Fiction:Primordial Darkness

Awakening
It was fast approaching winter at the Sea of Sand. Though it was still warm during the day, those who walked through it knew the change in the wind - it was significantly sharper than any other season. Dar-Nahalant remained quiet; there was little action taken against the - they did not possess the means to face them, let alone uproot the Shiarchon's control from Talmyr. Their Shiarchon prisoner,, remained in the deeper recesses of the ancient city, where he was often kept a watch upon. spent day after day in the libraries of the city, trying to find a source of information that could assist in their war against the Shiarchon, though after hundreds of books, there still appeared to be nothing. The had prepared her special Smeever soup for dinner, and she,  and  ate together while, still recovering from her psychotic episode, spent her time reading from 's pages.

At one moment, however, Alhazred's expression changed into a frown as more pages suddenly appeared on his form, which he flapped for Clothovera to read.


 * Alhazred - New information. Bad things are happening in the east.

Pelagrios, who was present with a drink in his hand, spoke up.


 * Pelagrios - Unless it's Abyssus, I dunno whether we should really care about it, Al.
 * Alhazred - Not Abyssus, but this has intrigued me. A city has been devastated by what witnesses describe as a gigantic black-scaled dragon.
 * Pelagrios - ...Nope.
 * Riad - Gigantic black-scaled dragon? Sounds a bit...void-ish to me.
 * Alhazred - I know other dragons like Fire Drakes can be born with black scales, but the city was not set ablaze. I believe it may have been the work of a dark dragon.
 * Ndrhthryr - Err...okay. Might as well go investigate it...but can we eat dinner first?
 * Sea Witch - If you dared leave without tasting my soup, I'd be a very sad old lady. Also very angry.
 * Pelagrios - Aaaaaaagh. Alright. Where is it?
 * Sea Witch - Right in front of you, you drunk.
 * Pelagrios - I mean the city. And I didn't know the soup was there. Huh.
 * Alhazred - About 500 miles northeast of the lands of the light elves. There are many things I can think of which fall under 'dark dragon', and none of them are good.
 * Ndrhthryr - Heck. We better go kill this thing before it gets into Sovereignty turf.
 * Clothovera - ... I didn't know there was such a thing as a light elf.
 * Earath - What do you think Lyra was? She is a light elf.
 * Clothovera - The one with the freaky third eye?... Eeew. I thought she had a disease or something.
 * Riad - Right. We better go quick. Who's gonna go, then?
 * Sea Witch - I may as well go and face death once again because I got nothing else to do. And Clothovera will go too so she can grow a bone.
 * Pelagrios - Count me outta this one. I want to sleep tonight.
 * Ndrhthryr - You woke up at four this afternoon.
 * Riad - I think we want someone who's good with dealing with dragons...where's when you need him?
 * Sea Witch - Probably feeding fish to the bear person while spouting gibberish.

Khaadun's footsteps could be heard coming around the corner, finishing putting his helm on to his head.


 * Khaadun - Why feed Mhor? I like fish. I feed myself fish. Also, running out of fish.
 * Clothovera - We're gonna hunt a giant dark dragon. You wanna come too?
 * Khaadun - Dragonslayer? Dark Dragon? Sounds like fun evening.
 * Norrigan - What about our Orichalcum Elf friends?
 * Khaadun - Gold elf one reads books. Gold elf two keeps watching Shiarchon. Do not want to break their concentration...
 * Norrigan - That is fair enough. Where are our other friends from the Talmyr region?
 * Khaadun - Taihadrae might be interested. She likes dark magic like the strange girl. Both strange.
 * Clothovera - Y-you're strange!
 * Khaadun - I will not deny claim.

Amidst the conversation of the group, Clothovera felt something clasp ahold of her shoulders from behind which swiftly slid down towards the curves of her waist and hips; as if no one had noticed him, Hachi stepped into sight, a suggestive smirk placed upon his face as he held Clothovera close to himself. The half-elf girl blushed as she made herself comfortable.


