The Mage wandered the halls of the tower. He had been fuming for several weeks, and was growing increasingly agitated.

"How dare that wench do this!" he thought to himself. Back and forth he paced several times. He made his way to the private study for the headmaster within the Abanasinian School. "Did she truly think this would end well for her, or her foul queen?" He sat in the highback chair. His thoughts roamed over the years, through all he had done. The battles with the undead Lich Maetryss. How many Dragon Army troops fell by his powerful incantations? Twice goodbay was freed in large part due to him. Xenos there as well, fighting like mad. The jhourney through time. The fight with that impossibly large Dragon. He remembered what loss his heart felt when the arcane words would no longer come to him. He remembered the fight against the demon that nearly killed him. He thought of those cold eyes he looked into once. The eyes of the Dark Queen, and the pain she inflicted on him.

He remembered the day he challenged Takhisis directly, and the forces of the Dark Queen in Ice Wall. That was the day she tried to steal the power of the moons, and the day he sacrificed his very life to preserve the magic that flows through him and others. Now, with all he has done, this happens.

He slammed a fist upon the desk and shot forward in the seat.......

"Enough of this woman and her insolence. She will regret the day she tangled with me."

He rose from the chair, and walked out the office door. He strode through the school and out the main doors. He turned east, and walked. Soon he was standing outside the gates of Newport. He looked around quickly, and approached a rather large Ogre standing guard....

"You, go get me your commanding officer and be quick about it."

The Ogre took a moment to look at the mage, and grunted out the words "Me get me bossy now"
After a few moments of watching the troops, and the troops watching him, the commander appeared from behind the gate, and appraoched.

"What is it you want Magus. I do not have all day, so make this brief."

"I am Elra Gilfaen; Master of the Order of the Unseen moon, and a very powerful Archmagus. I am here with a message. Due to your Emporess finding it suitable in her own eye to banish the magi of the tower from the lands of the Queen; I am here to give you warning. You have one week, no more; to vacate this town, and remove all your troops; or they will be destroyed"

The DragonArmy Commander looked around Nervously a few times. His eyes darting to the shadows, and treeline, looking for other magi. His eyes also went side to side, making sure his troops were still there in case he had to fight. He subconsciously let his hand slip to the hilt of his blade.

"If you draw that weapon commander; it will be the grandest mistake of your soon to be shortened insignificant life" the black robe smirked.

"I will deliver your message, but do not think it will be met with acceptance; and should you attack this town, then you shall face the full force of the Queen" said the commander.

Gilfaen chuckled a cold, melodic laugh. "Then I have already won." Was all he said. Then he turned and began to walk away, back to the school.

During the walk back, he solidified his stance. No longer was terms going to be dictated by Shana, and her band of worms. If she wants to flex her power, then she will be shown what power is....


//This is the post letting everyone know the Intent to liberate Newport. It will take place in 8 days. That is next friday in the afternoon us time, or early morning for the overseas people. Please post here in an ooc format, so we can set the right time for everyone to be there that wants to participate.

Beau'loregan, the young Red Magus, sat atop a hill just outside the Qualinesti forest, look across the plains and roads towards the Abanasinian School of Magic with his head bowed. He took a few deep breaths as he took out his spell book from a magic pouch within his robes and began to study the spells within for awhile, beginning his long preparation for the battle ahead until he felt he needed a break and so he stood and leaning on his staff he moved within the Forest behind him with a grin.

It is time to finally cast a strike back at those that which ruined my life.

He thought as he found his way to the bridge, overlooking the water as he coughed into his sleeve, before holding his head high and proudly, retaining his old posture of the soldier he once was.

Gilfaen left the School, and headed east. He had one goal in mind. The retaking of Newport. He casually strolled down the road when he heard whispers coming from down a side path. He cautiously approached.
He witnessed a knight, kneeling by the bushes, praying. He approached.

"Why do you kneel at the end of a country road and pray to Paladine Knight? There are no shrines around here."

"The gods here the prayers of their faithful no matter where they are." Said the knight as he stood and turned around. His face immediately became a grimace as he looked upon the black robes of the magi that stood before him. He was a bit nervous as well it seemed.

