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Chapter II: The Forrest and the Dryad.

     Dealo and Andrea continued to walk, making idle chat. The sound of the siren was faint behind them as they descended the ramp.
     "I wonder what happened." Andrea said, looking back at the still closed gates. "I guess we'll find out sooner or later."
     Dealo shrugged and looked back. "It's something bad, I can tell you that."
     The sun peaked over the distant cliffs and illuminated the city proper. When the light struck the star capped monument to the founders, a rush of steam blasted from several pipes and the doors began to slide open of their own accord. With barely any room to spare, a cart rolled out quickly from the gates. A man standing atop it began shouting into a horn, "By order of the Lord Gehs of Hath Island, Martial law is declared. All currently withing the city limits are to find their way inside immediately."
     Dealo and Andrea exchanged looks and made for a stair case nearby.

     "Well, isn't this just lovely!" Andrea said as she dropped down on a bench set against the wall of Greybrooks tavern where they had taken refuge. The tenants where chattering amongst themselves. Dealo caught some of a conversation.
     "What do you think it was?" Said a burly looking human, to his Felic friend.
     "What what was?" The Fane asked, slyly.
     "Yew know what ah'm talkin about." said the human. "Dem sireens. Whatcha tink caused em?"
     The Fane shrugged and sipped from his tankard. "Could be anything, mate. Bet ya it's that reaper fella causing trouble off east." With a smile the Fane set his tankard down. ""Ee comes an kills off people, taken their souls off ta feed on I betcha anything!"
     "Bah! Where'd you 'ear dat? 'Roun some right stupid beins I say. Nonsense for sure." The human said drunkenly.
     "Ah, you don't know what ye be sayin'." The rest of what the Fane said was drowned out by the band in the corner beginning a loud song comprised of high blasts of trumpet and low beats of the drums set to an unsteady rhythm.

     Dealo turned his focus to the street where he saw several Rangers and the occasional Scarlet Knight patrolling.
     "We're Definitely in a spot, to be sure." He said, almost under his breath. Turning back to the bar, Dealo quickly noticed several eyes had found their way to him and Andrea. "This doesn't look good" He said to her, quietly.
     A Dracon, sitting at a booth nearby began whispering, very loudly to his Darvic comrade.
     "See this?" He demanded of his buddy. "A filthy Drow, showing his face here! IN MY CITY!" The Dracon punctuated this with a heavy fisted rap on the table. "Well I'll tell you! Old Hexari here won't stand for it lads!"
     Dealo tensed, anticipating an attack. Hexari stood and Lumbered over to Dealo and grabbed him by the shoulder. "Eh boy!" Hexari taunted. "You got a lot o' nerve bein here dirty skin!" Dealo shrugged his hand off and turned towards Andrea. Before he could speak, however Hexari was looking at her too. "And what have we here?"  He began to reach for her, but didn't get far. Dealo was on his feet and landed a punch across the hulking Dracon's jaw. The Dracon went to the floor and several of his cronies rushed Dealo, holding him down.
     "Shoulda expected a sneak attack from a dirty skin!" Hexari said, chuckling. A few of his friends laughed too. "Guess I'm gonna have to break your face, as a lesson…" He pulled back his fist and Dealo tensed. Before the hit made contact, Dealo heard a loud crack. Glancing up, he saw Andrea standing with a quarterstaff planted firmly in the side of the Dracon's head. Hexari crumpled and before he hit the floor, there was a deafening boom from the bar.
     "OUT! All'a'ye!" The bar keep shouted. He held a smoking steam gun in one hand. It was bigger around than his waist. The tenants scrambled for the door. The two Dracon who held him drug their unconscious leader from the bar.

     "What now?" Andrea demanded, of no-one in particular. "City's under martial law and no-one's stupid enough to let us in!" She crossed her arms and huffed.
     "I suggest we run!" Dealo said, as he drug her away down an alley by the elbow. Two of the men who had been with the Dracon where giving chase. The first, a Kane was keeping pace easily, while his comrade, an old Darvic was panting and huffing laboriously. Andrea pulled ahead and took up a wall at a running leap. Dealo scrabbled up after her and she pulled him the rest of the way up. The Kane Scrambled up after them, the old Darvic staying behind. They jumped several buildings and made for the edge of the city. The Kane was gaining fast and they were running out of building. They came to a large gap and made the jump, just barely making the landing. The Kane, hot on their heels hesitated as a flash of blue whizzed by his head. He landed, half on half off and Dealo loosed the weight attached to his chain, catching the Kane in the chest and knocking him flat on the street below. They continued on their way, avoiding the Mages who were making their presence abundantly clear to them both. Near the edge of the city, they dropped to an alley and rested.
     "I think we'll be out of the city in a few moments," Andrea said, between heavy pants, "so we can't afford to slow up any." She took off down the road, for the edge of the city, with Dealo doggedly following. As she had said, within the next couple of minutes, they spotted the customs house and bolted past. Arrows from the stationed guards zinged past them. One caught Dealo in the arm. He just kept running with Andrea by his side. They ran for miles, until the city disappeared behind a hill. Only then did they dare stop for a rest.