 * Hachi - What is this I hear about Clothovera using dark magic to 'grow a bone', hm?
 * Khaadun - You just earn ticket to slay dragon.
 * Hachi - I 'slew a dragon' less than an hour ago, I think you'll find.
 * Khaadun - Not your endowment. Evil dragon. Destroyed city in east.
 * Hachi - ... Oh. An evil dragon. ... Why not get Vixaatus to take care of it?
 * Khaadun - ...Good question. Spirit-book, why not do what blue-man says?
 * Alhazred - Why would I ask the Old One, who already spends his time patrolling the region to ensure we are not attacked again, to do such a thing when we can do it ourselves?
 * Khaadun - There is answer. We must go. Find dragon and kill it. Though find Taihadrae first.
 * Sea Witch - Oi! Zombie face! Get in here!

Shambling into the room with an irritated expression was Kanna, who glanced tiredly around the room while his ears drooped in an almost depressing fashion. He glared at the Sea Witch briefly.


 * Kanna - What do you want, Al?
 * Sea Witch - Not the zombie face I was asking for but you'll do too.
 * Kanna - If you're talking about the human Inquisitor, he won't come with you.
 * Sea Witch - What of his whole courage act? I'd have asked for "rock face" if I wanted him anyway.
 * Kanna - Elves. That's your answer.
 * Sea Witch - Oh. So he's doing the rock act on the elf. Okay, I got it.
 * Kanna - He will be unwilling to help out the elves of the Sovereignty and would rather not attract potential attention to the Empire. ... I am assuming, anyway. As for the naked elf lady, she is preparing her equipment.

Taihadrae shortly followed, her brow furrowed underneath her mask as she looked around the room.


 * Taihadrae - Less undead remarks, please. I had six centuries of it.
 * Sea Witch - There you are. Giant dragon of evil. You go with us to check it out.
 * Taihadrae - Oooh. Giant dragon of evil. Would've been the buzz of the college of Feiridrro if they knew of it.
 * Alhazred - By the descriptions, I have some idea of what we're dealing it. And I will state, slaying the entity will not be an easy task. I would recommend attempting to negotiate with it before any violent actions.
 * Hachi - And why negotiate with evil?
 * Norrigan - Yes! What the Lagosi friend said!
 * Alhazred - So we don't get crushed under the talons of a mountain-sized reptile.
 * Hachi - Pft, it serves the Void. It can't be reasoned with.
 * Pelagrios - Well, there is the Shiarchon downstairs.
 * Alhazred - I have reasons to believe this dragon is not associated with the Void. When I said dark dragon, I meant dark magic dragon, not void dragon... That would be many times worse.
 * Ndrhthryr - Er. Expect Simulacra, people.
 * Clothovera - Please no. I've had enough Simulacra for a lifetime.
 * Hachi - ... Unless it's that hot Kalisearan one.
 * Alhazred - You mean the one often depicted as a feral panther.
 * Hachi - And in some cultures, she's depicted as a busty maiden with cat ears and a tail.
 * Clothovera - I'm going to pinch you until you cry.
 * Taihadrae - Hm. Let's go. Don't think I could stand his wailing.

--

It was nearing midnight as the team landed near the ruins of the city. The Great Eastern Wall blackened out much of the sky heading further east, almost like an imposing claw reaching over the landscape and ready to tear it apart. The landscape around them, however, was vastly different to the high grasses of the Eastern Plains. The faint remnants of the city there - walled in, with a population nearing three thousand, was razed to vague foundations, and was swamped in black sand. The sky was hazy and grey with the smoke still rising and falling from the sky, and the stars above them were not visible whatsoever.


 * Khadya - The dark magic here resonates strongly. ... It's almost fresh.
 * Taihadrae - Kinda comfortable with it, really. Probably a bit too comfortable.
 * Norrigan - Well, I'm not. I hate this place.
 * Khadya - The woman is right. It feels far too endearing. Deceptively so.
 * Pelagrios - So what you're saying is...we're neck deep in dark magic?
 * Riad - I thought you were staying behind.
 * Pelagrios - Changed my mind. Couldn't keep ol' Riad outta my sight...though I'm changing my mind again.
 * Sea Witch - Too bad, you're stuck here in the scary dark ruins now.
 * Hachi - I can't believe you made me come along even after Clotho pinched my nose until it went red.
 * Khaadun - Was funny.
 * Earath - Okay, everyone, let's get on track. We need to find this dragon.

