Giggling as the young daughter to an elder at the druid enclave was conversing with her bodyguard Brook, did the shadow of an evil creep upon them. Being escorted with her guards on a hunting endeavourer did the hawk of her bodyguard ranger fly to his shoulder. Katie was talking about cooking fish with certain spices using hand gestures when her words were halted by Brooks hand upon a final cooing of his hawk.

“Brook what is it?” Katie asked but he said nothing, unsheathing his blade did he give a silent command for his men to fan out, some rose upon the trees staging there bows to the ready and the rest drew their blades and scanned the brush line. “Brook!” she said again worried when the cry of pain was heard by a ranger from his flank.

“It’s an ambush…Droknor’s!” cried out a ranger to his clan member’s aid,

“Defend Katie, defensive perimeter now” Brook ordered as he summoned a shield made from bark to his side arm hand.

Returning from Silverspire Alisianna hears the sounds of vicious battle in the depths of her woods, echoing to her ears was the druid language she knew well and snapping on twigs in her path, she bolts to its location. The sounds of blades colliding and violent explosions of spells indicated a heavy war party and the only thing out there she knew was a hunting group and a boarder patrol group; none of which could handle such an attack.

As she grew closer to the sounds they rapidly decreased in loudness and for some would it indicate that the battle was moving but she knew better of the worsened implication that it wasn’t moving, it was ending. Sifting through the bushes she heard the battle sound come to a close but not before a violent scream from a young girl was echoed through the trees shuttering to her very skeleton. She arrived to the sight only to be horrified by a sight that spun her head, she took a breath and turned again slow to see the devastation that laid before her; bodies of her clan numbering twelve lay lifeless on the dirt floor. Mangled they were and impaled by throwing axes and thick fashioned crossbow bolts but some baring the insignia of the dreaded mage Drakon. Placed on the shafts of his conjured bone spears that would’ve been summoned by his dark black magic were they driven through some of the bodies in the worst ways ever displayed. Alisianna scanned the grounds but was puzzled by the missing body of the girl she heard screaming, hearing the sudden moaning of a man she looked to one moving ever so slowly lying in a puddle of blood, she came to his aid and going to a kneel placed his upper torso to her legs.

“Brook” Alisianna wept glancing to his mortally wounded state

“Alisianna” Brook said in a broke and quivering voice, his body was beaten and his skin grew colder the longer she was with him.

“What happened, where’s Katie?”

“Taken by Drakon, we were ambushed” Brook said coughing up blood to his mouth,

“You need curing you must get back to the Enclave”

“It’s too late for me Alisianna, listen to me you must find Katie; Drakon wishes to know the route where the Soulguard clan is going on to pass his sight and took her for leverage to force the clan to reveal them”

“What did you tell them Brook?”

“Nothing, not even when Drakon cut the tongue of Keith to sway me…”

“Brook stay with me” Alisianna said tapping the side of his cheek while applying pressure to the wound in his gut.

“Alise they plan to kill Katie by suns end, find her Alise…promise me you’ll find her”

“I promise but we need to get you…Brook…BROOK!” she said watching his head go limp in her arms she cradled him to, “I don’t know where she is Brook” Alise wept to his corpse.

“Maybe I can aid you there” said a voice in a ghostly tone riding the very winds,

“Who are you, where are you” Alisianna barked looking around.

“Just a messenger with a message, to find Drakon is easy for he means not to remain hidden, follow the rocky path south until the marsh hills and he dwells in the second mining entrance on the right side, got it!”

“How can I trust your words?” Alisianna said listening to center his location. The voice only replied with a hideous laughter to her statement and dissipated to the air with a haunting feeling left to her. She looked again to the carnage left only to see two Droknor dead amongst the rest; the attack was well planed and executed. Alisianna knew the enclave was too far to reach with the time she was given by Drakon’s deadline but her new found friends might be her only hope, for she alone couldn’t pull off the rescue. Saying a prayer to the dead and Brook for it was all she had time for, Alisianna traced back her trail to Silverspire in a motion no less than a full run.