"While I do not claim to understand your ways or motives master Wizard; I have heard of your upcoming battle to free newport from the Dragonarmies and their Queen of Darkness" the knight exclaimed.

A smirk and a chuckle escaped Gilfaen as he looked to the knights unfavorable view of his robes. "Look upon me as I am knight. I do not blame you for your suspicious looks at me. Many of your kind give them to me everyday. I am used to it. As for the battle. It is not a battle against the aries itself. It is a message to the Emporess, that the free peoples of Krynn shall no longer suffer under the oppression and tyranny that she and her foul Queen have wrought upon this land."

The Knight nodded his agreement. He looked beyond Gilfaen a moment, as the magus Beau'loregan, and the acolyte Aylanli came walking up. From behind a grouping of tress, several magus, and even archmagus appeared as well. Gilfaen would not be alone after all.

"I offer my blade to you for this noble, and righteous cause" The knightly proudly proclaimed.

Gilfaen only nodded, then turned to the magi gathered. He saw two white robes in the crowd. He looked to them a moment before one stepped forward. "The Magus Sarosh lobbied the order of the white robes to stay clear of this battle, yet we know that it is for the good of magic that you do this. We shall stand with you Master Gilfaen"

Gilfaen nodded, then spoke. "Too long have we suffered at the hands of the Emporess and her foul Queen my brothers and sisters. Our students, and even the magus of the tower are arrested and jailed without trial; for no other reason than they are magi, or associated with we of the moons. I say it is time to give a message to the Emporess that enough is Enough. No longer will we bow down to her rule, and kiss her arse as she expects all to do. Today we cast spell in a battle, but a battle for freedom. I ask you to stand with me as we march into the town and give hope to the citizens that suffer in squalor at the bootheel of that Foul dog Emporess, and her miserable Queen of Dragons."

As one, the tower magi cried in unison of their support for the master of the black robes. "Then let us move on to write the next page in history!" Gilfaen cried. He turned and moved down the road towards Newport. He could see the defences a short distance from his band. The arrows came flying in. A few magi cast their spells and brought forth powerful gusts of wing to throw the arrows off course to fall harmlessly to the earth. Gilfaen, at the head of the troupe cried out the order to advance and attack. The magi rushed in.

Outside the gates, the magi met the Ogre and goblinoid fodder of the Armies. Spells of energy missiles, fiery arrows and bolts flew from outstretched hands. Shards of peircing ice fell from the sky. Meteors of fiery rock rained down on the heads of the Soldiers. On they moved into the city proper. Gilfaen was slammed in the back by magic. Stunned momentarily, he turned to see on of the Magus of his order in the throws of casting another spell. Gilfaen gritted his teeth, and turned to the upstart mage. Missiles of energy came in, only to be met with a shimmering field of protection. Gilfaen grinned wickedly as the magi tried to cast another spell. But he was not quick enough. The master of the black robes cast his spell. He stretched his arm and pointed at the magus. A brief wisp of magical energies surrounded the magus, then his lifeless form fell to the ground. Gilfaen turned to see the battle in full swing. He cast his powerful enchantments upon himself, then went to work.

Goblins, Hobgoblins and humans of the Dark Queen fell by the score. Gilfaens powerful magic could not be stopped. A shrieking wail was heard. Several soldiers dropped their swords to the ground, followed by their dead bodies. The others were hard at work as well. The knight swung his sword with all the honor and valor that was welled up inside of his noble heart. The acolyte Aylanli crept from shadow to shadow using her newly found teachings, and her skill of stealth to her best advantage. The red robe Magus Beau'loregan cast spell after spell. His most powerful magics, and stood firm in the face of death.