Khadya nodded to Earath and moved ahead of the group, beginning to scale the surrounding environment in order to obtain a vantage point and scout for their target, using her tracking skills and her own affiliation with dark magic to attempt to locate the fiend. The ground underneath was crisp to the touch, and what was granite rock fell clumsily on to the ground like a darkened wet clay. There were no survivors in sight - no remains, even.


 * Norrigan - I really hate this place. It hits too close to home.
 * Riad - Was your home destroyed by an umbramancer?
 * Norrigan - Yes. An undead by the name of Tibias. Allegedly, he rules the Lympharian cult.
 * Khadya - Daithelen and Hathgar should have killed him when they had the chance all of those long years ago.
 * Taihadrae - Clotho and the Aithrena girl will probably agree with me on this. I haven't seen dark magic like this before. This is real dark magic. Like...ancient stuff.
 * Clothovera - ... I see what you mean. Closest thing I've seen to this was Zran Kar and the Underworld. And they're Simulacrum stuff.
 * Khadya - Primal dark magic. Nothing is stronger and more destructive than the source of it all.
 * Taihadrae - Yeah. I used to read about this stuff. Old world magic, the kind of magic that raises armies of the undead sort. There aren't any bodies around, though.
 * Alhazred - If you want to make the Grim Reaper particularly peeved, steal his work from him... But I did note the lack of any remains. Either they were obliterated by whatever destroyed the city, or what you said is the case. I would prefer the former.

Hachi smirked as he rolled his eyes back and began to moan in a dull, mock undead manner while stretching out his arms, tightly gripping onto Clothovera's shoulders and shaking her as he began to sluggishly moan out slurred words;


 * Hachi - Whooo... I'm a zombiiieee... Give me your braaaaiiinnnsss...
 * Taihadrae - I find that offensive.
 * Clothovera - You're such a dummy, you-
 * Norrigan - The Lagosi friend was corrupted!

Norrigan suddenly leaped into the air, posing as he did as he tackled Hachi into the ground. He rose his sword over his head as he spoke.


 * Norrigan - I'm sorry, friend, but this is the only way!
 * Hachi - Whoa, whoa whoa! I-I was joking with you! ... S-See, I'm not a zombie, I can talk normally!
 * Sea Witch - Bahahaha!

The noise caused by the team echoed throughout the ruins. Moments later, a noise returned. It sounded like a roar, though it was far more sinister and massive than that of a normal dragon.


 * Earath - ... Oh Cobra King. I think we found the dragon. Or rather, I think it found us.
 * Khadya - Grr, no use hiding now.
 * Taihadrae - Where the hell is it? I don't see it anywhere. Sounds close.
 * Kanna - It's dark magic, you are not going to be able to see it.
 * Sea Witch - That's slightly racist. I get the feeling it's coming from the Great Wall.
 * Alhazred - I would not dare venture there without good reason. The Great Eastern Wall is a rather bizarre place.

Something faintly caught their sight in the distance. It was the flapping of wings. It was almost definitely a drake in the distance, though from there, they could not gauge its size, nor what the colour of its scales were. Earath pointed at its direction as he spoke.


 * Earath - There it is!
 * Khaadun - Must be at least eighty leagues away. We have time.
 * Earath - I can't tell the size or kind of dragon from this distance, but it's our best lead. We should follow it.
 * Khaadun - Forgot to mention. The dragon is approaching.
 * Earath - ... Oh. Find cover then!
 * Khadya - I doubt such shall work, dear Earath. It is likely already aware of our presence.
 * Khaadun - Nonsense. Must kill the dragon!
 * Earath - I'd rather get a good look at it before mindlessly swinging my sword.
 * Khaadun - Fine, do it eastern way. Avoid and look.