As she sat in the chair in the middle of the room, Katie stared calmly at the only door to her dingy lit room. Infested with rats that scurried along the cavern wall side she saw the two dwarven guards who held no emotion from her suffering. Bowing her head she looked to the blood splattered upon her leather vest that was not her own and closing her eyes she tried to lose the recurring nightmare that happened just a short time ago. After the call of danger she felt the strong arm of Brook forcing her to her knees and out of the way of the bolts and spells; she was trained in the art of the druids but only had the first initial year under her mind and such a limited skill wouldn’t have aided the battle she was in. Katie admired and awed at her guardian’s skill at defending her name and life as his shield and blade deflected all that came their way…until the impact of the bone spear struck his back, her bloodcurdling scream echoed throughout her head as the blood sprayed from Brook’s gut to her face and clothes like a pail of water. Both fear and panic boiled to her surface as Brook’s final protective moments landed his body on top of hers as a last attempt to hold her safe.

Being jolted from her day dream of the hellish recall did the sharp screeching sound of the steel door grind to her ears as Drakon opened the door to her chamber. He walked to her with a pompous sway in his stride and coming to her front Drakon only glanced down at her terrorized figure.

Striking her right cheek side with a swift and solid backhand Katie bite her tongue from the force of the blow, and shifting her head back with a violent tug on her blood soaked long pony tail Drakon gazed to her frightful eyes.

“Do you know why you have been taken child?” Drakon said staring at her, his putrid stink of death and dried blood were almost too much for her nose to bare and from his look she knew that his appearance mattered not at this point. Looking to him as strong as she could she held a scorned stare back, curling her bloodied tongue to fill her mouth Katie spat what blood she could gather at the mages cloak and neck.

“They will tell you nothing Drow pig!” she harped to his face, but he only looked to her with a sinister curl to his lips and moving his arm to reef again on her hair was he granted a weep from her voice as the pain from the yank rang a sting from the nerves of her scalp.

“Don’t be so stubborn in strength to dictate the iron will of your so called druid clan; having one of their precious own on the execution table is far greater a sway of such information” Drakon spat to her face as he released her hair, he backed off and snapped his finger to have one guard bring to her feet a bucket of water and lifting her bound legs did they get submerged, Drakon raised his arm charging a spark of electricity to his hand and seeing the bright arching flowing through his hand Katie took a deep breath to calm herself. “Now lets see what you have held in that mind of yours” he chuckled with a devilish tone as Katie watched his hand making a slow advance nearing to her chest.

Racing to the front gate Alisianna yells out, “Guards I need to speak with Captain Cloud, its urgent!”

“He is in the temple recovering Miss”

“Where’s Rain, his brother?” she responded fast

“Miss we need to clear you first by the gate master, hang on” Said the one guard as he left the arch top. She knew time wasn’t on her side and looking to the trees did she take a look through the portcullis to the tree in the yard of the temple. “Maple!” she said and looking to the woods did she run off into the brush, the guards watched her takes some slow steps to a tree close by the brush line and stepping into it they watch her disappear. She emerged through it by a tree in the yard and smirking for she had past the gate and then run into the temple.

“Alisianna” Said Dawn seeing her entry and seeing her look on her face, she asked what was wrong. Alisianna told about the attack of her hunting party and how the assault was brought on by Drakon wishing to know the location of the Drow from their Clan as well as saying that Drakon had taken one of the elder’s daughters for ransom.

“Drakon” Dawn sparked out with Alisianna nodding

“How far is the site you said they took her” Asked Rain with Dawn giving him a look. She told them the trail pass and sitting up from listening to the conversation Cloud says out, “The horse master will have some fresh horses to take us there; we can be there easily under the time given”

“Guys this is Drakon, the man who beat our uncle, the Captain of our guards” Dawn protested.

“He did a surprise attack Dawn, our uncle wasn’t prepared” Rain said back

“He is beyond our skill of handling and you know that, why are you all of the sudden able to take on such power when a pair of wagon wheel sized boobs asks you to”

“Excess me” Barked Alisianna offended in a huff,

“I’m sorry Alisianna I mean no disrespect” Dawn calms “But seriously in the short time you have been with my brothers I don’t think they even know you have a face”

“We’re not pigs Dawn we know she has a head!” Cloud harped out to her “She has aided us in trouble and has spend a portion of her time keeping us away and hidden from Drakon and his forces, we owe her this” Cloud argued

“Well go then, toss away your lives” Dawn said folding her arms no going to move

“Please will you come with us Dawn” Rain asked softly “We need your skills, I promise we’ll avoid the mage at all costs, he can’t watch the girl forever …you have my word that we’ll get in and out with as little confrontation as we can” Rain says and looking to his comforting sight Alisianna held a smirk to him.