     "Are you okay?" Dealo asked, between rasping breaths.
     "Yeah…" Andrea said. She had sat leaning against a road marker, panting for air. "You?"
     "I'm fine," He said. As he finished, he winced as the arrow in his arm made its presence known. "Okay, maybe not so much." Dealo said, as he tested how deep the shaft had penetrated.
     Dragging himself to his feet, Dealo began to check a sign nearby to see where they had went. "We're a two day walk from the dessert pass" he said, indicating the sign. "We should rest in the woods tonight."
     "First," Andrea said, grabbing a firm hold on the arrow. "We need to get this looked at."
     "There's a kit in my hip bag." Dealo said, and he pulled it off his shoulder and handed it to her. After a few moments, they had the arrow removed and the wound sealed and bandaged.
     "There. That should hold up fine." Andrea stood and began walking. "We're going to have to walk fast to make the Forrest by nightfall."
     Dealo stood and followed her down the road. They walked for several hours and the sun was reaching its zenith when they finally slowed their pace. In the distance, Andrea had noticed a small camp off the road a bit. "I don't see any identifying marks on the tents." she said, examining the tents in the distance. "What do you make of them? You're from around here."
     "Could be anyone. We'd better watch our step anyway."
     They walked on and when the spot came back into view, the camp had gone. Being weary, They decided to take a rest. Napping in the sunlight, they didn't hear the approaching footfalls. Dealo reacted in time to avoid the darts but Andrea was struck in the arm. A score of masked figures swarmed them, knocking Dealo prone before he could grab his scythe. The darts must have been coated with a tranquilizer because Andrea put up no struggle as two of the men loaded her onto a cart and began driving it off. Five remained to attempt to subdue him.
     Andrea was still aware of everything around her, and she could see Dealo surrounded by five of the figures. She saw him swing and two of them fall. The other three had their blades out and where advancing on him. Dealo looked towards her, and then back to the combatants. With a flourish of his hand, a wisp of blackness short from the ground and felled one of the men. The remaining two attempted to flee after the cart she was in. Suddenly, there was a burst of darkness before them and Dealo stepped out, felled them with one sweeping blow from his Chain sickle and began running after the cart. Andrea felt a stab in her back and she faded into unconsciousness.
     A young Kane stood over her, watching the lone figure pursuing them with interest. "What say, ye' lads? Should I show this ol cave walker what I'm made of?" The three on the cart with him laughed and cheered.
     "Go an' show em' boss!" said a female Darvic, holding a syringe full of a green liquid. "Bash his green eyes out 'is skull!"

     Dealo was gaining on the cart, and had his sickle at the ready. "Get back here!" he shouted after the cart. As if in response to his demand, the cart began to slow. Dealo stopped a fair distance away. "Give me Andrea and I won't kill you." He said evenly. A kane, standing with his boot resting on Andrea smiled at him.
     "I'm the leader of this band o' traders and I say, come an' get 'er." He pulled a long cutlass from his belt and clasped a punching dagger in his hand. "It'll be a fight for the spoils eh?"
     Dealo gritted his teeth and hooked the weight to the end of his sickle. "You've got it then." He launched the weight at the Kane, who jumped easily out of the way. It caught the Darvic girl in the side of the head, killing her on the spot. With a grunt, Dealo pulled the chain towards his adversary. The Kane was on top of him before he could react. Dealo was on the ground, vision blurred by the vicious attack. Leaping to his feet, Dealo attempted to rush his opponent. A quick step to the left and he avoided the attack. "Hold still you mangy mongrel!" Dealo shouted at the Kane.
     "Better a mongrel than a Dirt Elf!" The Kane bellowed back. "I suggest you quit while you're ahead and just surrender. It'll be better for you health."
     Dealo, with blade in hand, swung at the Kane, who only barely managed to evade. "Wohh! Close one. You're holding back ain't ya?" Dealo swung again, and the Kane attempted to evade. "Yahh! Ye' got me!"
     The Slavers where beginning to get worried as they watched their leader struggle against the enraged Drow. Each where trading off blows but Dealo was ignoring attacks that should have crippled him. Acting on an impulse one of the slavers shot a dart at Dealo. It struck in the shoulder and injected the entire contents. When Dealo felt the dart hit him, he launched his scythe after the Slavers. It caught one in the chest and he fell backwards off the cart. The others scattered. The Kane saw his men flee and quickly followed them.
     Dealo's vision began to swim as he stumbled over to the cart. "Andrea." He mumbled, his face numbed by the tranquilizer. He shook her by the shoulder, and she murmured something unintelligible. With a grunt of effort he dragged her from the bed of the cart and onto his back. Wearily, Dealo trudged towards the woods, just visible as a gray smudge in the distance.

     The sun sank dangerously low as Dealo entered the woods. Despite his exhaustion, he could not stop just yet. Carefully concealing the still unconscious Andrea behind an interesting looking shrub, Dealo ran as far as his exhausted legs could carry him before the sunset. With a pained gasp, he stopped short, impaled again by the shadowy tendrils. He thanked the fate that he had made it far enough from Andrea to give her a chance to avoid death at the hands of the Reaper. As his thoughts clouded with the miasma of the Reapers consciousness, he reveled in the joy that he would be free, if only temporarily, of the cursed double life he lived.
     The Reaper stood, and began sprinting through the trees. In its vision, the leylines, currents of energy that flow over the whole of Cartha shone clear with ethereal light. The Reaper sprinted this way and that, testing the leylines occasionally. After several false starts, it discovered what it was looking for. At a point where two leylines crossed and formed a maelstrom of energy, the Reaper stopped. Raising one putrid hand, it traced the lines to the exact point of intersection and thrust his Scythe blade into the crossing. There was a bright silver flash and the reaper dissolved. Miles away, deep beneath High city, the Reaper reformed in a dark cavern.

     The walls and floor of the cave where worn smooth. Arcane inscriptions adorned every free inch of the walls. Several hooded figures stood, backs pressed firmly against the walls with heads bowed. The Reaper ignored them all and proceeded to make his way down the long tunnel. As he strode deeper into the recesses of the plateau, the cave became rougher and eventually gave way to virgin stone. The tunnel flared out into a chamber, wide and tall with a smooth path leading from the mouth of the cave to the foot of a great statue. The statue depicted what appeared to be a Drow, face locked in a snarl. The teeth where fangs and the hands bore talons. The figure was forced to kneel by chains locking its arms to the stone floor and its neck to the ground and sealing. The eyes of the statue glowed a malevolent green and cracks and fissures all along the stone surface shared the ethereal glow.
     "Father." The reaper said, drawing out the chain from his robes and depositing the gems in a stone basin before the statue. "I've brought you the offering. How long until you're freed? I wish to be rid of this loathsome mortal flesh."
     The glow brightened and several flakes of stone showered from the statue. A voice, deep and resonating echoed throughout the cavern. "Not long." Spoke the voice. All of the cloaked figures in the chamber immediately fell to the floor and bowed to the statue. "The mortals will pay for their disloyalty and my brother shall fall for his betrayal. Zar Ajaalak, God of the Darkness shall have his due!"
     "The blood moon is to happen tonight. What shall we do in my absence? Suppose he finds a way to prevent my return?" The reaper bespoke the god.
     "IMPOSSIBLE!" the cavern rumbled with the sound and the minions redoubled their groveling. "My hold on him is absolute. He will not be rid of you until I deem it so."
      The reaper gave a bow at the waist and retrieved the scythe. "Then I'll go." it said, backing away from the statue.