Two Ogres came in at Gilfaen. They were unseen until they struck. Two large swords cut deep wounds into his flesh. He adapted quickly, and called forth a powerful summons. He slinked himself back and cast his spell that allowed him to be unseen. He watched as his summons was cut down by the ogres, then they looked around confused. Gilfaen used this opportunity drink a potion that restored his health. He stood tall once more, and that was the last thing the ogres knew. He cast a spell. Another wail sounded, and both ogres fell dead to the stone streets of Newport. Gilfaen looked around as the battle progressed. This area was secure. He used his magic to enhance his voice and called for the press to the docks. The attackers moved on. The docks were the last chance of survival for the Army soldiers. But in their heart of hearts they knew they would soon be looking upon their queen.

Several of the officers fled the battle trying to save their necks; leaving their men to die. A ship was outbound in the harbor carrying the Top commander, and his staff. "So much for Loyalty" Gilfaen though. He called his magics to him once more. A very large, and very hot ball of flame soared across the sky, slamming into the deck of the ship. The heat and flames struck the stored powder magazines in the hold. The ship became a floating funeral pyre. Another ship was being boarded, and gilfaen brought down a hailstorm of meteors on it. A score of soldiers and officers sank to the bottom of the harbor. Gilfaen smiled wickedly at the thought of how they died. It was surely slow and painful; drowning with their heavy armor on.

They cleared the docks, and took a moment to breathe. They exchanged looks and nods of the victory that was coming. The call came too soon for any of them. Draconian shock troops had poured forth from a home, and attempted to block the attackers escape. The knight raised his sword in Salute, as the acolyte went to the shadows. The magi looked to the Scaled things, and went to thier routines. After a short moment, the din of battle slowly died away, and in crept the silence of death.

Commoners, hearing no more clanging of sword and shield emerged from their homes to look upon the destruction that was their town. A few citizens were dead, and several more wounded. The Knight moved in to pray for the dead, and attempt to heal the wounded as best he could. The acolyte, Aylanli, with her abilities to read magic, and use magical items, assisted him. Gilfaen moved to the center of the town and once more used his art to enhance his voice so all could hear him.

"Noble citizens of Newport. The loss of life and destruction to your homes is regrettable; yet that is the price of battle. However, you have cause to rejoice. Mourn your loss, yet cheer; for the oppression of the Armies and their Dragon Queen have met their last day. Once more, you are free to wander the streets in safety. We of the tower shall use every means at our disposal, be they monetary or magical to aid in rebilding your homes back to what they should be, if not better. Bury your dead in peace, and lay your heads down this night in sleep knowing that your lives shall only become richer from here."

The citizens, still in shock of what had just transpired, cast nervous glances to one another. A few cheered the tower magi as they left back to the tower. Gilfaen walked to the knight.

"Knight, perhaps you might be able to convince your superiors to lend aid and troops to defend this own? However, make it known to them that the tower has a presence here now. The arcanum is tower domain." A few words were exchanged, and Gilfaen, feeling the curse of the magi, slowly crept his way back to the tower. He was soon asleep. Confident in his work. Today is the first day in a new world...


//I left many of the actions and words of other PC's open for their own Posts. I would like to see them. It should be interesting.

The red robed figure followed along side Gilfaen and as they came upon New Port he halted his march and began casting enchantments on the entire group of magi, allowing them to move with blinding speed and overtake the defenses. As he followed up then seeing the battle in full swing he recalled the words of magic, feeling it flow through him as it came to his finger tips. Reciting the words to release it he let forth a bolt of magic, erupting a couple of oncoming soldiers in flame leaving their lifeless corpses cringing. He then took a better grip on his staff as he stopped leaning on it and sprang forth with unseen strength, passed the rest of the magi as he blundered in, magical auras swelling around the young magus as they repelled the soldiers from laying harm to him, and instead laying harm to themselves.

Side to side he glanced, observing the scene before him, his eyes squinting and screams heard, sword against staff, crashing of bodies and destruction of city blocks as magic is called forth. Spotting a group of resistance not yet touched he advanced on it, outstretching a hand and reciting the magic he studied so hard to remember and quickly a pillar of flame erupts from just infront of the soldiers and materializes into a large elemental. The startled soldiers recounted their steps until the elemental's sweep fell on them, upstarting the surprised soldier in flame as it grew hotter and hotter, the other two soldiers metal armor glowing hot under the heat from the elemental, burning their skin. Many arrows sprang out and struck the elemental numerous times before it too fell lifeless. With a growl the magi recited the words of magic and oustretched his hand, pointing a finger at the archers before crackles are heard and the air grew hot for a moment before a loud crackle boomed out, lightning striking the soldiers in turn. Beau'loregan overcame his enemies with relative ease. Though the battle was not just yet over, there was still much to do.