“Fine” Dawn heaped giving in to the cunning of her brother’s gentle speech and getting ready the group sets out, at the gate way to leave the city Elanee catches wind of the mission and wished to join, and against Rain protests was she welcomed along.

They set out hard riding fast through the woodland trails but as the over growth grew too much for the horses to keep their hastened pace they slowed to a gallop.

“Your pretty good on a horse” Cloud complimented Alise as she rode along side him on his right and Rain taking up her company on the left,

“You too” she said back

“Yeah after falling off his horse till he was twelve he finally learned to stay on it” Rain piped getting a chuckle from her lips,

“And you no better with your skills brother, in his youth he was unable to cast a fireball with out burning his clothes off his body”

“Hey I only did that twice”

“Once at the town founding festival while dancing with mother” Cloud laughed out with Alisianna joining in the chuckle and Rain gets embarrassed. The brothers continued back and forth talking to Alisianna and asking the young druidess about her life and training, and through the conversation did Dawn and Elanee hold their own with Dawn growing a look to her face; Elanee could see that the brothers actions were getting to her and leaning close Elanee whispers “Like a couple of dogs in heat eh?”

“They’re embarrassing, I have never seen them like this for one girl…and Rain...I mean she’s a nymph I know but she’s not that pretty, is she?”

“Dawn she’s a nymph, rarely do they make them ugly and pretty are you kidding, I’m a girl and I’m attracted” Elanee added “I’m just waiting for Rain’s untimely humble attitude to kick in” Elanee says again.

“You may by waiting a while he has a thing with big boobs” Dawn said getting Elanee to look down to her own chest, “No wonder he’s holds dislike to me”

“Don’t worry about it” Dawn said and then she leaned to Elanee “my uncle said until he was three Rain was breast feed, he said he didn’t need it but my mother told him she thought he just liked the big nipples” Dawn ended as Elanee held her mouth shut to keep from laughing aloud.

As they grew close upon the entrance Alisianna grew nervous and worried, “Don’t worry Druidess we’ll find her, Rain looked to the two with a disgruntled digression for he knew she had been talking to Cloud more then himself.

“Never fails with women” Rain mumbled softly

“What” asked Cloud not hearing him

“Nothing, just talking out loud” Rain covered,

Dismounting to the east of the entrance the group looked to the two guards in the brush line, Cloud drew his blade and Rain whispered to him “Better not miss or they’ll have reinforcements all over the place”

“I’ll take them out” Alisianna said and controlling the bushes to the west grasping the Droknor’s attention, wondering over to them Alisianna’s eyes went hazel and the vines gripped tight strangling the dark dwarfs to a slow uneasy death.

“Natural magic is creepy” Dawn said emerging to examine the bodies to confirm death,

“I find it interesting” Rain spoke out

“I bet you do” Elanee said behind him as she went past to follow Cloud as he drew his blade leading the way into the mine. They took to the darkness with stealth and caution into the tunnel, and avoiding the Droknor guards with time elapsing along they came to a break in the path forking off two ways.

“Should we split?” Asked Rain

“We can stay more covert if we do” Cloud added

“I’ll take Dawn and go left you three go straight “Rain said

“No wait Rain you go with Elanee and Alisianna, I’ll take Dawn with me”

“Why?” Rain inquired as he knew Cloud lusted for Alisianna as much as he did,

“Because I need to be close to do damage and you don’t” Cloud said back

“Hello they’re dwarves Cloud kind of immune to magic remember” Rain batted back

“You think quickly of your feet Rain I’m sure we’ll be fine” Alisianna complimented to him smiling and having to agreeing for he knew she was right did they proceed with the spilt.

As Dawn and Cloud headed down their way was the Droknor presence everywhere. Hiding in shade and around cave growth wherever possible, they finally reach a door made of new oak. With the half moon arch to the top did it hold a barred window, looking like a holding cell. Dawn notices it and calls quietly to Cloud, but with no response did she see him looking into another room, Cloud witnesses a bloodied young women with green leaves in her long red hair being interrogated by a Droknor with others watching.

“Cloud, come here” She whispered

“What is it Dawn” he said

“I think there is someone in here” she added and grabbing the bars she receives a jolt of fire that burns her. “Owww!” she bursts out loudly and quickly running to grab her Cloud hides both of them behind some spiked cavern growth as the door opens with two Droknor appearing to scan the area, “You see anything” one asked, Cloud and Dawn remain still and silent.