     Andrea awoke, dizzy and disoriented. The world was spinning around her and after a moment of clinging to the ground so as not to fly off, she stood and wrestled her thoughts into some order. She began walking through the trees attempting to recall where she was and why. After several moments, she stumbled to her knees, exhaustion setting in. Looking up she saw a clearing. She peered through the darkness, and listened as she rested. Suddenly she heard someone approaching. As quickly as she could, she ducked behind a tree and hid. Whoever it was, they had stopped just inside the clearing. Andrea chanced a glance around the tree and her breath caught in her chest. There within arm's length stood the dark form of the Reaper.
     As she watched, it raised one hand and began to move in a precise line, towards the center of the clearing. It stopped and seemed to dissolve. Andrea dared not move for fear that it would return and see her. Several moments passed and indeed it did return. Its gaze turned up and it seemed to be waiting for something to happen. Andrea could feel dread anticipation emanating from the form. She too looked up just as the shattered moon touched the rings. There was a red glimmer and the moon seemed to glow a ghostly red. She looked back at the reaper, and before her very eyes, it collapsed in a heap. The shadowy black robes dissolved and beneath it revealed a familiar form, but she couldn't place where she had seen the Drow. She hesitated for a moment, and then rushed forward to help the Drow. Upon seeing his face she remembered everything.
     She turned him onto his back and covered him with her robe. Underneath she wore a light cotton shirt and pants with a thin leather belt. From her satchel she drew a wooden basin and a flask of water. Muttering a spell she poured the water into the basin.
     "Master Deelan?" she said to the basin. Her words caused a ripple across the surface and after a moment, a face appeared as if reflected in the still water. "Master Deelan! I've located the Target. I found the Reaper."
     The face of Master Deelan smiled elatedly. "Excellent! Where my theories correct?" Deelan asked.
     "I'm pretty sure that the Reaper is a parasite on the host, not a single being." Andrea said, looking over at Dealo. "I'm going ahead with the rest of the mission. I'm confident that I can help him."
     "Him?" Asked Deelan. "The host is male? What Race?"
     "Dritst I think, but he could be Drow."
     "Hmm. Very well, you will keep me posted at every opportunity, and for gods sake! Be careful!"
     "Will do. Good night master Deelan." The image faded and Andrea drank some of the water and poured some over Dealo's parched lips. The unconscious Dealo swallowed the water greedily. Andrea took the sickle by Dealo's side and sat beside him, watching out for anything that might do them harm. She was asleep within the hour, head resting on Dealo's chest.

     The sun rose and Dealo was first to wake. Andrea lay to his side, curled up with his sickle resting lightly in her hand. Pushing himself to his feet he covered her with her robe and began looking around for anything to tell him where they had ended up. He could remember little from after the Slaver attack and was still slightly numb from the tranquilizer. Looking up he saw the sky was still the deep blue of morning. Still unable to tell where they where or which direction was which, Dealo resigned to starting a fire and gathering some food together for breakfast.
     The smell of frying meat woke Andrea from her dreams. She looked around and saw Dealo crouched beside a fire, preparing salted meats from his small travel case that sat open by his side. She sat opposite him and smiled. "Thanks for saving me from those Slavers." She said, giggling in her way.
     "There was nothing else for it." Dealo said as he flipped some of the meat over with a thin piece of metal.
     "Oh come on! Don't be modest. Not everyone would risk their lives like that for someone they just met." She locked eyes with Dealo, and smiled. Dealo smiled back but his eyes did not mirror the expression.
     "I guess you're right." He looked down at the small meal he had prepared. "It's not much but here." He skewered the meat on the sliver of metal and handed it over to Andrea.
     "Aren't you going to have any?"
     "No I already ate." Dealo lied. Andrea saw through the charade instantly but ate silently while Dealo gazed at the sky attempting to glean some idea of their location from its blue expanse. At length, he sighed and stood up. "You wouldn't have a map in that pack of yours?" he asked.
     Through a mouthful Andrea grunted and pulled the bag closer to her. Rummaging through, she swallowed. "I think so, just a sec." She dug for a moment and eventually surfaced with a folded piece of cloth. Opening it, she spread the cloth on the ground. On it was painted a map of the entire Hara Island chain. "This is the best I can do."
     Dealo looked over the map and chuckled. "We're almost through the forrest. Just north of here is the dessert pass and beyond that is Leonas valley. We walk east for an hour and we should hit the road." Dealo smiled and picked up the map. "Should have asked first eh?"
     Andrea laughed. "I guess it would have made things easier." She ate the last morsel of meat and stood. "Shall we be off?" Dealo nodded and began packing up his travel pack. When he finished, the went on their way off into the woods.