Moving further into the City of New Port Beau'loregan spotted a couple soldiers and an archer behind a fence, the soldier hopped over and ran forth towards Beau, as he began recalling those intricate words suddenly the Acolyte Aylanli jumped out and slit the throat of the soldier, and now seeing his target he outstretched a hand, heat swelling at his palm as a fireball shot forth singing the remaining soldiers.

The battle was going well and as they reached the docks Beau sprang farther ahead of the force of magi, much further and reached the end of the docks where he faced a large group of soldiers alone. He recited the words to magic calling a massive defensive aura to himself, the soldiers found themselves senselessly bashing against an unbreakable wall of magic as he then raised his hands, dropping his staff as he called forth the powerful magic laying inside him, bringing the dormant illusion magic forth as before his eyes alone and the soldiers eyes, a phantasm sprang from the ground. All of the soldiers stared at the phantasm with such great fear overtaking them, their faces cringed in pain, all of them dropping their weapons and clutching some part of their head as their mouths drew ever further agape with such utter fear that they all soon dropped dead, lifeless on the ground. Others nearby would've only felt the flux of magic and seen the soldiers reaction. Beau'loregan had effectively cleared a large group of Dragon Army soldiers with a single spell, and left the entire docks without the bulk of their force. Though they had one more trick up their sleeve, and tired from the casting he snatched his staff up from the ground he jogged off down the road, until he finally circled back and found the formed up Draconian lines as they moved upon Gilfaen and calling what magic he had left, fireballs crackling and lightning bolts jolting forward, assisting in killing this last organized resistance. He had been left drained from the battle, as he once again leaned onto his staff heavily, coughing into his sleeve.

_______________________________

Moving down the road back towards the school the young Magus Beau'loregan had felt pride swell in him at the effectiveness his magic held in the battle. He was now one of the six magi assisting in the defense of New Port, to oversee the people and assist in the rebuilding of their town.

Auron Lightbringer kneeled to one of the wounded citizens of New Port. As he quietly prayed the Gods to heal the man's wounds, he looked around the city. The magic used in the battle had done much destruction to it, the Tower and its mages were indeed very powerful. After the wounds of the man had healed completely, Auron moved forward to the next one - a small boy crying, his right hand was covered with scalds caused by a fireball or a similar spell. Auron closed his eyes and started the prayer to help the boy. To undo the damage made by the magic fire...

~FLASHBACK~

The gates open as they were hit by the magic strikes from numerous mages. Auron charged in with the first line, he swung, he parried, he deflected an arrow with his shield, then slashed with his blade again. He hadn't even realized what he was fighting against until now that he saw two goblins lying dead on the ground. He continued his way through the goblins, looking at the surroundings through his helm. There was fire, ice and lightning striking all around the city's gate. He stabbed one goblin dead and turned to kill the last one. As he looked down, the only thing he saw was a squashed goblin's remains and a big foot standing on top of it. He looked up and saw four big ogres standing in front of him, and then one of them struck with his large sword. Auron got his shield in between the strike, but still he was thrown through the air due to the impact. Two of the ogres continued towards him as the other two joined the other ogres in the battle against the mages.

~FLASHBACK ENDED~

Auron opened his eyes, the boy wasn't crying anymore. His mother walked to him and smiled, almost laughed as did the boy. The scalds were gone. Auron wiped some sweat off from his face and a slight smile appeared on his lips, something good in the midst of a unfortunate event. He moved to the next wounded yelling in pain.