“Nope, how about you?” the other replies

“Nah nothing lets go back to the druid whore, Drakon said not to leave her alone for too long” and searching for a couple minuets and having Cloud and Dawn keep absolutely still the Droknor’s come up empty and go back into the room.

“Damn it I thought I said don’t touch anything” Cloud yelled whispering, and letting her go roughly she brushes off some dirt from her clothes saying “Well I didn’t think the bars would have been protected too!”

“This is Drakon were dealing with and he probably has the whole place trapped so be careful” Cloud said

“I was the first time you said it” Dawn spouted

“Then be more careful ok” he repeated

Walking in soft motion with Rain in the lead, Alisianna and Elanee come to a hairpin turn around the cavern wall, walking into an open area they hear two voices having a heated conversation, finding a spot concealed they squat down still to listen.

“So what was so pressing for you to tell me Drakon” Colossus says appearing in thin air behind him giving Drakon a scare

“My lord I have a means to what you wished of me, a druid girl I hold in my grasp should aid me in the ritual for the wilderness power for the sight to all the woods in the area, they won’t hide from me no longer” Drakon said getting a grin from the Bull

“That’s good to hear Drakon, how long will it take?” Colossus asked

“Till nightfall I need to prep the spell, I told the girl she’s to be traded by her clan”

“Did she believe you” questioned Colossus

“Of course and also has a development of word approach me of some Drow at the Silverspire city…three children Milord, could they be whom you seek?”

“That is obscured that they would be here, they are under constant guard and some protection from their clan preventing me from…unless…” Colossus speculates

“Unless my Lord?” Drakon says inquiring

“Unless they have a charm of some sort that is mobile to protect them wherever they are, which would mean that the best way to keep them safe is to hide them where no one of there clan is with them, a human city because the best way to find them is to track their clan and follow their movements” Colossus hypothesized with deep contemplation.

“I won’t test this theory on a whim, you find out for sure if the Drow children are the ones and if they are, kill them and bring me their heads” Colossus ordered shimmering away but stops at a question of Drakon’s.

“My lord don’t you want the honor of killing them?” Drakon asks

“I cannot be swayed from my plan especially for vengeance and with the Grim tracking my movements here as we speak I can’t afford to be seen here long, kill the intruders you have in your cave and follow the Bloodhawk trail” he concludes and shimmers out

“Guards, check on our guest and make sure we don’t have any more; Logan Silas would be so disappointed if I were to not have his greatest pain in the ass in a cell block” Drakon ordered and moved past the ones hidden to check on the druid girl.

The three get up from hiding and Alisianna says “We have to find Dawn and Cloud, Elanee agrees and they start to head out when they stop.

“Rain you coming” Alisianna says

“Rain you ok?” Question Elanee

“It was him” Rain stated not moving from his spot “Him who?” spoke Alisianna who came back, “Colossus” replied Rain “It was him, I haven’t heard that voice in sixteen years but I have never forgotten it”

“Rain there is nothing we can do about him right now we couldn’t take him anyway” Elanee said touching Rain’s shoulder and just in a cold induced trance focused on the figure did he finally look to Elanee nodding for she was right, he was too strong for any of them to take on.

Rain found a closed door and in an attempt to open it his hand is stopped by an invisible barrier, “I can’t get to the handle to open it”. Alisianna tried with the same effect,

“Ok guys let me try something” Elanee said and going up to the wall by the door she touches it to see if it was shielded too, having nothing happen she touches it and closes her eyes, her eye lids glow a bright red and she speaks “There is treasure in the room as well as potions and ..Oh my god...mage boots…he has a pair of mage boots” she replies excited

“Yeah so” Rain replies

“So I’ve wanted a pair forever and they are extremely hard to come by”

“Is the druid in there?” questioned Alisianna

“No, sorry” replied Elanee with her eyes back normal

“How did you do that?” responded Rain

“It is an extension of my sight sense, I can transcend my vision into another room through a wall that I’m on the other side of” Elanee explains, just after her explanation a group of Droknor guards come in through the entrance of the room and draw weapons.

