Those Who Search for That Which was Lost...

[Rego Blin]

A group of dwarves had passed by the grasslands held by the dark druids that morning, they were headed to Dragonwatch to help in the rebuilding. They were already several weeks behind schedule and the dwarf leading the group was getting more anxious to get to their destination as soon as possible.

Continueing along the Dasar road, working together in a tight knit formation to cover their flanks from enemies they moved quickly over the worn-out road towards Dragonwatch, and the unexpected meeting of the scrying group.

[Mon-Da-Oth]

Ra'enya had caught Myles before the group left with Falson. She pressed a blue velvet bag in to his hands with a worried look.

"I would love to come with you if only to witness the event take place but I am afraid that the creature that has been following me is still out there waiting."

Myles nodded taking the velvet bag from his sister. He could feel two distinct pieces of a bowl through the fabric.

"Father will not be pleased you broke his bowl." he stared expresionless at his sister.

Myle undid the ties to the bag and slid out the two broken pieces of the scrying bowl. The crystal glinted with any light it caught throwing star like paterns around the inside of the keep.

Ra'enya frowned and bowed her head. "It happened because I was looking for you. I didn't have the skill to use it properly."

Myles placed an arm around his sister and gave her a slight squeeze. "Its alright. I will give it to Falson and see if he can make use of it or perhaps fix it."

Myles turned to follow the group out from the keep.

Ra'enya watched as the group left. A frustrated tear ran down her cheek.

[Peregrinus]

((this is not one of my four big posts, this is just a thing to address everything going on along the road...

---------------------

Falson took the velvet bag from Myles gently and reverently, the bowl still radiated its power, though its smooth surface was cracked and this caused the flow of magic to be interupted. Holding it quietly, he began focus his magic about it and smiled. It would help a bit, help focus the magic, even more so with the place of power.

Then the dwarves, Falson looked shocked. He greeted them quickly and spoke softly with their leader.

"Heading for Dragonwatch?"

"Aye."

"You're nearly there, check in with Leuitenant Vrok of the Brute Squad as well as the geomancer from Dasar, they'll know what you need to do about the fortress."

"Who might you be."

"I am Falson Almaran," the sorcerer replied, "you'll get to know me more once I return from my present mission."

The dwarf nodded and they headed on their way, and suddenly Falson turned around to study Isioviel and then turned to Dorivan, the old man, though still obviously able to go on, looked a bit tired.

"Let's rest for a bit," Falson said, "and let this man catch up. Once he does, we'll head on."

((feel free to keep us moving down the road folks...

[Stormknife]

Monev mumbled a few choice orcish profanities to himself in the treeline. "Go here, go there, yeah right boss...eesh. From Delade to you to me. When I get my hands on you..."

"You'll what?"

Monev nearly dropped his greatsword in shock. "Dammit, boss! Don't DO that!"

Haxley smirked. "Yeah, well, you know me...always dropping in. What's the deal?"

"Scrying. Dark druids. Certain doom, I think."

"The usual?"

Monev nodded. "Yeah."

"Heaven's alright?" Haxley asked, glancing around the area and nodding to each one of the rogues he saw in turn.

"Yup. They had a chat with some dwarves...that was about it."

"Alright. Get back to Daris and link up with Redforde. We got some things coming in that we gotta ship personally. I'll be here until they're done."

Monev set off towards town again, muttering, and Haxley motioned for the sneaks to keep up with him as they trailed the group from cover...

[Vahene]

The invisibility faded. Heaven was still quite a ways in front of the others, not that it mattered to her. She had other protections up--she always had other protections up. If Haxley taught her one thing, it was to be cautious. A flick of her wrist, and a psuedodragon floated alongside her, muttering to Heaven in quiet tones.

"Mistress, is this such a good idea? These druids are dark, unrespecting of nature," the dragon hissed.

"I know, Zel, I know.." Heaven quietly patted the dragon on the back as they walked. "They serve Tiamat, but I trust Falson's judgement in this matter. We have to be cautious and ready for Anshar to pull anything, however. You know he isn't about to let us know where Lone is without a massive fight."