~FLASHBACK~

The growl turned into a yell of agony as Auron struck his sword to the ogres neck and turned it. "One down, one to go", he thought and pulled his sword out. The other ogre charged at him. At first Auron thought about trying to evade, but with full plate on that was a ludicrous idea. So he decided to do something the ogre didn't expect him to do. He charged against him and at the last nick of time he jumped with his shield in front of him towards the ogres knees. The two collided and Auron crashed hard on the ground as the ogre flew over him hitting the ground a some yards behind him. Auron stood up shaken.

"Never do that again..." he mumbled to himself and looked at the ogre, who was standing up as well.

"Kiri-Jolith bless me with your strength!" Auron yelled and attacked the ogre, which had difficulties standing up as its knee had been twisted by the collision with Auron's shield. The righteously flaming sword of the knight cut down the darkness serving beast without a doubt.

Auron turned towards the battle and saw that the Dragonarmies were pulling back towards the city center. He joined the first line again as they met the evil creatures in the city center.

~FLASHBACK ENDED~

Auron was exhausted. He had helped the wounded for hours and now he was blessing those who had perished in the battle. He had promised to talk with his superiors about joining the Tower in defense of this town. The politic aspect of the issue didn't interest him, the important thing was the safety of these now free people of New Port. With the whiterobes the cooperation could be easier, but there would be red ones and some black ones as well. He was worried about the interaction between knights and blackrobes, but there was little he could do. Hopefully the knights who might be stationed here would have the best interest of the citizens in mind and wouldn't cause trouble with the mages. The master of the blackrobes had promised that the blackrobes wouldn't cause any trouble, so maybe it could work. And it will be an opportunity to learn to know the mages better, the fear and distrust the Solamnic Order has towards the Tower is due to the unknown nature of the mages. The knights don't understand them, thus they fear that what they cannot comprehend.

Auron snapped up, he was almost asleep. He had travelled for many days to the city so that he could join the battle against the darkness of Takhisis, fought in the battle and now healed and blessed the wounded and the dead. He looked around, no more bodies to be blessed. He stood up and nodded to the citizens who were waiting to bury the dead.

"You can bury them now, they will rest in peace." He said and started to walk towards the inn. He was in need of a rest as he had been summoned to Palanthas as soon as possible. He would have to speak to his superiors about the situation in New Port. But now for eight full hours, he would sleep. He didn't have a clue why he had been summoned to the capital of Solamnia, but perhaps it was something good.

As Gilfaen awoke from his sleep within the security of the Tower, he shook off the sleep and moved up the stairs leading to the conclave chamber. He entered the sizable square room, and looked at the chairs arranged in a circle. He sighed to himself that so many of the Conclave members were away from the tower at the moment. But he knew what he could do.
He walked to the center of the room, and stood withing the magical glyphs arranged on the floor. He began casting his spells, and soon found himself linked to the red robe that was his former mentor, and perhaps dearest friend.

"Mistress Amberyl, the citizens of Newport no longer suffer under the oppression of the Dragon Armies. Myself, and some of the magi of the tower, as well as a knight of Solamnia who lent his sword to the cause were successful in freeing the town. Much damage was done, however, we are currently in the process of arranging for rebuilding efforts to swarm the town for the citizens. I have assigned the magus Beau'loregan to the city for a time to help in the rebuild, as well as the Archmagus Aryn'dal. Since they are of Your order, I figured it best to leave her and him since they have the path of neutrality in mind. But I also have left Black robes and white robes as well. I am seeing to it that the towers interests are looked after in full. Do you have any words or instructions to add?"

He waited for a moment, as if listening to an unseen and unheard person or voice. After a few moments, he spoke again...

"Very well Amberyl. I shall see to it that it is done."

With that, he sat in his chair, and called forth a quill and paper from thin air. The magical items began taking down notes as Gilfaen spoke them.

"I, Elra Gilfaen Garath; having spoken to Archmagus Amberyl Amethystral; hereby instruct a group of magus from the Red order to return to Newport and open the Arcanum of the three moons there."

He snapped his fingers, and the parchment rolled itself nicely, and the quill faded away. He rose to his feet and returned back to the tower proper. He went to the third floor, which was the red robe area, and spoke with a few archmagus there.
An hour later, the red robes were unpacking their items and setting up. The Arcanum was opened once more.