“Keep Elanee between us Alisianna” Rain says drawing his sword

“Why don’t you use your powers Rain” asked Elanee

“Droknor are mostly resistant to magic, having a spell hit them would cause barely any damage if any” Rain says and Alisianna draws her bow and with two arrows she takes down the first of four. Rain runs up and engages two of them while Alisianna blocked the Droknor’s axe swings with her bow and moving around behind him she slowly chokes the last one with the string. Alisianna turns to see Rain being held by a dwarf and about to be cleaved in two by the second, shooting the axe baring one in the back of the head he falls and distracted by the death of him. Rain breaks out of the hold and stabs the other. He gets up grabbing his leg which has been gashed by an axe hit, Alisianna comes over with Elanee in pursuit and leans over to his leg putting her hand on it and with healing light seals the cut, Rain looking at the large cleavage exposing from her leather top says “Impressive, I…I didn’t know you could heal”

“Druids have some healing power but no where near what your sister can do,” she said

“I think you healed me just fine,” Rain said with a grin on his face.

“It doesn’t matter what race, men are all the same” Elanee says shaking her head at Rain’s rude staring gesture as she moves past them to find Cloud and Dawn.

Blood drips fast off the blade of Clouds sword that lets the last of the dwarven guards fall to the ground after he and Dawn ambushed them while eating. Dawn and Cloud come to the side of Katie and Dawn almost cries at the sight she was in, her wrists and ankles were burned bad from the electrical shocks and her jaw had been broken from the slugs and slaps to the face, she was bruised almost everywhere and healing her as best as she could as Cloud stood watch.

“Are you ok?” asked Cloud as he untied the druidess,

“I’m ok but we should go quickly he doesn’t leave me alone for long, he’ll be back” Katie swiftly said

“Good memory, and here I thought you knew nothing?” Drakon said laughingly appearing at the door, standing in front of the druidess Dawn and Cloud draw there weapons and stand to face him, “Drakon” Cloud says staring at him “Ah I see you do know me, so nice to see my essence has touched your home” Drakon says laughing, “Soulguard was my home, is my home” Cloud responds drawing his blade at him, “Oh! Really oh I do definitely feel your pain…that place was a dump” Drakon said summoning a ball of flame to his hand, “You will now share that pain as I burn it to you” Cloud says pointing the blade at him and looking in a odd eye cock did Drakon see Dawn aiding the druid girl to her feet and away from the midst of the room.

“Ah,Ah,Ah” Drakon said waving his finger “I’m not done with her yet, and as for you” Drakon ended firing his fireball spell at Cloud. Bracing it with a block the fireball pounded into Cloud who deflected it to the wall blasting the hardened rock to pebbles while knocking his sword from his hands. Cloud tossed a stunned look to the Drow mage that now held a smirk “Not your everyday garden variety mage am I” and summoning another ball to his hand did he toss to the cowering girls an evil grin “Now I’ll show you why---Ahh!” Drakon blurted as his flame was extinguished by the rupture of impact to his back; he turned as he fell to see Rain with Elanee and Alise at his side and noticed Rain’s hand was smoking from the spell that hit him, getting to his feet Drakon dusts off his cloak and cocked his head cracking his neck.

“Well that was rude” Drakon said waving his hand to the air to make an alarm sound and following it was the sound of dwarven feet, “Droknor” Cloud said gripping his blade again to his hands, “Dawn get the druid girl out of here, Alisianna see them out safely” Cloud instructed and Alisianna nodded. Turning to go Elanee hears the sudden yell of a male in a cell.

“Help me please, I can fight, I can help you” she peered inside to see a young male of unknown age housing reddish amber eyes, short jet black hair and small red tinged horns on his skull. He was dressed in ninja like wears wrapped all over him and chains dangled to his arms and legs. “Elanee we have to go now!” called out from Dawn with Alisianna taking point of defense and summoning flame to her blade Alisianna readied herself by having her skin change to hardened bark upon her body. The sound of guards grew louder to Elanee’s ears and in a snap thought Elanee acts,

“Take my hand quick” Elanee called extending it through the bars

“Careful don’t touch the bars” Dawn warned seeing her reach for the male as she equipped her staff, the rouge shifted his hand jiggling the chain to touch her hands and with a connection did she tell him to concentrate on how to get out of here. He did and using his thoughts and skill temporarily she pulled the dagger she had to the key hole, saying words in the rouges demonic tongue did the door open up, neat said the prisoner and still touching him Elanee then picks the lock to his chains.