     "So, are you a Drow or Dritst?" Andrea asked as they crossed over a brook grown thick with thorny shrubs. Dealo didn't Respond immediately. Near a minute passed before he spoke.
     "Would it make a difference?" He asked solemnly.
     "Of course not!" Andrea said, honestly hurt. "You've proven yourself to me. I'm just curious." She waited. "well?"
     "Drow." he said reluctantly. "I'm full blooded Drow. I was born and raised away from the City-states though."
     "Hmm. Very level headed for a Drow, but I'll buy it." She said
     "You?" Dealo said suddenly.
     "Hmm?"
     "Are you High Elven or or A planes Elf?" He asked as they scaled a rocky hill crested with a grove of birch.
     Andrea giggled as she answered. "Planes Elven of course but we prefer to be called Nyphts."  The forest became very dense suddenly and it was all Andrea could do to keep Dealo's back in view. Not wanting to get lost, she grabbed hold of his hand. As Andrea's fingers brushed against the back of Dealo's he flinched away but after a second's hesitation, Dealo clasped her small hand in his. As the day wore on, the air became hot and wet. The wind was dying and both Andrea and Dealo where drenched in sweat. Andrea had long abandoned her traveler's robe in favor of her cotton underclothes. Dealo was half ready to go bare chest the rest of the way to the road. They came to a stream and gratefully splashed the cool sweet water over their face and arms. Dealo pulled out a canteen and emptied it, only to fill it again with the water, which he then offered to Andrea. She pulled from the Canteen greedily while Dealo drank from the stream directly.
     "The road can't be too much farther." Dealo said, as they continued their trek. The Forest had thinned they could see further but no indication of a road presented itself. Suddenly, Dealo caught a glimpse of a large clearing in the distance. "That must be it!" They increased their pace, excitement welling up within them. The joviality was cut short as they burst from the thick foliage. There before them was the charred and still smoking remains of half of the forest.  Patches still burned and smouldered. The wind took the smoke to the sea, visible miles away, unobstructed from view by the trees. In the distance, Dealo spotted a single tree, standing unmolested by the ravaging flames. He pointed it out to Andrea who began walking towards it. Fresh ash flew into the air and  the occasional burst of sparks as one of them tread on a still smoldering branch. The forest to their backs, they began to look around at the dismal scape. Miles of tree and animal life was gone from the place. Keeping behind Andrea, Dealo began to look into the aether, to seek out the leylines. What he saw nearly blinded him. The flairing red of death and misery flashed throughout the charred land, killing whatever remained. He turned his gaze to the single tree and saw that it's aura was receding, being pushed back by the destruction.
     "It must be an Omen." Andrea said as they approached the single tree. "Of all the trees here, why did this one alone survive the fire?" As they neared the tree, Dealo began feeling uneasy. His senses, dulled by lack of training where still strong because of his warrior's blood.
     "Hold yourself Andrea." He said, approaching the tree cautiously. "I can smell blood here." Stepping closer to the tree, he called into the smoke stained leaves. "Hello! Is anyone up there?" There was no response. Dealo looked back at Andrea. "There's someone here." He said.
     As they spoke, Andrea began pacing around the tree, gazing up into the boughs looking thoughtful. She continued to pace and would occasionally touch the tree lightly. As the day grew late, they decided to leave. As Andrea stepped away from the tree, she tripped over a root and landed hard. Groaning, she rolled over and looked at the root she had caught her foot on. To her surprise, lying there unconscious was a young girl. Her dark brown skin held a strange shimmer and seemed to share the pattern of wood grain. Gasping in shock, Andrea hastened to roll the Dryad girl onto her back. She was breathing, but only lightly and had a long burn across her right shoulder that looked as if it were infected. Andrea did her best to bandage the girls shoulder and when she had done all she could, Dealo sat beside her. "You think she'll make it to Leonas?" he asked, looking the girl over. Her cloths were singed and torn all over and her skin was stained with soot and dirt.
     Andrea nodded solemnly. "We have to hurry. We don't have time to waste if we're going to save her." She said, looking departed from the present. Dealo wondered what she was thinking about but decided that this was neither the time nor place for such questions.
     "Then let's get moving." He said. "Help me lift her." The got the girl situated on Dealo's shoulder and began walking, keeping the sea to their right. If they did not stop, thought Dealo, They would make it to The dessert pass very quickly.
     The evening sun was sinking close to the horizon as the pass came into view. Unlike most passes, this was not paralleled by mountains, rather the sea. It was a sliver of land, roughly three miles wide covered in sand. With the trees behind them, Dealo and Andrea began to increase their pace, attempting to reach the pass before full dark. Being elves, they where considerably faster than the humans, but with Dealo's load, he was slowed to a brisk jog. Exhaustion set in, and they stopped short to rest. The Dryad had become feverish and was turning a sickly gray. Andrea soaked a rag with what remained of their water, and cleaned the Dryad's burns. She attempted to sooth the fever with some salves in Dealo's medical satchel but there was so little that she could only muster one dose. "That will give us some time to rest before she worsens any further." Andrea said as she finished her ministrations. Dealo nodded and looked up at the clear sky. The sun was just falling beyond the horizon, and the familiar feeling of the Reaper did not touch his consciousness. Seeing the weary Elf and the dying Dryad did much to quell this victory and he lay uneasy, debating weather he should use the reaper's power to speed their progress. In time he decided against the action deeming the risk to great. If the Reaper were to gain control, he would kill everyone in sight, unrestricted by tasks or the cycle of the moon.
     The night cooled and Andrea decided that they needn't waste any more time. Lifting the Dryad girl onto his back, Dealo and Andrea began again on their way to Leonas Visat, and hopefully Salvation for the girl. They moved swiftly, the cool night air breathing new life into their wearied and sore limbs. They were across the pass within three hours to dawn. Leonas Visat was a scant seven hours walk from the isthmus. With a final push they would make it. Andrea was exhausted but refused to stop, Dealo was behind her, following diligently. His legs hurt and he was feeling the exhaustion as well. The neared the wooden gates of Leonas Visat by noon and were met by the town guardsmen. They relieved Dealo of the Dryad and took her to the healers. Dealo and Andrea where rushed to the infirmary to rest and take food.
     Dealo was put in a bed and no sooner had his head touched the pillow was he asleep. Andrea Insisted to see the Dryad girl before she would allow anyone to aid her. The guardsman took her to the Healer's home where she was permitted to step in on the procedure.  When she saw the treatment was to her satisfaction, she allowed herself to be shown to the infirmary. She took the cot next to Dealo's and was asleep within a breath.
     When Dealo awoke, he was alone. His armor had been removed and set next to his cot. He stood, and almost fell back to the bed. His muscles where so stiff it hurt to move. After a few moments, he managed to stumble over to the wash basin and clean his face. His green eyes flashed back at him from the polished metal and he tried to stretch his back. He made to leave when he remembered where he was. He glanced back towards the room and saw no one asleep in any of the cots. Shrugging, he pushed the door open and stepped into the mid afternoon sun. After a second to adjust to the light, Dealo stepped into the crowd. People milled about and farmers pedaled their wares on the streets. Music drifted over the heads of the street goers. Dealo smiled slightly as he remembered why these people where here. "The Blood Moon Festival!" Came a shout over the crowd. "See the sights, sample the newest Steam Technology from those Fabulous Gnomian Engineers! Try the food! Buy till your pocket's dry!" The man shouting moved through the crowd bellowing at the top of his lungs. Dealo stepped into the crowd and made for the medic's house. He suspected that Andrea had found her way there again.