Her head down on her desk, Aryn, sighed heavily thinking of what she could do for all of this to turn out alright. Fraught with worry she sat there as he prepared to go into battle. "I know he will be wondering why I am not there." Slowly she stood and reattached her cloak picking up her stave as well. She makes her way to the door and across the hall to the portal leading her into the Tower. Up the many stairs she went to the room where she had recently learned the truth about her whole life. Tossing back her hood and laying her staff against the wall she closed her eyes speaking the words of magius calling forth an image before her. For hours she stood not moving and watched as he fought off the evils that sought to take him and the others down. Her pride swelled even though her heart was in her throat with worry for him. His health seemed to take drastic turns from awful to miraculous. Lightning bolts, fire balls, and elementals sprang forth from his hands. She smiled slightly as she watched him battle for the people, for the magi, and most of all for himself. When it was finally over she closed her eyes a moment and thanked the gods for his safety and their victory. Picking up her staff again she made her way back to the outer sitting area. Sinking into a chair she rested, exhausted from the tension that tightened all of her muscles. She had not eaten all day for her reluctance to leave his side. She smiled a little knowing he would admonish her for that, and so reached into a pouch producing some dried fruits and chewing slowly.



THE DAY BEFORE:

A light rap was heard on the outter door as she beckoned the shaken looking student into her study. "What is it Ella'tharaslena?" The girl looked at her hesitantly then spoke in a soft voice. "M-master G-gilfaen wishes to see you Archmagus." With an upraised brow she nodded and asked his location then dismissed the girl. Putting her work away she gathered a few items and made her way to him.

"Greetings Master Gilfaen, you wished to see me?"

Gilfaen looked up from his work and waved her in to his study. "Yes Archmagus, I did. Come in and sit." Gilfaen waved a hand and the chair across from him on the other side of his large desk moved out for her. "I know you plan to be by your brothers side tomorrow." he smirked as he saw the pained look cross her face at the reference to her "brother". "I have been in contact with Archmagus Amberyl. She has instructed me to inform you, that she does not want you to be a part of the battle. She is fully aware of the controversy surrounding Beau'loregan and his test of High Sorcery. She thinks it more prudent for him to be left to his own vises in this. With you standing by his side coddling him, how is he to gain the confidence and the backbone of a magus? You are not forbidden from being involved; but how will it look if he has to be protected by you from the enemy? Let him live and learn, or fall into obscurity of death by his own actions. Now, leave me. I am very busy at the moment, and do not have time to hold your hand and guide you as you walk the path of indecision." With that, Gilfaen waved his hand to dismiss her, and the door behind her opened. He took his cold icy gaze from her and went back to his papers.


"What would make him think that I would disobey my mentor?" , she smirks as she walks away. "Of course he is a black robe and answers to no one and wouldn't even if he should. But no matter. I am not undecided. It is taken out of my hands... in a way." Her mind reels on what she can do to see to it that he comes out of this alright. That they all do. She makes her way out of the school to the bordering forests and calls forth Askin'tra. "Watch over him my dear, you alone know what he means to me. It is very important that you be there if something should go dreadfully wrong, but I do not want you to act. Just watch. Understand?" She smiles slightly though it is beginning to sink in that she is breaking a promise to him and once again won't be there to protect him. But this battle he chooses to enter on his own. It was not thrust upon him. She gives the psuedodragon a little treat and sends him off after a gentle pat. "I can only pray he will understand and forgive me."

Before the Battle
________________________
The cold eyes softened as he looked through the group of magi reading their spell books in last minute preparation. They eyes searched through them, piercing every last magi who wore red, searching.

He found nothing.

Gulping down a trace of anger, his features glazed with disappointment for a moment, his thoughts raced from one to another, from anger to depression, to loathing and sorrow. Until finally he conceded under his breath,

"I will make you see A'ryndil, I will make you see I have grown, with or without you."

Raising his gaze as the Master of the Black Robes filtered through his speech until finally he spoke once more in a firm voice, a determined edge to it.