The team immediately dispersed, searching for a place to duck under in the eradicated fragments of the city. Many of them hid behind a remaining wall only large enough for them to crouch behind, as they could feel the dragon approaching rapidly. Nearing only fifty miles away in such a short space of time, even from that distance, the power of the dragon's wings could be felt swaying the city. Khadya bit her lip as she felt the immense aura of darkness radiating from the drake chilling her to the core, causing her to become somewhat disorientated and place a hand against Earath's chest, believing him to be a rock as she attempted to blend into her cover, while Hachi hid his face in Clothovera's robes like a coward.

Khaadun peered over edge, trying to grasp a view of the dragon. He made out the shape of the dragon - lengthy, with a terrible wingspan - as black as night itself, with a pair of shimmering red eyes lighting up the earth as it gazed over the ground. As it came within only a few miles of the city, his eyes became wide and his pupils narrow as he quickly darted back behind the wall. The dragon itself flew over the city ruins, and seemed to do so for moments upon end. It was of such size that it spanned the city's width, if not a little more, and the wingspan easily would have eclipsed the settlement in darkness. Earath, who was also peering on a crack on the wall, felt a cold shiver down his spine as he looked back to the others.


 * Earath - Yeah... I say we go back to Dar-Nahalant.
 * Khadya - We were assigned here to negotiate with it and make sure it would not attack the Sovereignty further.
 * Khaadun - I am with the Merovar. Go back to Dar-Nahalant. Dragon almost as big as Great Frost Ancient. If not bigger.
 * Hachi - If we leave now, t-there would have been no point to coming here! ... Sea Witch, you go talk to it.
 * Sea Witch - Shut up.
 * Alhazred - I had my suspicions and now I'm sure what we're dealing with here.
 * Khadya - A dark dragon?
 * Alhazred - This is to darkness what Fire Drakes are to fire. A Unksrākelodhros. Or for the less literate.
 * Khadya - A Shadow Drake... How wretched.

It was here, that the Shadow Drake began to speak. If there was any life remaining in the earth, the very speech of it would have drained it of vitality. The voice was heavy and beyond thunderous - it may have been heard as far as Polendohth or even Arkenholdt, speaking in the common tongue.


 * Shadow Drake - I know where you are. Come out from where you hide.
 * Alhazred - Admitedly, attempting to hide a group with four dark magic-inclined individuals in it from a primeval dragon of darkness was not a very good idea.
 * Khadya - I had said that attempting to hide was a useless gesture.

The Aithrena elf ranger was the first to remove herself from cover, swiftly joined by Kanna as he tugged the Sea Witch and dragged her at his side to make sure she would not cower away while making sure the bird woman did not peck him in retaliation. Hachi, while he walked from where he had been hiding, refused to remove the piece of Clothovera's robes which hid his face from sight.


 * Clothovera - Oh... oh dear... I remember back when I was a vampire, one succubus told me she had seen a black dragon in the Great Wall, but I never paid attention...
 * Hachi - Probably didn't pay attention because you were too busy looking at her massive ti--
 * Clothovera - I'm going to pinch you again and embarrass you in front of the Shadow Drake.

The Shadow Drake flew back around, landing on the ground at some distance before trailing its way up to the team, peering over the city walls. It measured well over two hundred metres from the ground to the crest of its head, and in its length, at least doubled that. The eyes of the drake shone much like an evil spotlight upon the team as it looked down at them, somewhat entrigued at they way they looked. As it appeared in full, Pelagrios immediately fainted, causing the Shadow Drake to chuckle breathlessly.


