(ah-hem? Helloooooo? Curi? Lech? Anyone?)

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Made by Lembas

Garthag hmhed at the lich`s words as he realised that Kalma was not alive in this time and he seeked to save his bretheren, but Garthag came to realise an eerie truth. If he would kill Kalma, he would have never come to gain the star crystal nor remember anything that happened as he would have been a part of his brotherhood after returning to his own time. He couldn`t possibly travel in time constantly, but if that would be his fate then so be it. Garthag concentrated and gazed at the portal on the far away hill as he tookout the crystal.

Close He commanded in his mind and surprisingly he could feel the power of the gate vanishing.

He gazed at his `friends` quietly and concentrated, he had failed once and somehow the crystal had led him here. Perhaps to gain the aid of this lich, but whatever the case he would make the crystal obey him this time. There seemed to be a mental barrier suddenly stopping his commands, but he concentrated and pushed past the crystals resistance. Suddenly it finally gave in and a white portal opened, or was it white at all? No, the landspace beyond it was white and there stood a very familiar mountain.

"That is it, let us go and make this quick..."

He said before walking trough the portal.

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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!

Semri stepped though after him. Was it just her or had Garthag taken longer than usual to open the ortal. No, she must just be imagining things.

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Made by Lembas

The Lich was spared his customary suspicion when Garthag stepped through the portal first. Quickly and conveniently losing one's nemesis through a portal ruse was a widespread trick among magic-users. He shrugged and waved farewell at his necromancer underlings.

The portal led them to a mountain range that, upon further inspection, the Lich actually found to know well. Empty tundra stretched on towards the south, while the Valley of Ancients lay only a few mountain spurs to the north.

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On the white-blanketed spur overlooking the valley, the Shadowers stopped and by rote formed a semi-circle around their captives. They faced the valley's opposite side, their shadowed eyes riveted upon the single gold-topped structure that marked the sun-graced temple. Like apathetic statues they stood in the howling wind, as if waiting for the end of time.

Kendath deliberately let his tightly clenched fists relax. He stole a glance behind him at his companions. Or companion. Where was Adanil - still back in the cave? A quiet sob to his right piqued his attention, and there was Merrin, expression despairing, tears pouring down her cheeks. At that moment he felt a nagging desire to comfort her, tell her that everything would be all right. Hope seemed such a small boon juxtaposed with the weight of the world burdening her slender shoulders.

But he had no hope to give, and so he kept his silence, staring moodily at the inconceivable battle unfolding in the valley below.

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Merrin's thoughts were anything but encouraging or hopeful. You've failed, she couldn't stop numbly telling herself. This is it. This is what you were supposed to prevent. The gods trusted you...

Try as she might Merrin could not tear her eyes away from the battle unfolding below, even as tears blurred her vision. How she longed to tell them, to cry out a warning against the cataclysm they even now invited upon themselves. But should she have attempted the futile act, surrounded by her enemies, it would do nothing. Just like everything else she'd tried.

Finally succeeding in pulling her gaze from the vast panorama of clashing forces Merrin gulped back her tears and glanced at Kendath. What an idiot I am, she thought in utter misery, to wish...

Even then she knew what she wished and hated herself for it.

I can't do this...I can't...

The gods would not have chosen you if you could not. Through her haze of despair Merrin barely registered the gentle reprimand, a voice that gently raised her fallen self-confidence. Fear not.

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(I think we should have a small idia session since things seem to be getting slightly confused. well for me anyway. The Future plot (the bit where the story started) seems to have been put on hold for the moemnt but thats fine. As we seem to be getting to something important here, i'm just reminding everyone about my idia to sacrifice Semri to destroy, or whatever the thing is you need to do, to the crystals.)

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Made by Lembas

....I'd post now, but I can barely keep my eyes open. I woke up early today and spent the entire morning helping a family move. I would have gotten on here earlier, but after helping the family move, I had other responsibilities, so...I'm exhausted right now. Maybe I'll post in a few hours, but it's just as likely that I won't be posting until tommorrow.

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(go to bed my dear, sounds like you need it.)

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Made by Lembas

[Anduril, we'll be getting to destroying the crystals after the episode with the Divine Shard. Curunir, you have any ideas where the Garthag plot is going? because I can come up with something if needed. Melda, remember that they're not here to prevent anything, only to observe and report back to Vryngard ]

Dragon blood showered like rain from the skies as the great beasts reeled and clashed. Below, the Renegade tide seemed to be pushing the Meiltha back against the mountain. Agonized screams pierced the frigid air, and the chaste snow melted to run in a multitude of crimson rivers.

War was never a pretty sight. Kendath had witnessed many battles before from the back ranks or the sidelines, but never one of this magnitude. The hordes, tens of thousands strong, poured down the mountainsides like black cataracts of death. As the trumpets blared unsuccessfully over the din and the flanks surged into the valley, he found that war could accurately be described as disgusting. Anarchy, chaos without restraint. He saw no beauty in brute power, only undisciplined savagery.