"I stand with you."

With that only the words of magic and determination ran his thoughts, the magic swelled through him in bitter hatred, not for Archmagus A'ryndil, but for those he sought to rip their life from, for the damage they have done to him and his life.

"I'll remove these bastards so they can not do to someone else what they did to me. I'll restore balance to this town." his thoughts yelled, and then the words of magic escaped his tongue and the battle had begun.

A few minutes before Gilfaen leaves the school to head to New Port...

__________________________________________________

A large black, furry mass brushes against her for the third time, and finally she opens her eyes to her surroundings - a large, carpeted room with bookshelves crammed full of knowledge on just about anything she could find. She smilled to the ebon cat circling her, before tilting her head and whispering softly.

"What is it?"

Her mind begins to race as images of the various conflicts she has participated inwith her companion flood her thoughts, with the single emotion of urgency. Her eyes swivel to the doorway. A soft glow emits from the fanciful carved door's bottom, but it extends only a part of an inch. marking that it's far passed sunrise.

She stands, and with a new sense of haste searches for her twin blades, twisting them into their respective sheathes, she briskly walks to the door, and steps into the dazzling daylight. She sighs lightly, and inhales to calm her growing nerves.

"I'm not ready for this.. I should be.. No, too late now." She thinks to herself.

She places her left hand over the forest glove covering her right arm, feeling for the steel contained underneath. Practice and use proves useful, as she passes her hand over the magical steel, and speaks a single forign word. The world slows, as if someone had just replaced the air with a liquid. She begins a dash - the caravan would be far too slow, she reasons, headed for New Port.

She arrives, wiped from the magical enhanced marathon, and takes to the shadows, hiding behind a small wall as she spots the black master, Elra Gilfaen. She simply listened as Gilfaen spoke with a man she didn't recognize.

"...I am used to it. As for the battle. It is not a battle against the aries itself. It is a message to the Emporess, that the free peoples of Krynn shall no longer suffer under the oppression and tyranny that she and her foul Queen have wrought upon this land." The black master proclaims.

Spotting the red robed magi, Beau'loregan, she moves back along the wall until just out of sight, where she detaches herself from the shadows and feigns a casual stroll up to Gilfaen, Beau'loregan, and the strange knight, all the while quelling butterflies rising in her stomach. Reassurance comes in the form of multipule appearing magi, whom she all examines, finding not one of them a familiar face. The elven maiden bluffs attention while arguing with herself.

"You're just an acolyte, Ayla. What're you doing here with all of the full-fledged magi? You're going to get in the way.. Or worse.."

"..No, I will prove myself. I'll show them that despite not being what they expect, they've no right to claim superiority."

She continues to incoherently debate while her time ticks away, too lost in thought to muster a full reply to anything around her, snapping from her trance as the entire group begins moving, followed by the familiar feeling of the world slowing, with the exception of the other magi around her. She looks up to see the finishing touches on Beau's haste spell. She smiles weakly to him, but he has already turned about and continued his march to the city edges, halting as the entire group prepares mentally and physically for the combat that will soon be upon them.

She releases the spells she prepared earlier that day, nearly each of them directly enhancing her blades or her physical abilities, forsaking any other form of possible magic.

It's now or never, Ayla. There is no retreat. There is no fear. There is just you, your blade, and the enemy before you.

The magi pour into the city, a volley of arrows being halted by an unknown magister. Her first thought is to face them head on - with the back up of the tower mages.. But it soon proves itself flawed, as a single careless spell rips her life's energy from both her and her opponet. She immediately draws back behind a nearby wall administering a salve to her right side, produced to reduce the effects of magic near immediately to a victim. She sighs as the cooling effects set in, and muses over how to effectively fight in this battle.

Chain of command.. We have master Gilfaen.. The hostiles must have leaders too.. A serpent without a head is not much more than a tube.