 * Sea Witch - Hey, I don't blame him this time.
 * Khadya - ... Oh, Shadow Drake, please forgive our companion's incompetence.
 * Shadow Drake - I have yet to see the marvel of mortals to my eye...I am underwhelmed.
 * Sea Witch - Is the giant mountain with wings making fun of us? That's fantastic.
 * Kanna - If I was a giant mountain with wings, I would make fun of us too.
 * Khadya - Why attack the Sovereignty, Shadow Drake? What have the Hikamera done to deserve such... merciless ire to their city and people?
 * Shadow Drake - You speak to Nirvasunur. The name is not 'Shadow Drake'.
 * Sea Witch - Yeah, because we had any way to tell. Why'd you attack the place? You in a bad mood or something?
 * Nirvasunur - The will of the Unksrākelodhros is our own. We are awaking from our slumber.
 * Khadya - And unwarranted destruction serves as a means to let mortalkind know about it?
 * Sea Witch - Can't you guys awaken like, some miles south? I'm sure you'll be home there and you can kill everyone there all you want.
 * Nirvasunur - You speak of the presence of the Adversary in the south. A vile entity.
 * Sea Witch - See? We're in the same boat here. And between us and you, who's like a million times my size, you stand a much better chance.
 * Nirvasunur - I will speak no further with you. Leave my domain before I send you to the Shadowrealm myself.
 * Sea Witch - As expected. The evil dragon is a cock.
 * Norrigan - To be fair, friend, you're the rudest person in this group.
 * Khadya - We had best heed his warning.
 * Nirvasunur - You will seek out the name Rakshaseshvara. Your words will not fall upon his ears so uninterestingly.
 * Earath - Whoever that is, we better go before he gets angry.
 * Riad - I have no problem with that. Rings.
 * Sea Witch - I'll let all my cool god friends know about this, then you're gonna get it.
 * Alhazred - By Isiris, Witch, stop talking.
 * Kanna - You hardly have any friends Al, let alone god friends.

Using the power of the rings, the team were teleported back to Dar-Nahalant.

The Ancient World
The team returned to the hall of Dar-Nahalant, where Longinus was sitting, eating some of the Sea Witch's smeever soup whilst reading an ancient book. Noticing the bright flash of the team returning, he closed the book, his brow raising as he surveyed the returning team.


 * Longinus - Good...morning. Was there something I missed?
 * Sea Witch - It's been that long? I honestly couldn't tell since everything was bloody pitch black.
 * Ndrhthryr' - What in the name of twelve hells was that back there, huh?!
 * Pelagrios - I dunno, but I wanna drink.
 * 'Alhazred - Greetings, Longinus. I must ask whether you and your old order have ever had to deal with Shadow Drakes before.

Longinus' eyes became hard-set. The soup in his mouth suddenly stopped churning as he forgot to swallow, before suddenly remembering to do so before he choked.


 * Longinus - ...I am afraid not.
 * Alhazred - Blast. I was hoping you had anything. We have a Shadow Drake problem in the Great Eastern Wall.
 * Longinus - I would recommend finding Septimus. He is more educated in mythology than I am. Or...dead legends in this case.
 * Khadya - I shall check for him in his bed quarters.
 * Longinus - He is unlikely to be there. He has been locked away in the library ever since we returned from Talmyr. One sometimes finds concern for that young prince.
 * Sea Witch - Yeah, I'm sure you'd like to get on his bed.
 * Khadya - ... Then I shall alert him that he is required.
 * Alhazred - Shadow Drakes are a rather dire concern to me due to how little I know of them. Zran Kar is not a big fan of the creatures and enjoys erasing knowledge of their existence.
 * Longinus - Certainly search for Septimus. He might have found something in this fortress. It is...fairly ancient.
 * Sea Witch - Off you go then. Go hunt an elf, elf.
 * Khadya - I shan't disappoint you.

With that, Khadya was swift and eager to spryly search for the Orichalcum Elf royal, almost giggling to herself as she was allowed the opportunity to look for him without interruption from her companions. Kanna, meanwhile, placed a hand to his face and shook his head.


 * Kanna - Should not have let her go on her own.
 * Norrigan - What's the worse that could possibly happen?
 * Kanna - They're elves. ... And elves do elf things.
 * Pelagrios - You sure? I mean, Longinus musn't have done it in like...five thousand years.
 * Norrigan - Indeed, friends. The Orichalcum Elves are the most prudish duo I've ever seen who are not malevolent monsters.
 * Longinus - I heard that. And nine thousand years, if you were wondering.
 * Alhazred - Welcome to the club.
 * Longinus - Hmph.