The Shadowers stood oblivious to the slaughter unfolding in the sacrosanct valley. They hadn't budged since the last time Kendath looked. Their hooded faces were still turned towards the valley's far side in inimitable patience. He felt his eyes once more fall upon Merrin, looking as forlorn as he'd ever seen her, and suddenly he couldn't stand it. Moving over to her, he seized her quivering shoulders.

"Do not," he hissed intently, staring into her face as though daring another tear to fall. Without another word he pulled her close, cradling her head against her chest and gently stroking her soft bronze hair.

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(okay)
"Why have we come here?" asked Semri

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Made by Lembas

"Our time grows short and I suggest we procceed with hurry to the mountain, but we must create our own entrance, if we are to move undetected. I later on realised that Kalma had created a number of traps around the mountain perimeter without our knowledge. How I do not know, but it cost the life of one of my bretheren...

None of them must die or I will hold someone responsible..."

He said and glared at them both before opening portal to a distance, very near the mountain side that rose suddenly and was impossible to climb, but Garthag had no plans to climb. As soon as he stepped trough, he placed his hand on the wall and began brushing the snow away just to be sure that the spot was suitable.

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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 Lich stepped through the portal and stood back to regard Garthag with a contemplative mien. "You were once a dragonrider," he surmised, in tones difficult to tell if he was asking a question or simply stating a fact. Kalma killed your brethren but spared you, then betrayed you?"

He shrugged as if the answer mattered little and moved off to inspect the glistening white mountainside. They were on a precarious ledge directly over a sheer fifty foot drop. Treading carefully, the undead creature placed a gaunt hand on the cold stone and murmured quiet words of magic. "A network of caverns and tunnels within," he murmured at length. "The entire wall brims with latent magic, but the stone is thin here." He turned inquiringly to Garthag.

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"I know, that was why I made this place as my secret escape way door or would have made it should I have been enslaved by Kalma, but basicly that won`t ever happen because he will die before he can..."

He smirked and began whispering words of magic, soon the rock wall began to tremble and it shattered, creating a man sized entrance. Garthag stepped in first and gazed around with a smile.

"Now lets go find that *beep*..."

He hmhed as he headed forward into a narrow cavern.

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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!

"You know dear revenge never works out as you planned...someone always wants to get you back bla bla." She followed after him shakeing her head. "Its easier just to cut you're loses and run with the power...of course i'f never been able to afford the luxtary of revenge i suppose..."she mused to herslef. "I will after this though."

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Made by Lembas

((Oops. Well. That's what happens when I post late at night. ))

Merrin didn't stiffen or pull away, only buried her head against his chest and pressed closer. Oddly she felt a sense of sudden safeness, a knowledge that here nothing could hurt her. However wrong it was, Merrin let herself cry against him - let herself weep for all in the battle below.

"Don't - don't let go," she managed to say through her tears, voice near a whisper. Merrin never wanted him to let go, ever - though later there would be trials to face, she didn't want to think about anything now. Only to feel his arms about her, and for a little let the weight of the world upon her ease.

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The Lich followed him through the cavern that was definitely not naturally occurring. A soft spoken word summoned a faintly throbbing globe of light that illuminated smooth walls and a dragon-sized tunnel on the far side.

He turned back towards the entrance and noted the gales of snow hissing through. Common knowledge dictated that a dragon could smell fresh air in its otherwise enclosed lair from a mile away, so he pressed his hand against the stone and enchanted a quick spell. The rock seemed to melt and distort, seamlessly filling in the aperture.

Without the howling winds outside, the cavern was now ominously silent. The Lich lifted his light globe and gestured at the tunnel. "Shall we?"

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Kendath felt her trembling form in his arms, felt her tears on his hand as he reached up to gently wipe them from her face. Merrin had always been strong, had always been the sole beacon of hope in the seas of darkness. To behold her in such despair wrenched his heart not only with sorrow, but with rage.

If looks could kill, the Shadowers would have fallen over dead at that very moment.

Her shoulders jerked in another muffled sob. He turned to bury his face in her hair. "Shh. I'm here," he told her, indeed never intending to let go unless the gods themselves pried her from his grasp.

It was not the gods that did it, but the Shadowers. The single shaft of sunlight gracing the high temple flickered, as though a cloud was passing over the sun. Taking the signal for what it was, one of the black-robed necromancers lifted voice in spellcasting. A shimmering portal materialized. The other Shadowers methodically prodded Merrin and Kendath back up and pointed at the portal.

Staggering to his feet, Kendath clenched his teeth and glared at the portal as the first two Shadowers filed in. When the turn fell upon him, another Shadower unceremoniously shoved him through. He emerged on a circular marble platform thirty feet in diameter, the temple's roof supported by ornate gilded columns. Half a dozen more Shadowers were already gathered around a massive ivory bowl carved into the floor, within which sat a single triangular prism, a full ten feet at its base. It looked dejectedly latent, courtesy of the sun shaft that no longer lanced through the skylight in the domed ceiling.

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