Using the gifts granted her by her shady past, she moves through the town, slipping along walls and through shadows, until finding a man commanding a unit. She slips up behind him as he begins to call out another order, a blade driving itself through both his armor, and heart. The human man drops dead nearly immediately, flesh sizzling from the enhanced, flaming blade she withdraws from her victim's chest. Swinging herself around, she notices she is being enclosed from nigh every side, and hastily slips away as a spell goes off, striking the soldiers and redirecting them away from her.

She continues onward, hardly stopping to think of what she was doing, when she came across another group, headed by a foul creatue she only knew from books - a draconian, whom was commanding another, larger unit. As she began approaching the creature, it sniffed the air, and turned directly toward her, staring but a few feet to her left. She froze, knowing it was only a matter of time..

But in the distance a piercing shriek rent the air, redirecting nearly all attention toward it as the sounds of bodies dropping followed. In this brief moment, she slips into an small ally, attempting to convince herself what she was doing was actually a /good/ idea.

They're big.. And strong.. And clever.. But that armor has got to slow them.. I'll flee if things go badly.. Come on legs.. Work!

She moves from the ally, and the draconian again turns toward her, advancing on her as she on him. They meet halfway, nearly in the middle of the street, and engage in combat neither could afford to lose. She acted first, driving her spiked blade toward where the creature's heard should be.. But unlike most her opponets, it simply struck and bent to the side, leaving a small hole and burn in the creature's armor.

It laughs at her pathetic attempt, raising it's own larger weapon to crush the frail elven woman who dared assult him.

The draconian's powerful swing is caught in her offhand weapon, the curved blade of the kukri proving quite effective to hold it in place.. For the time being. But the creature simply kept pushing. Her muscles, attuned to brief, but strenuous exertations are ill prepared for a simply contest, and burnt as she begin being crushed to the ground.

"This is a terrible way to die" she muttered aloud, it lost in the chaos of battle. As her arm began to give way, the draconian suddently burst into a pillar of flame, and pranced about, before collapsing in a pile of burnt flesh. She turned back to see the red magus Beau'loregan preparing another spell. She nodded a brief thanks, before fleeing the scene once more.

The magi press deeper into the city, hasted by a motive lost to her, and a ship exploded in a flash of light and fire on the distant docks. She, hidden by magic and shadow creeps along, following the magi, occasionally executing an opponet who strays too close.

Once more spotting Beau, she follows along near him as he strides into a square, his erected wards shining in the daylight. One of the men directly across from him hefts himself over the fence, and begins to charge toward the visable target - Beau. She, however, steps out, driving her blade through the tender flesh of his throat, and withdrawing it just as quickly. She offers a smile and a smirk back toward Beau, who now appears lost in his casting of a spell to destroy the remaining foes.

Once more taking to the shadows, she sighs, treating the various side-effects she's suffered from fighting alongside magi who can't see her most the time. "The battle goes well.. It should be over soon. Hopefully everyone survive- What?"

The silvanesti lass spots the knight, and directly after a large grouping of some of the meanest draconians she's ever seen - albiet she's only seen a few. Advancing toward them appears as a good idea, until it becomes blatently obvious they all somehow detected her, likely due to their draconic nature.

Locked in combat with foes her blades cannot pierce, and greatly outnumbered, her flesh is rended multipule times, leaving her gasping for air, and the remainder of her life as she's forced to abandon the knight to face them alone.. At least until both Gilfaen and Beau appear, swiftly ending them.

She sits out the remainder of the battle, tending to her own wounds until it is claimed as finally over, at which time she removes herself from the shadows, still badly wounded, but feigning strength and vitality. Moving about town, she administers to the wounded with the remainder of her medicine, as well as magical potions.

For a select few, she braves the danger of messing with magic you do not understand. Adept at activating things she doesn't fully understand, she manages to empower scrolls intended for priests and other holy members, bringing a few dead commoners back to life, and reuniting them with their family with a content smile on her face.

She ackwardly meets with the magi, having helped those in need rather than listening to Gilfaen's speech, and soon she departs for home, begining to limp heavily as soon as she's out of sight of city walls. Once her two caravan rides are up, and she arrives in her home, she limps to her bed, and falls onto it face-first, tears of anguish rolling down her cheeks for a very long time.