Blades clang together and lifting her head Elanee saw Alisianna fighting the first wave of the guards, she was good and quick even in the tight spaces of the mines and wriggling free of the bunched up chain’s the rouge grips the blade Elanee had on her belt, pulling the short sword rushing out the door leaping to the air over Elanee’s figure. Alisianna turned around in a block the spear-tossed sword that flew past Alisianna’s head to impale between the eyes a dark dwarf about to cleave Alisianna’s head in two. He lands by her pulling out the blade fast from the dead dwarf and looking to her the girls notice whipping marks to his back, Elanee still in the cell was still getting over the images she saw about the rouge and his life before this lock up, he was a high end assassin but flipped when something went wrong, he held good to his heart and peace to his soul which have guided him to this marking point by the Nod group…for in his past she saw did he used to be one of them.

Dawn, Elanee and the druid girl watched as the rouge moved with stealth and massive speed having almost every hit he made a vital one causing immediate death, and with his agility unmatched here the male captive battles freely without even getting hit once.

Circling the evil mage the brothers heard the commotion out side the door but didn’t let it bother them, Rain readied a light ball to his hand and Drakon’s hand gestured him to act, Rain fired it off and Drakon simply placed up his hand extinguishing the ball effortlessly. Rain looked with shock at evasion seeing Drakon grin replying “My turn”.

Drakon fired a shot hitting Rain hard with a blue flamed skull rocketing at him, hitting his torso it launched Rain into the air and brought him down through a table in the room.

“Rain!” sparked Alisianna looking back when it happened. Cloud glared at the mage with heat rising to his arms and looking at him Drakon waves him on “Your turn” Drakon taunted bringing Cloud bolting towards him in a charge, Drakon remained still but put up his arm as Cloud swung at him; the blade connected with a sound like hitting rock and not dismembering him Drakon grips the blades end with his bare hand still not injuring himself, Drakon drilled Cloud to the stomach with his free hand and letting go of the weapon did a spin kick follow driving Cloud’s body to the ground, “Ha, this is pathetic, this is what Colossus was afraid of, there’s nothing here to fear” Drakon said walking to Rain’s location, he picked Rain to his feet and slammed him against the side of the wall hard, having arks run to his hands Drakon drives jolt of jolt into Rain as he squirmed helpless to the mage’s evilness.

Drakon watched as the life slowly drained from Rain’s body causing blood to trickle from his nose and mouth, a sudden tick sound hit his head hard and Drakon turn his neck just to see a second drive down by Cloud’s blade upon his head, the hit made Drakon roll his eyes and as the third hit came to hit Drakon stopped the strike with a hand, he drove a spark into Cloud who shuttered at the feeling and tugging him close Drakon deep throated gritting “Wait your turn”. Then with a thrust backward he used force magic waving off a thrust causing Cloud to fly into the air pounding to the wall on the other side. Turning his head back to face Rain who was half past dead and exhausted beyond belief Drakon grinned, “Now where were we, oh yes your untimely death and with it my rise to power” and summoning again the lightning to his hands nothing happened. He did it again and still nothing came around, Drakon held a puzzled look of wonder when a voice behind him said, “Lose something” and spinning his head Drakon saw Elanee grasping his cloak and along with it his lightning that arced through her hand, “You have some nice powers, let’s see how you like them”. She ended with passing a jolt through his body making him cringe. His hold to Rain was gone as Rain fell hard to the ground coughing and choking with his cloak still smoking from the electrified heat, “You little, Ahh!” Drakon cried out again as Elanee ran another voltage through his body and spinning him to the middle of the room Elanee hovers his body to the air only extending him as far as she could hold the cloak stretched. Then waving her hand Elanee force pushed Drakon across the room as he did to Cloud, having Drakon slam into the wall opposite the door, sliding down hard Drakon scrambled to his feet summoning anything to his hand to see if power still flowed through him, as it did Drakon smiled an evil scorn looking up “Bitch you’ll pay for…”

Drakon stopped as the bodies to the room became many, the Rouge, Dawn, Katie and Cloud blocked his way from leaving the room with their weapons drawn, Elanee and Alisianna went to Rain’s aid getting him to his feet again and counting the powers he was up against he knew his defeat could come around. Drakon cut the air with a scissor hand gesture blasting with an invisible force the four in his way against the walls then bolted to a run out of the room.