Before long, Khadya soon returned to the group, a smile on her face as she rejoined her companions and had some amount of blush across her cheeks as she waited for the Orichalcum Elf prince to catch up to her pace behind her. Septimus slowly followed, somewhat world-weary as he had not moved out of that library for seemingly months. His eyes flickered about, acclimatising to the light in the hall.


 * Sea Witch - Get that smile outta your face, girl. You're only making my opinion of you decrease each second.
 * Earath - Warm-skins are weird.
 * Septimus - Mortals are strange, to be certain. Anyway, you have pulled me out of my cesspool. What is it that you need?
 * Khadya - We need you to tell us about a certain something; something great and large, old yet powerful beyond imagination.
 * Sea Witch - Can't you wait until we deal with the Shadow Drake before you start the sexual euphamisms?
 * Septimus - I am not certain whether you are speaking of the -- a Shadow Drake?
 * Sea Witch - Yeah. At least two, from what the one we found said. They're awakening and stuff.
 * Septimus - Hm. I assumed they were just mythological. If I am correct, the Shadow Drakes were last seen a few millennia before Dar-Nahalant was even constructed.
 * Alhazred - Oh, they are very real. Each element has a dragon species, and darkness is no exception.
 * Septimus - Oh, no. We knew that the Sun Drakes existed at some point...some vague references to a Storm Drake, and little on Shadow Drakes. They would complete a trinity of venerated entities in our ancient religion.
 * Earath - No spots for Sand Drakes? For shame.
 * Septimus - I am not very knowledgeable on the topic of the religion that encompassed these beings, I regret to say. You would be better off asking Kinmorunddraver...or...
 * Hachi - Urgh, how many friends of friends do we have to speak to to get some information about these damn things?!
 * Sea Witch - As long as we don't have to ask Zran Kar for information. That'd be awkward.
 * Septimus - I was suggesting our Shiarchon prisoner.
 * Sea Witch - Oh. That's easier.
 * Khadya - If he does not wish to tell us anything and would rather see us meet our demise to these wretched creatures, I have ways of making him talk...
 * Sea Witch - I'm not sure if they have d-
 * Alhazred - Witch.
 * Khadya - I was suggesting poking him in his eye sockets with a hot brand.
 * Clothovera - Well, we won't know until we ask him, right?
 * Riad - Ugh. Can't believe we're resorting to asking an enemy for assistance.
 * Sea Witch - Again. Could be worse. Could be Zran Kar. Let's get this over with.

Descending into the vaults of Dar-Nahalant, underneath the halls, Arcturus was kept in the darkness for countless days. He was given a chair to sit on, though there was not much space for him to move about. He was marked in his place by a barrier; a ring on the floor cast by Longinus that if he were to pass, it would set him ablaze with sunlight. As they entered the room he was kept in, Arcturus was sitting there, his eyes sharply staring at them as they walked in.