Description
Chapter II: The Forrest and the Dryad.

     Dealo and Andrea continued to walk, making idle chat. The sound of the siren was faint behind them as they descended the ramp.
     "I wonder what happened." Andrea said, looking back at the still closed gates. "I guess we'll find out sooner or later."
     Dealo shrugged and looked back. "It's something bad, I can tell you that."
     The sun peaked over the distant cliffs and illuminated the city proper. When the light struck the star capped monument to the founders, a rush of steam blasted from several pipes and the doors began to slide open of their own accord. With barely any room to spare, a cart rolled out quickly from the gates. A man standing atop it began shouting into a horn, "By order of the Lord Gehs of Hath Island, Martial law is declared. All currently withing the city limits are to find their way inside immediately."
     Dealo and Andrea exchanged looks and made for a stair case nearby.

     "Well, isn't this just lovely!" Andrea said as she dropped down on a bench set against the wall of Greybrooks tavern where they had taken refuge. The tenants where chattering amongst themselves. Dealo caught some of a conversation.
     "What do you think it was?" Said a burly looking human, to his Felic friend.
     "What what was?" The Fane asked, slyly.
     "Yew know what ah'm talkin about." said the human. "Dem sireens. Whatcha tink caused em?"
     The Fane shrugged and sipped from his tankard. "Could be anything, mate. Bet ya it's that reaper fella causing trouble off east." With a smile the Fane set his tankard down. ""Ee comes an kills off people, taken their souls off ta feed on I betcha anything!"
     "Bah! Where'd you 'ear dat? 'Roun some right stupid beins I say. Nonsense for sure." The human said drunkenly.
     "Ah, you don't know what ye be sayin'." The rest of what the Fane said was drowned out by the band in the corner beginning a loud song comprised of high blasts of trumpet and low beats of the drums set to an unsteady rhythm.

     Dealo turned his focus to the street where he saw several Rangers and the occasional Scarlet Knight patrolling.
     "We're Definitely in a spot, to be sure." He said, almost under his breath. Turning back to the bar, Dealo quickly noticed several eyes had found their way to him and Andrea. "This doesn't look good" He said to her, quietly.
     A Dracon, sitting at a booth nearby began whispering, very loudly to his Darvic comrade.
     "See this?" He demanded of his buddy. "A filthy Drow, showing his face here! IN MY CITY!" The Dracon punctuated this with a heavy fisted rap on the table. "Well I'll tell you! Old Hexari here won't stand for it lads!"
     Dealo tensed, anticipating an attack. Hexari stood and Lumbered over to Dealo and grabbed him by the shoulder. "Eh boy!" Hexari taunted. "You got a lot o' nerve bein here dirty skin!" Dealo shrugged his hand off and turned towards Andrea. Before he could speak, however Hexari was looking at her too. "And what have we here?"  He began to reach for her, but didn't get far. Dealo was on his feet and landed a punch across the hulking Dracon's jaw. The Dracon went to the floor and several of his cronies rushed Dealo, holding him down.
     "Shoulda expected a sneak attack from a dirty skin!" Hexari said, chuckling. A few of his friends laughed too. "Guess I'm gonna have to break your face, as a lesson…" He pulled back his fist and Dealo tensed. Before the hit made contact, Dealo heard a loud crack. Glancing up, he saw Andrea standing with a quarterstaff planted firmly in the side of the Dracon's head. Hexari crumpled and before he hit the floor, there was a deafening boom from the bar.
     "OUT! All'a'ye!" The bar keep shouted. He held a smoking steam gun in one hand. It was bigger around than his waist. The tenants scrambled for the door. The two Dracon who held him drug their unconscious leader from the bar.

     "What now?" Andrea demanded, of no-one in particular. "City's under martial law and no-one's stupid enough to let us in!" She crossed her arms and huffed.
     "I suggest we run!" Dealo said, as he drug her away down an alley by the elbow. Two of the men who had been with the Dracon where giving chase. The first, a Kane was keeping pace easily, while his comrade, an old Darvic was panting and huffing laboriously. Andrea pulled ahead and took up a wall at a running leap. Dealo scrabbled up after her and she pulled him the rest of the way up. The Kane Scrambled up after them, the old Darvic staying behind. They jumped several buildings and made for the edge of the city. The Kane was gaining fast and they were running out of building. They came to a large gap and made the jump, just barely making the landing. The Kane, hot on their heels hesitated as a flash of blue whizzed by his head. He landed, half on half off and Dealo loosed the weight attached to his chain, catching the Kane in the chest and knocking him flat on the street below. They continued on their way, avoiding the Mages who were making their presence abundantly clear to them both. Near the edge of the city, they dropped to an alley and rested.
     "I think we'll be out of the city in a few moments," Andrea said, between heavy pants, "so we can't afford to slow up any." She took off down the road, for the edge of the city, with Dealo doggedly following. As she had said, within the next couple of minutes, they spotted the customs house and bolted past. Arrows from the stationed guards zinged past them. One caught Dealo in the arm. He just kept running with Andrea by his side. They ran for miles, until the city disappeared behind a hill. Only then did they dare stop for a rest.