“This isn’t over, not for me but I see you like to work as a group on things, great for you cause now you get to be buried as one as well” he ended with a evil chuckle as he ran down the bloodied dwarven bodies that littered the hallway, touching each support beam as he past it did Drakon cause it to disintegrate in the middle and as he applied the spell to more and more of them did the roof above start to shake and shudder. They felt soil and stones fall from above and Alisianna bolted to the first beam to repair the damage by redrawing the wood again, “Damn it it’ll take to much time I won’t be able to halt this place from coming down” she shouted back, “Who are you” Cloud asked staring at the new companion, “Artanis, Artanis Zen is my name”, “Artanis do you know you any other way out of here?”

“Yes” he nodded “good take point and we’ll follow you out” Cloud said taking Katie in his arms for her walk was too slow for them to hold pace, Dawn placed a short time heal to Rain and only to his legs and taking up the middle did Dawn, Elanee and Rain follow Cloud, “Alise can you slow it down?” he asked moving past her, and changing tactics she used ground roots as an overhead net to bind and slow the crushing soil “Not for long at a time, it’s too much weight”

“Move it along as you follow us out” Cloud says back and taking up the back Alisianna holds strong to her powers as she moves the netting over the group all the way out, as they approached the fork to the cavern Elanee notice the other section hadn’t been affected yet, Elanee bolted down to it saying she wanted those boots and Artanis bolted after her yelling her name and that it’ll be coming down right away.

“Elanee!, Elanee it’s not worth it get back here” Artanis shouts running for her about half way into the tunnel until he sees cavern rocks above ready to come down on top of her. Picking up speed to catch her Artanis grips Elanee’s arm pulling her back just as the rocks begin to fall, he throws her down to the floor and covers her body with his own. The rocks come barreling down and misses their location by inches except for Elanee’s leg which Artanis still had exposed was beaten upon by rocks.

“NOOO!” yelled Elanee pushing Artanis off and digging into the cave in

“Common we got to go” Artanis says thrusting her to the entrance and seeing Alisianna gone they noticed Rain holding the debris with simple holding spells but it was buckling, “Hurry up!” Rain yelled and jumping out as the rocks came down as Rain’s spells failed did dust fill the outside air covering the group. Drawing his blade Cloud scrambled to search for the mage “I think he’s gone” Cloud said looking to Alisianna who was tending to Katie, “You ok” Cloud asked them both and nodding to him they kept to them selves as Alisianna checked out her wounds. Seeing the rouge beaten up with some scrapes from the escape Elanee glanced to him with relief.

“How is he” Rain says walking over to Dawn healing the masked rouge

“Well his back is pretty lashed up and his arm was cut from the rocks but he’ll be ok” replied Dawn, Rain reaches over to his face and is about to unmask him when Dawn grabs his hand. “Uh Rain a little privacy he’ll show us who he is when he’s ready” said Dawn looking at him and shrugging her hand off his arm and looking back at her he unmasked him anyway, looking down he jumps up and has his hand glow with lightning

“Privacy my ass, back away Dawn he’s a Tiefling” snapped Rain

Cloud got up from the side of the druidess and walking over did he draw his blade,

“What’s a Tiefling?” inquired Dawn looking down at the young face, he had a tribal marking over his eyes and half way up his forehead was two three inch long ash-red horns curving up to the soil black hair on his head that was parted down the middle.

“In a word…a Demon” said Rain still holding the spell in his hand “They are evil beings of secrecy and deceptive backgrounds that always take the paths of thieves or assassins that are in guilds of the worst kinds” he continued and removing his left arm wrapping reveled his worst fear, the tattoo of the Nod clan. Coming to after the speech from Rain Artanis sat up just to see sparks coming from Rain’s hand, shocked Artanis began rambling “WA Wo Uh..I… I thought I was safe with you guys”

“Safe ha! Were not on the same side pal” snapped Rain

“Cloud, Rain what are you doing?” said Elanee

“It’s all a rouse to get us to trust him you know get a spy in our mists so Colossus can kill us” Rain bolted “He’s a member of Nod, and as we have seen Nod works with Colossus”

“And how do you know all of this Rain?” questioned Cloud

“Because I saw him brother, clear as day” Rain said shuddering to him

“Colossus; you saw….Colossus” Cloud spoke in half fear to saying the name

“Yes the son of a bitch that killed our parents I saw him talking to Drakon before we came to you” explained Rain with his sword aimed at Artanis, Cloud kneels down by him “I’m only going to ask this once and if I don’t like what you say I’m going to aid him in killing you; WHO ARE YOU AND HOW DID YOU GET IN THAT CELL?” interrogated Cloud

“Artanis Zen is my name; and yes I used to work for Logan Silias the leader of the Nod clan but no longer” states Artanis going to a story about how he got there.

