Fensalir

Swamp Wolf Familiar A guardian of wetland territories. 2800 Rivermouth Flatbill Familiar The squawks of Rivermouth Flatbills can carry for a mile. Dragons prefer not to settle near Flatbill territory; the creatures are nocturnal. 0 Fenfisher Flattail Familiar Unlike its icy cousin, this plucky mammal doesn't catch fish for its own sustenance, but rather to barter with shoreline Ridgeback families for nuts, grains, and grasses. 250 Mossy Pohip Familiar Fantastic at devouring pond flora, except that which is deposited on its back. 4000 Kelpie Familiar Most dragons are too large to practically ride a kelpie, and as such are regarded as allies, not prey. 250

is a powerful marsh witch. She can call forth a thick mist to hide herself or confuse her enemies, or can bring water bubbling to the surface of the earth, creating sinkholes that swallow them whole. Her delving skills are unmatched, and enable her to find hidden and lost things.
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Ivalaine gently cradled the limp corpse of her High Priestess in her claws. She still could not come to grips with the harsh reality before her.

Saranya steadily held the Nocturne's gaze, urging her to be still and calm. "She is barely responsive to my power. I will not be able to hold her for long. We must immobilize her. If we do not we will likely die."

Fensalir stared at the scene before her, horrified. The bodies of her clanmates lay strewn before her, torn apart by the general sworn to protect them. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I can slow her down." She closed her eyes and calmed her breathing, letting her consciousness sink slowly down into the depths of the earth. There. She felt the water flowing deep beneath her, and urged it upward. "Saranya, step away from her."

The Skydancer slowly did as she was bid, never breaking her gaze with the Nocturne before her. The ground around the maddened general darkened, the earth became loose, and Shiva began to slowly sink.

Ivalaine clutched the limp mirror tighter. "Will you kill her?" she asked the Pearlcatcher. "No. the sinkhole is not that deep. She will likely soon be free, but we should have enough time to get away."

"We must find Lagertha. The necromancer is our only hope to revive our priestess and save our clan." said Ivalaine. "Lets be quickly away". She took one final look at her dearest friend, her friend no longer, who had slain her priestess.

Saranya nodded, and as the Nocturne sank up to her neck in earth, broke her gaze, turning to lead the group away. "We must find somewhere safe to hide, to give Fensalir time to search, to find Lagertha. Come, Quickly!"

The three ran quickly through the dark forest, dodging brambles. Ivailaine called upon the shadows to surround the group, hiding their presence.
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The group ran on, exhausted. They came to a stop by some brambles, and crouched to remain hidden.

They could hear laughter in the distance. Their general followed close on their heels, humming a haunting tune. "She grows closer." panted Saranya.
"The shadows will protect us for now, but we must draw her away." whispered Ivalaine.

"I will confuse her path. I'll summon a protective mist. It will hide us and cover our trail." Fensalir took a steadying breath, calling the water to her, willing it to saturate the air for miles around. "That should keep her away for a while." Fensalir stood.

"There is a cave, near the river. I go there when I need a quiet place to focus. It should be safe. I've never brought anyone there before."

"Lead the way." said Saranya.

They followed the river upstream, and the water grew louder. They came upon a waterfall. "This way." Fensalir led the way, parting the flowing water to reveal a narrow passage through the rock. Saranya looked at the Guradian beside her. "You won't fit." Ivalaine glanced at the passage, then turned to Fensalir.

"How far is the chamber we seek?"
"Not far" Fensalir assured her. "Maybe a quarter mile."

Ivalaine nodded and held her fallen priestess close, melting into the shadows. "I will meet you there" her voice echoed around them though they could no longer see her. She and their priestess walked the shadow realm now.
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The chamber was large and damp. Water pooled in shallow craters in the stone and dripped from the cave walls and ceiling. In the center was a larger, deeper pool. "Wait here" said Fensalir, as she pulled a crystal pendant from around her neck. She approached the pool, holding the crystal before her. It swayed gently from side to side, and her eyes grew heavy as she watched. She entered a meditative state, becoming one with the water in the earth and the air. She saw all it saw and heard all it heard. She focused her mind on the Necromancer. 'Find her. Take me to her. Show me where she is.' she thought. Her mind traveled all throughout the Tangled Wood, searching.

There!

She could see her. The skydancer huddled close by her mate. They were in a little used store room of the lair, quietly hiding among the crates and cobweb covered shelves. Lagertha's mate tended a wound on her shoulder. It was bleeding profusely. The skydancer snarled as her wound was bandaged, her tail lashing angrily.

