Rest and Refuge

[Addis Hellfire]

"Flaccus, focus on the Knight. We can settle this later. Flaccus!"

*Addis is about to say more, but he has to duck an attack, then counter with an Energy Ray. He steps back and suddenly vanishes again. Throwing his voice behind Flaccus, he speaks.*

"Attack the Knight, Flaccus. Do it, now!"

[Jozan Dumarr]

He is clever, your invisible brother. As you are slaying me, he slays you, and claims all the honour for himself. Even as I speak, he is surely concocting some tale of your disloyalty to take back to Krynn with him.

[Flaccus Hellfire]

*Flaccus slides back a few feet, and falls to his knees, gasping for breath. He coughs a few times than stands. Holding the sword in a defensive position, he walks towards a corner of the room where he can see Jozan and (hopefully) see Addis.*

"You, human, shut up. Aurak, same goes for you. There are still two runes on this sword, and they're enough to kill both of you. Jus-"

*Flaccus ducks as the wall behind him just got an extra hole added to its state of disrepair.*

"That just sealed your fate, reptile."

*Flaccus holds the sword so one clawed hand is on both the hilt and the blade itself. The hand that is holding the blade starts to trace the runes, and Flaccus hisses the command words . . . Than stops in his tracks. His eyes go wide, than his face resembles one of pure horror.*

"B-b-b-Brother. Did you just hear what I heard? We have to go, now!"

*With that, Flaccus jumps out the window, spreading his wings before he hits the ground, and flies off towards the north.*

[OOC: Continued in "Exiting/Entering Wolfenden" in the Paths to Wolfenden and beyond subforum. What Flaccus, and Addis, heard simultaniously will be in Addis' next post.]

[Addis Hellfire]

*Addis listens to the Knight's words, and the apparently successful attempt at turning the brothers against each other. He then hears Flaccus speak of the runes . . . What did the runes to again? Addis thought to himself, than he suddenly aimed at the blade and unleashed a large energy bolt . . . and hit the wall instead as Flaccus ducked. Addis is about to begin casting Hold Person on Flaccus, than kill Jozan, when he hears a voice. He freezes in place and becomes visible. His look is like a mirror of Flaccus'.*

[OOC: Not putting this in * *, but keep in mind that only Addis and Flaccus can hear this - unless somebody is reading their minds.]

The Voice is neither feminine or masculine. The Voice sounds urgent, and very desperate. "Come, my children. All Draconians and Dragons, Humans and Minotaurs, all children of the Queen of Darkness. I command you to return to Krynn at once. The end of the war is nigh, and the so-called Heroes of the Lance are approaching my grand temple of Neraka with their army of the White Stone council. Their forces bear the mighty Dragonlances. Barom the Everman is with them, and I need the gemstone embedded in his chest. Come my children, for the final battle of the War of the Lance is here, and we are losing."

*Addis' face turns to one that is a mixture of pure hatred and confusion. He stares at Jozan long and hard, then gives a frusterated roar as he walks to the edge of the window, casts the spell Fly on himself, and then flies off towards Flaccus in the North. As he does so, he hovers and turns towards the Knight.*

"I have been summoned by my Queen. I must aid in the War of the Lance, and then I will return for you. Remember, Knight of Solamnia, you are never safe so long as I live. So long as one of the Hellfire Clan of Draconians live."

*Addis continues his flight.*

[OOC: Continued in "Exiting/Entering Wolfenden".]

[Jozan Dumarr]

[OOC: The character of Jozan was brought in at the request of the Hellfire Brothers to help their story progress. Although those characters have seemingly been abandoned, I kept the character dormant in case they returned. That seems even more unlikely now, and there's nothing further I wish to do with this character, so I think it's right to bring some closure to him, else he'll be lurking around the school forever!

Please note that the following happens well before Robin and Shadow's arrival at the school grounds.]

*Jozan watches Addis until he has soared out of sight, slightly sickened by the agility which the power flight lends such foul creatures. He waits until he is sure that it isn't a ruse, and that the Aurak really has gone. All the while, he has been thinking over Addis' parting words. The beast did not realise how those words defeated themselves.*

Remember, Knight of Solamnia, you are never safe...

I am indeed a Knight of Solamnia, and my destiny is not to be safe. That I do remember.

You are never safe so long as I live. So long as one of the Hellfire Clan of Draconians live.

And so long as I live, my honour is my life.

*Jozan stands tall for a moment, then begins to pack away his belongings. He considers how his time at this forsaken school has been a time of lessons relearned. Addis' talk of a Queen and a War have, however, not stirred his memory, and he is uncertain that it is his fight. What is more certain to him is that the Draconians will come for him again one tomorrow.

That is why, resolves Jozan as he descends the stairs, he will not try returning to Krynn. He will stay in this new realm, learning more of it, giving himself every advantage over those who would see him fall. And as he does so, he will serve this domain as best he can. Something tells him that knighthood, and all it stands for, is woven into the fabric of these lands.

As is adventuring. Returning to the town to gather more information feels too easy. Jozan, having left the main school building, crosses to an intact section of the outer wall and scales it. There are challenges to which to rise, internal and external.

Jozan is soon in the woods. He is holding one of the items he purchased in Wolfenden's marketplace. He holds it in front him. Nothing happens. Noticing that it is dirty, Jozan polishes the broach and tries again. This time, a shimmering pink oval appears ahead of him. Jozan walks forward, allowing the reflector's projection to guide his footsteps. After some time, the oval fades away in the presence of a portal that nestles among the trees. It is deep and dark. Forbidding himself to flinch or falter, Jozan keeps walking and disappears through the doorway.*