“I don’t believe him Cloud,” said Rain

“He was locked up Rain,” Elanee said to him

“And if evil doesn’t trust him why should we” Rain said back

“He’s trying to repent for the wrong’s he has done and simply got caught, you never even gave him a chance to defend him self” Elanee lashed back then looked to Artanis, “I can’t help what I have done and the horrors I have inflected upon endless lives, but I didn’t do it free willed, I was being controlled” Artanis replied in calm reason.

“Not selling me here pal” Rain barked back and smacking his shoulder did Elanee hush Rain’s speech, “I only wish to work with good now and if I have to force myself to show you I mean well then I will I give that oath to you, I will help your cause” he ended staring directly at Cloud and Rain

“Give him a chance at least” barked Elanee “ You may not trust his words but it’s hard to fake memories which I saw through touching him and what he said is true so if you don’t believe him than how about me” taking a long pause Cloud puts his sword away and grabs Rain’s shoulder “Stand down Rain; Rain come on put it down or don’t you trust her” says Cloud staring at him, turning around and closing his hand dispelling the lightning to it Rain coldly glares to his brother.

“Besides you and Dawn I trust no one” and walking over to the druidess Rain asks her “So why are you in all of this besides what I’ve heard already (the druidess looks toward Alisianna for what to say) come on honey we don’t have all night” Rain pushes out and being pushed aside from Cloud, he looks to Rain “Rain back off”, Cloud turns to the girl with shame “I’m sorry about him, now do you know why Drakon took you miss” Alisianna looks to Cloud with sincerity and smiles a comforted smile as did the girl who starts talking “He wanted to perform some ritual on me granting him more power over the woodlands I think; so that he could find you three, to impress him” She says

“Him who’s him; Colossus” stutters Cloud and she nods, Cloud gets up and moves to a tree motioning Alisianna and Dawn and Elanee to gather over “If what she says is true than Colossus is still trying to find us and with Drakon out here to give him proof that we’re out here Colossus give Drakon an army to march on Silverspire to bring us to him”

“I need to get her back and inform the elders of what has transpired” said Alisianna

“And we’ll come with you to make sure you get there” added Cloud and smiling a gratifying smile Alisianna nods in agreement, she looks over to see Rain tending to his body injuries on his own, going to his side does she kneel and help him while saying he really needs to give more people a chance, “Our Race gave the realm a chance to see our new side and we’re being hunted for it with no remorse”, she said nothing back and seeing the one shoulder strap fall to her side did Rain put it back up on her, she looked to him and smiled.

“Thanks” she said finishing his poor excuse for bandaging as Rain looked back saying it was one skill he never learned and that she was pretty good at it, getting into her having lots of practice on the manners Cloud yells out that Artanis was gone, he must have gotten free and escaped.

“I told you we should’ve killed him” Rain barked getting up with Alisianna barely finishing.

“Yeah well we can’t worry about him right now but keep your eyes open for him, I bet this won’t be the last time we see him around” cautioned Cloud

“Being good and healing him even, the guy gives me the creeps; I don’t like him” Added Dawn getting ready to move. They pack up and kept a wary eye as they made there way to the Mere without any more trouble and warned the elders about the massive growing threat of Colossus, being cautious they order Alisianna to stay with the group until the threat of this area is over and despite hating the city life and having her presence there she agrees with their wisdom and heads back with them to Silverspire to warn the King.

Later does Cloud arrive out of a meeting with the King and council with the others in the guard house laying in wait, he returns and as they questions about what is the next move, Cloud explains that the King has called across the sea to bring an ambassador from the coastal capital of Stormguard to offer some assistance in the fight against Colossus and Drakon, he will be here a month to discuss the treaty. He also adds that since Elanee has been the tribute body of escorting people of importance in the past he would like her to be our representative here to show the ambassador around, she agrees and Cloud takes her to the promenade to a tailor to be fitted with a new garment to meet him.