     "Are you okay?" Dealo asked, between rasping breaths.
     "Yeah…" Andrea said. She had sat leaning against a road marker, panting for air. "You?"
     "I'm fine," He said. As he finished, he winced as the arrow in his arm made its presence known. "Okay, maybe not so much." Dealo said, as he tested how deep the shaft had penetrated.
     Dragging himself to his feet, Dealo began to check a sign nearby to see where they had went. "We're a two day walk from the dessert pass" he said, indicating the sign. "We should rest in the woods tonight."
     "First," Andrea said, grabbing a firm hold on the arrow. "We need to get this looked at."
     "There's a kit in my hip bag." Dealo said, and he pulled it off his shoulder and handed it to her. After a few moments, they had the arrow removed and the wound sealed and bandaged.
     "There. That should hold up fine." Andrea stood and began walking. "We're going to have to walk fast to make the Forrest by nightfall."
     Dealo stood and followed her down the road. They walked for several hours and the sun was reaching its zenith when they finally slowed their pace. In the distance, Andrea had noticed a small camp off the road a bit. "I don't see any identifying marks on the tents." she said, examining the tents in the distance. "What do you make of them? You're from around here."
     "Could be anyone. We'd better watch our step anyway."
     They walked on and when the spot came back into view, the camp had gone. Being weary, They decided to take a rest. Napping in the sunlight, they didn't hear the approaching footfalls. Dealo reacted in time to avoid the darts but Andrea was struck in the arm. A score of masked figures swarmed them, knocking Dealo prone before he could grab his scythe. The darts must have been coated with a tranquilizer because Andrea put up no struggle as two of the men loaded her onto a cart and began driving it off. Five remained to attempt to subdue him.
     Andrea was still aware of everything around her, and she could see Dealo surrounded by five of the figures. She saw him swing and two of them fall. The other three had their blades out and where advancing on him. Dealo looked towards her, and then back to the combatants. With a flourish of his hand, a wisp of blackness short from the ground and felled one of the men. The remaining two attempted to flee after the cart she was in. Suddenly, there was a burst of darkness before them and Dealo stepped out, felled them with one sweeping blow from his Chain sickle and began running after the cart. Andrea felt a stab in her back and she faded into unconsciousness.
     A young Kane stood over her, watching the lone figure pursuing them with interest. "What say, ye' lads? Should I show this ol cave walker what I'm made of?" The three on the cart with him laughed and cheered.
     "Go an' show em' boss!" said a female Darvic, holding a syringe full of a green liquid. "Bash his green eyes out 'is skull!"

     Dealo was gaining on the cart, and had his sickle at the ready. "Get back here!" he shouted after the cart. As if in response to his demand, the cart began to slow. Dealo stopped a fair distance away. "Give me Andrea and I won't kill you." He said evenly. A kane, standing with his boot resting on Andrea smiled at him.
     "I'm the leader of this band o' traders and I say, come an' get 'er." He pulled a long cutlass from his belt and clasped a punching dagger in his hand. "It'll be a fight for the spoils eh?"
     Dealo gritted his teeth and hooked the weight to the end of his sickle. "You've got it then." He launched the weight at the Kane, who jumped easily out of the way. It caught the Darvic girl in the side of the head, killing her on the spot. With a grunt, Dealo pulled the chain towards his adversary. The Kane was on top of him before he could react. Dealo was on the ground, vision blurred by the vicious attack. Leaping to his feet, Dealo attempted to rush his opponent. A quick step to the left and he avoided the attack. "Hold still you mangy mongrel!" Dealo shouted at the Kane.
     "Better a mongrel than a Dirt Elf!" The Kane bellowed back. "I suggest you quit while you're ahead and just surrender. It'll be better for you health."
     Dealo, with blade in hand, swung at the Kane, who only barely managed to evade. "Wohh! Close one. You're holding back ain't ya?" Dealo swung again, and the Kane attempted to evade. "Yahh! Ye' got me!"
     The Slavers where beginning to get worried as they watched their leader struggle against the enraged Drow. Each where trading off blows but Dealo was ignoring attacks that should have crippled him. Acting on an impulse one of the slavers shot a dart at Dealo. It struck in the shoulder and injected the entire contents. When Dealo felt the dart hit him, he launched his scythe after the Slavers. It caught one in the chest and he fell backwards off the cart. The others scattered. The Kane saw his men flee and quickly followed them.
     Dealo's vision began to swim as he stumbled over to the cart. "Andrea." He mumbled, his face numbed by the tranquilizer. He shook her by the shoulder, and she murmured something unintelligible. With a grunt of effort he dragged her from the bed of the cart and onto his back. Wearily, Dealo trudged towards the woods, just visible as a gray smudge in the distance.

     The sun sank dangerously low as Dealo entered the woods. Despite his exhaustion, he could not stop just yet. Carefully concealing the still unconscious Andrea behind an interesting looking shrub, Dealo ran as far as his exhausted legs could carry him before the sunset. With a pained gasp, he stopped short, impaled again by the shadowy tendrils. He thanked the fate that he had made it far enough from Andrea to give her a chance to avoid death at the hands of the Reaper. As his thoughts clouded with the miasma of the Reapers consciousness, he reveled in the joy that he would be free, if only temporarily, of the cursed double life he lived.
     The Reaper stood, and began sprinting through the trees. In its vision, the leylines, currents of energy that flow over the whole of Cartha shone clear with ethereal light. The Reaper sprinted this way and that, testing the leylines occasionally. After several false starts, it discovered what it was looking for. At a point where two leylines crossed and formed a maelstrom of energy, the Reaper stopped. Raising one putrid hand, it traced the lines to the exact point of intersection and thrust his Scythe blade into the crossing. There was a bright silver flash and the reaper dissolved. Miles away, deep beneath High city, the Reaper reformed in a dark cavern.

     The walls and floor of the cave where worn smooth. Arcane inscriptions adorned every free inch of the walls. Several hooded figures stood, backs pressed firmly against the walls with heads bowed. The Reaper ignored them all and proceeded to make his way down the long tunnel. As he strode deeper into the recesses of the plateau, the cave became rougher and eventually gave way to virgin stone. The tunnel flared out into a chamber, wide and tall with a smooth path leading from the mouth of the cave to the foot of a great statue. The statue depicted what appeared to be a Drow, face locked in a snarl. The teeth where fangs and the hands bore talons. The figure was forced to kneel by chains locking its arms to the stone floor and its neck to the ground and sealing. The eyes of the statue glowed a malevolent green and cracks and fissures all along the stone surface shared the ethereal glow.
     "Father." The reaper said, drawing out the chain from his robes and depositing the gems in a stone basin before the statue. "I've brought you the offering. How long until you're freed? I wish to be rid of this loathsome mortal flesh."
     The glow brightened and several flakes of stone showered from the statue. A voice, deep and resonating echoed throughout the cavern. "Not long." Spoke the voice. All of the cloaked figures in the chamber immediately fell to the floor and bowed to the statue. "The mortals will pay for their disloyalty and my brother shall fall for his betrayal. Zar Ajaalak, God of the Darkness shall have his due!"
     "The blood moon is to happen tonight. What shall we do in my absence? Suppose he finds a way to prevent my return?" The reaper bespoke the god.
     "IMPOSSIBLE!" the cavern rumbled with the sound and the minions redoubled their groveling. "My hold on him is absolute. He will not be rid of you until I deem it so."
      The reaper gave a bow at the waist and retrieved the scythe. "Then I'll go." it said, backing away from the statue.