 * Norrigan - I ought to learn how to cast sun spells at some point. As a warrior of Isiris, being stuck with mere lightning is suffering.
 * Arcturus - So enter the saviours of Talmyr. How I deserve the pleasure of this communion.
 * Sea Witch - Oh, he's one of the smug types. This is gonna be a long day.
 * Arcturus - Hmph. Speak, Bizargar. You all have a query that you wish to reveal to me.
 * Sea Witch - I ain't talking to you, skeleton head. You're a type who uses people's words against them.
 * Alhazred - Praetor. We require knowledge regarding Shadow Drakes. We have reasons to believe you know of them.
 * Arcturus - Shadow Drakes? I am unfamiliar with that term...though if you refer to the Children of Tlahlarān, then perhaps I do know something of this.
 * Clothovera - Children of who know?
 * Septimus - I know of that name. Tlahlarān is the Orichalcum Elves' god of darkness.
 * Earath - Children of a god. That can't be good. Are we dealing with something like a Colossus?
 * Arcturus - If we are to believe Tlahlarān exists, you meddle with the affairs of a deity not unlike Aúr, or the One Lord.
 * Sea Witch - A Colossus, then. Aúr is how you things call the Great Fire Beast.
 * Alhazred - Soldalatel is not a Colossus, Witch.
 * Sea Witch - What?! Are you saying my religion is wrong?! I should slap you!
 * Arcturus - Aúr is the creator of the Phoenixes of the Sun. Every Shiarchon and Orichalcum Elf knows the ancient myths of creation.
 * Hachi - And where do the Shadow Drakes fit into it?
 * Arcturus - They do not.
 * Sea Witch - Well, that's not helpful in the slightest.
 * Arcturus - It is believed by the Orichalcum Elves - your prince here should know of this - that there was once another religion that proclaimed a deity named Evicānarās had split the formlessness of the universe apart, and from it, formed day, darkness and night.
 * Sea Witch - Nonsense! The Great Beasts shaped the world using the four elements!
 * Longinus - Hmph. Pagan religion. Continue.
 * Arcturus - The darkness - the first born from this void, was denied of a realm of his own, and thus tore it from the universe itself. He spawned his children, and thus did the day and night, and then the rest of history takes its course.
 * Norrigan - I do not approve this. Isiris is not in it.
 * Alhazred - There are countless theories of how Koldenwelt came to be. All are equally likely. This is one of many.
 * Arcturus - I find it rather amusing. Evicānarās was your equivalent to Isiris. Evicānarās is a name given to the One Lord.
 * Norrigan - How dare you claim Isiris is the Adversary!? I should inflict pain on you!
 * Arcturus - I do not mock. Isiris was not known of in the Orichalcum Elf world until the Eye was created.
 * Septimus - Regardless. Do you know where the Shadow Drakes lie?
 * Arcturus - No. Though I know someone here does.
 * Hachi - Gods damnit!
 * Sea Witch - Kinmo ain't here. Buzzed off to his home to reconstruct or something like that. Unless you mean Vixaatus.
 * Arcturus - I speak of the girl. The one plagued by Analuhati.

Clothovera raised an eyebrow as she pointed at herself.


 * Clothovera - Me?
 * Arcturus - Yes. I can tell you are aware of the Shadow Drakes. Moreso than the rest.
 * Earath - Didn't you mention something about a vampire earlier?
 * Clothovera - Oh, yeah. They told me they found a giant dragon in the Great Wall.
 * Pelagrios - Must be the other dragon that the Drake was on about. Rakshashehsh-something.
 * Clothovera - She said the place was called... erm... lemme remember... Wellspring of Twilight! That was it.
 * Arcturus - ...The Wellspring of Twilight?
 * Clothovera - Yeah, that's how the dragon named his nest.
 * Kanna - Shadow Drakes certainly know irony if they're calling their nests such campy and fantastical names.
 * Arcturus - It was a name that we used to describe a particular region in the north east. Our senses became...disorientated whenever we attempted to venture near it.
 * Sea Witch - Oh boy, that's a good sign already.
 * Arcturus - For you, I would assume that is a benign omen. Regarding my...current state.
 * Khadya - Do not take your imprisonment so personally. I personally enjoy seeing powerful men bound and chained without mobility, not just you exclusively.
 * Arcturus - That comes to another topic. I have considered you freeing me from this prison.
 * Sea Witch - Yeah, well, you're staying there until we can be sure you won't jump at us and rip us apart. That means forever.
 * Arcturus - Hm. You have not met many Shiarchon before, have you?
 * Hachi - If he wants to bite the hand that feed him, I'll just remind him exactly who it was that defeated Valentinianus before him.
 * Sea Witch - You're all a bunch of barbarians. If you wanna leave then ask the complaints departments. That's Longinus, by the way.
 * Arcturus - Perhaps you should consider this. The Imperator conquers Talmyr, though, knowing that he cannot be in two places at once, who would he place in rule of Talmyr?
 * Earath - Obviously a governor or whatever your equivalent is.
 * Arcturus - That would be a Praetor.
 * Khadya - Damn, Earath, you need to open your ears. The word has been said a dozen times or so already.
 * Earath - Learning about Shiarchon politics is not among my priorities, thanks.
 * Arcturus - Considering that I am imprisoned now; the Empire is more than likely aware now that I am missing rather than dead. And, if my predictions are correct, the Imperator has instated in rule of Talmyr.
 * Sea Witch - And why should we care?
 * Arcturus - Julianus is my brother. An exceptional warrior; and an exceptionally savage individual. Whatever you had captured a glimpse of in Valentinianus, Julianus will meet that brutality thricefold.
 * Hachi - Just let him try!
 * Kanna - ... Praetor, I have a question regarding your imprisonment and the Imperator.
 * Arcturus - Ask.
 * Kanna - What are the odds that the Imperator can trace your presence back to Dar-Nahalant if he was to care to?
 * Arcturus - It has been three months or so. If the Imperator did concern himself with my whereabouts, Dar-Nahalant would have been reduced to rubble already. I have my reasons to believe that the Imperator knows exactly where I am.
 * Kanna - I suppose that does not give you much motivation to go back, eh?
 * Arcturus - I have the Imperator's favour...or had. Julianus is more than likely searching for me right now. In truth, I have little in favour for the savagery of the Empire, and I know that Julianus' method of rule is far against what I would have intended for Talmyr. Quite frankly, Julianus is a stupid individual to rule.
 * Hachi - ... So, you Shiarchon are not entirely heartless and evil and the like?
 * Sea Witch - Watch out, folks. He's too sneaky, I don't trust him.
 * Arcturus - On the contrary. The Imperator fears my intelligence. That is why he would not have placed me in rule of Talmyr.
 * Hachi - If you're so intelligent, can you tell us where the Wellspring of Twilight resides?
 * Arcturus - We will make this a bargain. You release me, and I will tell you.
 * Hachi - Only if you accompany us so we can keep a good eye on you.
 * Norrigan - And if you try anything, I will stick my lightning-infused sword up places you won't enjoy.
 * Arcturus - Very well.
 * Sea Witch - I swear, you people. This is a bad idea.

