with vengeance and rage, the commanders would go back to their camps to punish the seer, only to find that she was gone without a trace.  The Kings and queens eventually learned of her presence amongst the armies and declared her a heretic, to be captured for execution, realizing that despite all the truths she spoke, the moment any hint of betrayal was given, they would face grave dangers themselves.

Less than a week passed before they captured the seer, sitting outside the gates to what would become the royal palace in Penny Falls, muttering dire warnings about the future ahead, and seeming to ignore her own circumstances.
She was taken to the Fellgallows and nailed to a post surrounded by dry tinder, to be burned as a heretic and witch.
"Those who scorn me shall wallow in their own misery for the darkness of their souls will consume them!" She shrieked as the first flames caught and steadily grew brighter.  "Those who seek my knowledge will still be able to find me, but their price will be paid in blood and sorrows, for I am and shall forever be here!  So have I foreseen it!  So Shall it be!"

As soon as the flames covered her form, the soldiers of the combined armies were said to take ill, vomiting black bile that sought to choke them of life and rip their flesh from bone.  Out of the five hundred who had gone to Fellgallows to witness and participate in the seer's execution, less than seventy five made it out again.  Since then, only those with the most dire of needs have gone there to seek the Oracles council, and ended up paying a heavy price...

...The human swayed slightly, then slumped against his companion as if suddenly drained of what energy he had earlier.  I stared at him, not knowing if it was his 'Sa' that had spoken, or something more...

[Cynergi]

"Fell-Gallows Forrest" Perrine muttered the name and let it stick in her mind for a moment or two. "We are a day north of Penny Falls and Fell gallows is 2 days ride from there...so about 3-4 days to reach it." Elita then clears her throat after letting Perrine finish. "The forest is forbidden to Priests and Knights alike from respective orders.....however...." She sighs lightly. " As neither Perrine or myself are no longer members of our orders we shouldn't have issue with going there. " Perrine had to turn to Elita with a somewhat surprised look. "So you aren't going home to the City? Perrine asked calmly. "I want to.....going to that accursed place is a death sentence of the worst kind and what we will find  there will not be in the least bit pleasant. The dead do not welcome the living there. Still....if it is answers we need...we shall not find them in retreat. Besides this could be interesting." Her tone dropped from her usual to one that seemed just a tad darker. Almost as if she honestly preferred going to the forest rather than home. Perrine took note of that among other things today. Right now she was ignoring the scene that unfolded in front of her as she had seen far stranger things in her life. "We still have the matter of getting there. Whatever magic has been used so far cannot be in endless supply and all we are doing right now is wasting what daylight remains. We need to secure more practical means of transportation for the time being."

(I'd have more, but I have been crunched for time lately)