     Andrea awoke, dizzy and disoriented. The world was spinning around her and after a moment of clinging to the ground so as not to fly off, she stood and wrestled her thoughts into some order. She began walking through the trees attempting to recall where she was and why. After several moments, she stumbled to her knees, exhaustion setting in. Looking up she saw a clearing. She peered through the darkness, and listened as she rested. Suddenly she heard someone approaching. As quickly as she could, she ducked behind a tree and hid. Whoever it was, they had stopped just inside the clearing. Andrea chanced a glance around the tree and her breath caught in her chest. There within arm's length stood the dark form of the Reaper.
     As she watched, it raised one hand and began to move in a precise line, towards the center of the clearing. It stopped and seemed to dissolve. Andrea dared not move for fear that it would return and see her. Several moments passed and indeed it did return. Its gaze turned up and it seemed to be waiting for something to happen. Andrea could feel dread anticipation emanating from the form. She too looked up just as the shattered moon touched the rings. There was a red glimmer and the moon seemed to glow a ghostly red. She looked back at the reaper, and before her very eyes, it collapsed in a heap. The shadowy black robes dissolved and beneath it revealed a familiar form, but she couldn't place where she had seen the Drow. She hesitated for a moment, and then rushed forward to help the Drow. Upon seeing his face she remembered everything.
     She turned him onto his back and covered him with her robe. Underneath she wore a light cotton shirt and pants with a thin leather belt. From her satchel she drew a wooden basin and a flask of water. Muttering a spell she poured the water into the basin.
     "Master Deelan?" she said to the basin. Her words caused a ripple across the surface and after a moment, a face appeared as if reflected in the still water. "Master Deelan! I've located the Target. I found the Reaper."
     The face of Master Deelan smiled elatedly. "Excellent! Where my theories correct?" Deelan asked.
     "I'm pretty sure that the Reaper is a parasite on the host, not a single being." Andrea said, looking over at Dealo. "I'm going ahead with the rest of the mission. I'm confident that I can help him."
     "Him?" Asked Deelan. "The host is male? What Race?"
     "Dritst I think, but he could be Drow."
     "Hmm. Very well, you will keep me posted at every opportunity, and for gods sake! Be careful!"
     "Will do. Good night master Deelan." The image faded and Andrea drank some of the water and poured some over Dealo's parched lips. The unconscious Dealo swallowed the water greedily. Andrea took the sickle by Dealo's side and sat beside him, watching out for anything that might do them harm. She was asleep within the hour, head resting on Dealo's chest.

     The sun rose and Dealo was first to wake. Andrea lay to his side, curled up with his sickle resting lightly in her hand. Pushing himself to his feet he covered her with her robe and began looking around for anything to tell him where they had ended up. He could remember little from after the Slaver attack and was still slightly numb from the tranquilizer. Looking up he saw the sky was still the deep blue of morning. Still unable to tell where they where or which direction was which, Dealo resigned to starting a fire and gathering some food together for breakfast.
     The smell of frying meat woke Andrea from her dreams. She looked around and saw Dealo crouched beside a fire, preparing salted meats from his small travel case that sat open by his side. She sat opposite him and smiled. "Thanks for saving me from those Slavers." She said, giggling in her way.
     "There was nothing else for it." Dealo said as he flipped some of the meat over with a thin piece of metal.
     "Oh come on! Don't be modest. Not everyone would risk their lives like that for someone they just met." She locked eyes with Dealo, and smiled. Dealo smiled back but his eyes did not mirror the expression.
     "I guess you're right." He looked down at the small meal he had prepared. "It's not much but here." He skewered the meat on the sliver of metal and handed it over to Andrea.
     "Aren't you going to have any?"
     "No I already ate." Dealo lied. Andrea saw through the charade instantly but ate silently while Dealo gazed at the sky attempting to glean some idea of their location from its blue expanse. At length, he sighed and stood up. "You wouldn't have a map in that pack of yours?" he asked.
     Through a mouthful Andrea grunted and pulled the bag closer to her. Rummaging through, she swallowed. "I think so, just a sec." She dug for a moment and eventually surfaced with a folded piece of cloth. Opening it, she spread the cloth on the ground. On it was painted a map of the entire Hara Island chain. "This is the best I can do."
     Dealo looked over the map and chuckled. "We're almost through the forrest. Just north of here is the dessert pass and beyond that is Leonas valley. We walk east for an hour and we should hit the road." Dealo smiled and picked up the map. "Should have asked first eh?"
     Andrea laughed. "I guess it would have made things easier." She ate the last morsel of meat and stood. "Shall we be off?" Dealo nodded and began packing up his travel pack. When he finished, the went on their way off into the woods.