The dragon was quiet a moment, thinking. "Mistress, this could be a trap."

Heaven turned her head to the dragon and blinked, then nodded. "Yes, it could be. I've thought the same thing." She looked at the trees around them, as if searching for something and then looked at the road in front of her, satisfied and not finding anything.

Little did she know, something was there.. probably smirking at her.. and laughing.

-H

((Explanation at looking at the trees.. Heaven with True Sight can't see Haxley.. absolutely can't occur in game, so it didn't occur here. She's never been able to see him.))

[Shalandravv]

The sun seemed to float in the distance upon the surface of Lake Illendis as the final stretch of day was at its end. Oraan's would not be far, but the stones were still some time ahead. It didn't take a sixth sense to feel the tension in the group.

Heaven was obviously distraught, eyes wandering like some hunted creature. What could be bothering her? Was someone close by that caused her distress?

Falson was focused on the task ahead, as always, never distracted. He was headstrong, focused and impossible to separate from his goals. She could relate to him in many ways.

Myles, of course, was ever faithful to her side. Like some holy guardian, Myles kept watch over the house of Vaelin like the centuries of
Tel’Vakharedhelrim before him. His loyalty and devotion came unasked and without bounds, even after being released from his oath. Shalandra could ask for no better a friend.

Isis, innocent, pure, and of all people in this tale, the victim of tragedy. Shalandra pitied Isis and wished to ease her suffering. Lone's return, if anything, might bring a smile back to her face. More importantly, it'd return a man who'd given so much for Dasaria already. The world was teetering on a precipice. This cruel circle of fate that threatened to snuff out the lives of countless had to stop.

Shalandra's boots crunched the dirt beneath with every step. Her sword was strapped underneath her cloak, the massive blade making a cross against her back. Its use was not far in the future, no. The druids of Tiamat were still sore from their defeats. This scrying would not come free.

In the corner of her eye, she saw the calm, watchful gaze of Dorvan. She returned a reassuring smile his way.

The sun had set, all was darkness, and the fires of Oraan were not far ahead.

[Peepslayer]

Maelstrom, remembering his Dasarian heritage, does nothing. Begins to think of doing something, but instead tells a zombie about the actions instead.

Then returns to doing nothing.

[Cerberus]

The pain stopped...

For a moment...

Voices were heard, but it had been so long since Lone has heard anything but his own screams that he was busy resting, not making out what was said.

It had felt as if he had been stabbed with countless needles inside and out while bathing in lava for so long... if it wasnt for the thought of Isis... he would've given up by now... they tried to show Lone that Isis had chosen Myles over him... and it hurt at first... But Lone had to know if it was true... and refused to die so long as she lived. He resolved to see her beauty again, even if he could not hold her.

"He's regaining thought... quickly, lets begin the trial."

Familiar power flowed into Lone, sweet divine power, and he jumped towards it, drinking in more and more, blessed power, joy compared to his recent pain. He wanted more... needed more...

"Incredible! Sever him quickly, anyone in a thousand miles could feel that..."

The power snapped away, dazing Lone, craving the energy he had not felt for so long...

He felt himself tumbling, a feeling he had had only once before...

His screams echoed nearby as he was reimmersed in the sea of lava and needles.

"He was only half full..." The voices were drowned out by his own cries.

[Peregrinus]

The night passed slowly at Oraan's. Falson barely slept, instead he meditated on the Weave, drawing strength from it and getting closer to its secrets. He prayed softly to Ea, lord of magic, to guide his hands and his mind for the ritual, and prayed that the lord of sweet water would protect those around him.

As the sun rose, Falson stood by the bridge that led down the road, he clenched and unclentched his hands softly, feeling a tingling sensation as the magic pulsated around his fingers. Those sensitive to magic could tell Falson was closer to the weave than he had ever been in his life, but the toll was obvious on his body. His face was pale and his eyes bloodshot from the lack of sleep. He hung heavily on the Staff of Valmaxian, and Drakin paced worriedly around his master.

