Ghyreian moved closer to Edwin and waited for him to cast his spell.

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Edwin said few words revealing a view of barbarians walking around working and some seemed to have a rush.

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Ghyreian leaned forward, staring into the dragonorb.

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[bump. or do you need some help lol? ]

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(sorry)

Then some shouts came out of the tunnels and the barbarians began to gather around as, if they began to wait for something to happen. Edwin couldn`t help turning the gaze away for a while to look around the cave that they were in, but soon returned to the view as someone seemed to be coming from the tunnels.

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Ghyreian stared at the gathering barbarians. A bonfire flared in the center of the group. The barbarians began banging their spears into the ground and rumbling.

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"You know for some reason I have the sudden feeling that now would be our best change of escape..."

Edwin said as he stared at the vision.

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"I agree," she murmured, backing up a step despite herself. The vision was very real.

Smoke curled from the bonfire. The gathering parted reverently for an old shaman, teetering on his cane. All fell silent.

"Behold!" the shaman intoned in a voice neither feeble nor old. "The ancient gods bless us! Behold the Astral Staff!"

The bonfire reached its climax. Smoke, roiling vermilion and green, exploded forth. In the center of it all was a dragon, its five heads spewing flame. The fell apparition reared back and roared in triumph. The smoke fell away, revealing what lay in its clawed talons...

"Nuitari bless us," Ghyreian breathed in disbelief.

"The Astral Staff!" the shaman cried again, swaying on his feet. He raised his arms. The Five-Headed Dragon shrieked its paean, bringing to light the dragonlance clasped tightly in its talons.

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Edwin just watched it quietly.

"Lets just get out of this tent..."

He said getting up and taking his staff, then he sneaked out of the tent as it was clear.

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"I just don't understand," Ghyreian said, following him. "Why would the barbarians worship the Queen? And what are the dragonlances doing in Icewall anyway..."

"There you are!" Morgnar beamed, striding towards them. Behind him was a contingent of barbarians. "You're requested to attend the ceremony. His orders."

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"Darn..."

Edwin quickly put the crystal away and dropped in his pocket as he was dragged with Ghyreian into the middle of the ceremony.

"May Nuitari curse us both..." Edwin muttered as he remembered her words from before.

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Ghyreian flicked a disdainful look at the shaman before contemplating what spell she could use. If her look had been degrading, the shaman's was equally - if not more - so.

"Astral Goddess," he intoned, and prostrated himself before the apparition. "Grant us the Astral Staff so we may invoke justice." His eyes opened. He stared at Edwin and Ghyreian with piercing enmity.

The barbarians stood in a hushed circle, awaiting his sentence.

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Edwin whispered to Ghyreian as he held his staff in his hand, but didn`t lean on it.

"You know we can either be at their mercy and go along or burn them alive..."

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Ghyreian found herself smiling, reminded of old times. She barked an arcane command, and a sizzling fireball exploded from her hand.

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"My choice as well..."

Edwin said, but shot soon a lighting from his hand that pounced among the barbarians killing them and Edwin grinned as he looked at the shaman who seemed scared by these spells, also angry.

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

The fireball sizzled dangerously close before the shaman shrieked an incoherent phrase. The flames winked out.

"Astral Staff!" he screeched. Blinding white light flared from the dragonlance. Ghyreian cried out and shielded her eyes. The barbarians took the chance to leap on her.

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