     "So, are you a Drow or Dritst?" Andrea asked as they crossed over a brook grown thick with thorny shrubs. Dealo didn't Respond immediately. Near a minute passed before he spoke.
     "Would it make a difference?" He asked solemnly.
     "Of course not!" Andrea said, honestly hurt. "You've proven yourself to me. I'm just curious." She waited. "well?"
     "Drow." he said reluctantly. "I'm full blooded Drow. I was born and raised away from the City-states though."
     "Hmm. Very level headed for a Drow, but I'll buy it." She said
     "You?" Dealo said suddenly.
     "Hmm?"
     "Are you High Elven or or A planes Elf?" He asked as they scaled a rocky hill crested with a grove of birch.
     Andrea giggled as she answered. "Planes Elven of course but we prefer to be called Nyphts."  The forest became very dense suddenly and it was all Andrea could do to keep Dealo's back in view. Not wanting to get lost, she grabbed hold of his hand. As Andrea's fingers brushed against the back of Dealo's he flinched away but after a second's hesitation, Dealo clasped her small hand in his. As the day wore on, the air became hot and wet. The wind was dying and both Andrea and Dealo where drenched in sweat. Andrea had long abandoned her traveler's robe in favor of her cotton underclothes. Dealo was half ready to go bare chest the rest of the way to the road. They came to a stream and gratefully splashed the cool sweet water over their face and arms. Dealo pulled out a canteen and emptied it, only to fill it again with the water, which he then offered to Andrea. She pulled from the Canteen greedily while Dealo drank from the stream directly.
     "The road can't be too much farther." Dealo said, as they continued their trek. The Forest had thinned they could see further but no indication of a road presented itself. Suddenly, Dealo caught a glimpse of a large clearing in the distance. "That must be it!" They increased their pace, excitement welling up within them. The joviality was cut short as they burst from the thick foliage. There before them was the charred and still smoking remains of half of the forest.  Patches still burned and smouldered. The wind took the smoke to the sea, visible miles away, unobstructed from view by the trees. In the distance, Dealo spotted a single tree, standing unmolested by the ravaging flames. He pointed it out to Andrea who began walking towards it. Fresh ash flew into the air and  the occasional burst of sparks as one of them tread on a still smoldering branch. The forest to their backs, they began to look around at the dismal scape. Miles of tree and animal life was gone from the place. Keeping behind Andrea, Dealo began to look into the aether, to seek out the leylines. What he saw nearly blinded him. The flairing red of death and misery flashed throughout the charred land, killing whatever remained. He turned his gaze to the single tree and saw that it's aura was receding, being pushed back by the destruction.
     "It must be an Omen." Andrea said as they approached the single tree. "Of all the trees here, why did this one alone survive the fire?" As they neared the tree, Dealo began feeling uneasy. His senses, dulled by lack of training where still strong because of his warrior's blood.
     "Hold yourself Andrea." He said, approaching the tree cautiously. "I can smell blood here." Stepping closer to the tree, he called into the smoke stained leaves. "Hello! Is anyone up there?" There was no response. Dealo looked back at Andrea. "There's someone here." He said.
     As they spoke, Andrea began pacing around the tree, gazing up into the boughs looking thoughtful. She continued to pace and would occasionally touch the tree lightly. As the day grew late, they decided to leave. As Andrea stepped away from the tree, she tripped over a root and landed hard. Groaning, she rolled over and looked at the root she had caught her foot on. To her surprise, lying there unconscious was a young girl. Her dark brown skin held a strange shimmer and seemed to share the pattern of wood grain. Gasping in shock, Andrea hastened to roll the Dryad girl onto her back. She was breathing, but only lightly and had a long burn across her right shoulder that looked as if it were infected. Andrea did her best to bandage the girls shoulder and when she had done all she could, Dealo sat beside her. "You think she'll make it to Leonas?" he asked, looking the girl over. Her cloths were singed and torn all over and her skin was stained with soot and dirt.
     Andrea nodded solemnly. "We have to hurry. We don't have time to waste if we're going to save her." She said, looking departed from the present. Dealo wondered what she was thinking about but decided that this was neither the time nor place for such questions.
     "Then let's get moving." He said. "Help me lift her." The got the girl situated on Dealo's shoulder and began walking, keeping the sea to their right. If they did not stop, thought Dealo, They would make it to The dessert pass very quickly.
     The evening sun was sinking close to the horizon as the pass came into view. Unlike most passes, this was not paralleled by mountains, rather the sea. It was a sliver of land, roughly three miles wide covered in sand. With the trees behind them, Dealo and Andrea began to increase their pace, attempting to reach the pass before full dark. Being elves, they where considerably faster than the humans, but with Dealo's load, he was slowed to a brisk jog. Exhaustion set in, and they stopped short to rest. The Dryad had become feverish and was turning a sickly gray. Andrea soaked a rag with what remained of their water, and cleaned the Dryad's burns. She attempted to sooth the fever with some salves in Dealo's medical satchel but there was so little that she could only muster one dose. "That will give us some time to rest before she worsens any further." Andrea said as she finished her ministrations. Dealo nodded and looked up at the clear sky. The sun was just falling beyond the horizon, and the familiar feeling of the Reaper did not touch his consciousness. Seeing the weary Elf and the dying Dryad did much to quell this victory and he lay uneasy, debating weather he should use the reaper's power to speed their progress. In time he decided against the action deeming the risk to great. If the Reaper were to gain control, he would kill everyone in sight, unrestricted by tasks or the cycle of the moon.
     The night cooled and Andrea decided that they needn't waste any more time. Lifting the Dryad girl onto his back, Dealo and Andrea began again on their way to Leonas Visat, and hopefully Salvation for the girl. They moved swiftly, the cool night air breathing new life into their wearied and sore limbs. They were across the pass within three hours to dawn. Leonas Visat was a scant seven hours walk from the isthmus. With a final push they would make it. Andrea was exhausted but refused to stop, Dealo was behind her, following diligently. His legs hurt and he was feeling the exhaustion as well. The neared the wooden gates of Leonas Visat by noon and were met by the town guardsmen. They relieved Dealo of the Dryad and took her to the healers. Dealo and Andrea where rushed to the infirmary to rest and take food.
     Dealo was put in a bed and no sooner had his head touched the pillow was he asleep. Andrea Insisted to see the Dryad girl before she would allow anyone to aid her. The guardsman took her to the Healer's home where she was permitted to step in on the procedure.  When she saw the treatment was to her satisfaction, she allowed herself to be shown to the infirmary. She took the cot next to Dealo's and was asleep within a breath.
     When Dealo awoke, he was alone. His armor had been removed and set next to his cot. He stood, and almost fell back to the bed. His muscles where so stiff it hurt to move. After a few moments, he managed to stumble over to the wash basin and clean his face. His green eyes flashed back at him from the polished metal and he tried to stretch his back. He made to leave when he remembered where he was. He glanced back towards the room and saw no one asleep in any of the cots. Shrugging, he pushed the door open and stepped into the mid afternoon sun. After a second to adjust to the light, Dealo stepped into the crowd. People milled about and farmers pedaled their wares on the streets. Music drifted over the heads of the street goers. Dealo smiled slightly as he remembered why these people where here. "The Blood Moon Festival!" Came a shout over the crowd. "See the sights, sample the newest Steam Technology from those Fabulous Gnomian Engineers! Try the food! Buy till your pocket's dry!" The man shouting moved through the crowd bellowing at the top of his lungs. Dealo stepped into the crowd and made for the medic's house. He suspected that Andrea had found her way there again.