Deep in the Skycleave mountains a large group of enlightened stand at the ready outside the dark mouth of a cave. As the wind howls through the mountain range causing the tall dark trees to shake, a figure steps toward the cave before turning back towards the others. Wearing a large brown robe with glowing gold trim the figure rests their hands on a staff made of blue wood, near the top of the staff the wood splits into a globe containing a floating eye with a large glowing pupil. The figure pulls down their hood revealing a human in the later stages of his life, despite his obvious age his posture is anything but weak. His sharp eyes focus on the rest of the group as the wind blows through his dirty brown hair.

“Friends, partners, brothers. I know it has not been easy, we’ve lost many getting to this point but it ends today! For years we’ve hunted the changelings, pushed them out of our lands and into the wilds. Some think that was enough but those of us standing here today know the truth, if the enlightened are to ever live in peace the changelings must be gone for good. Today is the day we finally rid this world of their filth! The last of their species are holed up in this cave, though there is only a hundred of us here I know we will triumph. The truly dangerous ones are already dead, the young and the weak are all that survives. Now, who’s ready to have songs sung about this day!?

Shouting explodes from the gathered adventurers as shields and banged and boots are stomped.

”Good, now let us rid the world of this rot once and for all!” With his speech finished he chants under his breath before throwing five glowing balls of light into the cave, with the way lit the adventures advance into the cave.

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“They’re coming, go warn the others” Drac grumbles towards the wolf lying next to him. The wolf looks up at him in alarm before shifting into a longstride deer and racing off into the cave. Turning back towards the incoming enemies Drac shifts into his largest form and stalks towards them. The three-meter tall Ironclaw bear lumbers towards the clanging of metal, already resigned to his death. Kres said she needed time and time was what he was going to give her. Rounding the corner he gives one last roar, ignoring the stings of arrows and magic he charges towards the enlightened at the end of the tunnel for the final time.

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“My lady! They’re here!”

Kres turns away from the glowing red egg to see a large deer burst into the chamber. Turning back to the egg she guides the wing of a large bat onto the top. “I need more time! There are still twenty of us that need to feed the egg!”

Without prompting those not included in that twenty stand and walk towards the incoming Death with determined faces. Limited to a single transformation after pouring the rest into the egg, they willingly sacrifice themselves to buy the rest even a second of extra time.

Minutes go by and the sounds of fighting steadily draws closer to the inner chamber. As the last changeling pours his power into the egg he bows his head towards Kres before joining the battle. placing the large egg against the wall she bows her head as tears roll down the snout of her large fox frame.

“This is it little one, there’s only you left. We’ve done all we can, for the first time in history more than two changelings poured our forms into an egg. You’re special, nearly fifty of our kind have you all they could, you’re stronger than any of us could hope to be. You’re all alone now.” The fighting reaches the corner into the room as Kres creates a stone wall to hide the large egg.

”the enlightened hate us for what we can do, Von, don’t let them forget us.”

As a black bolt tears through her back Kres smiles. They were too late.