Longinus hesitated for a moment. He looked at Arcturus in the eye, but there was no distinguishable expression on the Shiarchon's massacred face that he could discern. Gulping for a moment, he placed the spear against the ring, and the light from the floor dimmed. Arcturus stepped forward, past where the ring was. Longinus and Septimus stepped back, though Arcturus appeared unafraid of the team around him. Hachi stepped ahead, extending an arm and an open hand towards the Shiarchon which towered over him.


 * Hachi - ... Pinky promise.
 * Sea Witch - Stupid kid.
 * Arcturus - You have my word as a Praetor. Though an accord bound by the shaking of the smallest finger is rather inadequate.
 * Hachi - It's the principal, you dummy.
 * Arcturus - Is the Lagosi like this all of the time? It might wear thin fast.
 * Earath - Yes. More or less.
 * Arcturus - Dreadful.
 * Sea Witch - Okay, let's get this over with. The less time I have to share a room with a Shiarchon, the better.
 * Arcturus - Hmph. The Wellspring of Twilight rests in the north of the Great Eastern Wall, a path leads to it not far from where the land turns to ice.
 * Earath - So at the borders of the Polar Lands. Great. More cold.
 * Kanna - Hehehe. Hehehehe. Hehe.
 * Arcturus - I fail to see the humour in that. Merovar suffer from hypothermia in the cold.
 * Kanna - I'd have thought you Shiarchon would take humour in mild suffering. ... Maybe the kid is right. You're not all bad after all.
 * Earath - Excuse me. "Mild"?... And I'm surprised someone like you would know of Merovar traits.
 * Arcturus - I have had my fair share in inducing suffering. Though there is a line between order and the mindlessness of what Julianus is capable of. And I am five thousand years old. I have had time to read.
 * Earath - ... Fair enough.
 * Sea Witch - I'm more fascinated there are books about Merovar in Abyssus. Wonder if there are any books about Bizargar. I bet they'd be cookbooks by the look of this guy.
 * Earath - And yeah, get used to the Witch's constant snarking.
 * Kanna - We keep her around because of her Smeever soup. You should try some sometime. ... Unless you're one of those icky "vegetarian" types or whatever.
 * Arcturus - My dietary requirements are less than savoury. But for now, travel to the Wellspring.