"Falson?" Shalandra looked concerned, "are you really ready for this."

He nodded in responce, and gathered the people around him with a simple look.

"We head out," he spoke softly, almost inaudibly.

He turned, not even waiting to see if they followed. He quietly shouded himself in his magic as they moved on, ready.

...

They came to the lands of the dark druids. For once, the Dark Ones did not expect the Dasarian expidition. Shalandra's battlecry pierced the morning mists around the water, and the sudden flash of pure magic arched from the many mages present as the Druids desperately shifted their forms to try and hold back the Dasarian onslaught. Falson barely moved as he cast, his motions perfectly refined and his words almost silent as he tossed the spells to do battle with the Druids.

The battle was over nearly instantaniously, and the Dasarians stood atop the hill inside the circle of stones.

"Those who are not part of this ritual," Falson turned to the others slowly and deliberately, "please spread out and keep watch, there will be more Dark Ones coming. Den, Myles, I know you want to offer your magic, but this time, I think that your time will be better spend aiding Shalandra."

Falson turned back to the circle of stones.

"We shall begin soon."

[Oye99]

Hakiseth arrived on the site just in time to witness the end of the battle, panting in attempt to recatch his breath, he glanced up the hill towards the groupe of mages, then at Shalandra, Den and Myles as they walked down the slope.

"Did... did I miss anythin'?" He simply asked.

[Brenna E'lyana]

Isis stepped into the circle of stones, her eyes shadowed with aphrension. Lone was the only thought on her mind. Her face was drawn and pale. She had not spoken a single word since leaving Dragonwatch.

[Vahene]

The ground they stood on, well, it was dangerous.. to put it bluntly. Heaven looked over the ridge, wordlessly sending her familiar into a nearby copse of trees with merely a glance. Several emotions fluttered through her--anxiety being the one that she felt the most of, however, every emotion was one she usually felt being on the dark druids lands. She knew they weren't safe. Not until they left.

Wordlessly Heaven reached out into the weave, feeling her familiar chaotic threads. She sighed a bit more peacefully. Opening her eyes again and leaving the weave and her short meditation, she stared at Falson and immediately frowned. What was he doing to himself? Was he trying to die doing this?

-H

[Cerberus]

Dorvan stepped forward, and opened himself to the divine powers that Druids used to tend to nature, calmly channelling the energy around himself. Carefully, he extended it out to Isioviel, and it flowed into her, mixing with her own force. Their magics became linked, and he held it open, any other divine caster could enter the circle now, adding their strength to their own.

[Kell]

And nothing could mark a silence then a sudden disturbance of it. Just like nothing would emphasize the darkness like a small dot of light shining through. There was no light however. Not in this place. Just like there was no sound, really. There hadn't been sound, nor light, for days, weeks. The clay ground was smooth and when you stepped on it it bounced back so that you tred was equal and going. The walls were constantly wet but there was no water dripping down on them. The ceiling was sometimes higher, sometimes lower, but it always seemed to weigh down so heavilly on the walls that they could have cracked with the lightest gush of wind. But there was no wind either.

All there was were the soft colors of the temperature in the stone surroundings. Soft colors, because that was another thing that wasn't really here. Well.. there was, but it was something you barely notice. There was no warmth, no cold, therefore there was barely a temperature. You didn't need clothes to shield yourself from heat or cold, down here. It was all the same.

After all the unpredictable circumstances on the surface, it felt almost good to be home again.

[Mon-Da-Oth]

Myles shook his head at Hakiseth and forced a tired smile on his face.

"The fun is just starting. It might be safter if you stay a distance way from the mages. Then again the forces they will be dealing with might bring several creature that could be equally dangerous." He shrugged and looked around at the surrounding woods.

"You might find a place to wait somewhere between Den and I. I am sure between he and I we can keep whatever comes up this way confused enough that they won't notice you slipping a blade or two into them."

Myles grimmaced and turned heading for the nearby shadows under the trees.