Fensalir retreated back to herslef, opening her eyes. She stood stiffly, and wobbled as she took her first steps, looking around the cavern. She was exhausted. The powerful magic she had invoked this day, and the long trek to the cave had worn her out. Saranya was curled up in a corner, sleeping, but Ivalaine, ever watchful stood over the body of their priestess.

"Did you find her?"

"Yes. She is wounded but alive. You will find her in the old storeroom, at the back of the lair."

Ivalaine nodded and scooped up the limp mirror. "I must go to them." She looked with pity upon the exhausted Pearlcatcher. "Your work is not yet done. You must find the cursed object, destroy it, and free the clan's Nocturnes from their madness."

"I understand." Fensalir turned determinedly back toward the pool as Ivalaine once again became one with the shadows.
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Lagertha flinched as her mate finished tying down the bandage. They could hear screams beyond the storeroom door as their clanmates fled from the maddened Nocturnes. She feared the worst. Dark magic was at work here. She stiffened as the shadows around her thickened, like velvet, and became solid. A guardian appeared before her, bearing the body of her High Priestess.

"Can you save her?" asked Ivalaine, placing the mirror before the Necromancer.
Lagertha approached, examining her priestess, as her mate moved to guard the door.

"Yes. She is not long dead, her spirit still lingers near by, and her body is still relatively in tact. We must repair her vessel, so that her spirit can be anchored in this world. I will need some supplies though, and wandering now is dangerous."

"I can fetch them. Tell me what you need, and where to find it." said the Guardian. Lagertha listed her needs. "I will return shortly" said Ivalaine.
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Fensalir snapped back to herself, and swayed, collapsing on the ground, her vision blurry. As her eyes focused, she saw Saranya staring down at her.

"Are you all right?"

Fensalir nodded and stood weakly. "I found it. The mimic." Saranya's eyes narrowed in anticipation.
"Where?"

"It is with Laverna. In the form of a necklace. She wanders the woods."

"How far?" asked the skydancer.

"Not far. We must hurry, before any more of our clanmates are slain."

"Will you be alright?" asked the skydancer.

"I have to be."

Saranya supported the Pearlcatcher as they made their way back through the cavern tunnels, past the waterfall and into the thick mist that lay over the Tangled Wood.
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Saranya walked slowly through the mist, a hand on Fensalir's shoulder, trusting the Pearlcatcher to guide her, and be her eyes.

They heard distant screams and laughter. And a quiet, haunting tune. The same one Shiva had been humming earlier.
"That's her." whispered Fensalir. "That's Laverna." A faint and sickly green light fought its way through the mist, approaching ever closer.

Fensalir breathed heavily and sunk to the ground. "I am sorry. I cannot fight. I am too weak."

Saranya glanced quickly down at the Pearl, then back up to the approaching light. "You won't have to. I will hold her with my eyes. All you need do is take the necklace and summon Shadowsong."

Fensalir stared in the direction of the approaching Nocturne. The song was growing louder, muffled by the mist, it seemed to be coming from all around them. If not for the light they might not have known from where the Nocturne approached. "Alright."

"Can you clear the mist around us? She must clearly meet my eyes."

Fensalir nodded and closed her own eyes, concentrating. The mist before them parted, revealing a shadowy Nocturne that glowed green.

Saranya stepped forward. "Laverna." The Nocturne turned and met her eyes, halting her approach.

"Now Fensalir!" cried Saranya.

"Fensalir gathered the last of her strength and lunged toward Laverna, grasping at her throat. Her claws caught the golden necklace, which fell from the Nocturne's neck, changing to a toothy chest as it hit the forest floor.

Fensalir grabbed the chest, narrowly avoiding it's teeth as it chomped down. Laverna snarled and made to grab her, but Saranya stepped between them, grasping the Nocturne's chin and holding her eyes to her own. "Quickly!" urged the Skydancer, as she held the snarling Nocturne's gaze.

"SHADOWSONG!" Fensalir's voice cracked as she cried out in desperation. She stared frantically at the night sky, struggling to hold the snapping and snarling mimic in her now bleeding arms. A patch of stars descended, and came to rest at her feet.

"You did well." Shadowsong gently placed a claw on the mimic, and it and Laverna both grew silent and still. The mimic crumbled into dust and Laverna crumpled to the ground in a heap.

Saranya turned to her savior, panting. "Is it done? Is the madness cured?"

Shadowsong nodded gravely. "The Nocturnes of your clan should have returned to themselves. Though not physically injured, the memories of what they have done this night will bring them great pain. I hope you and your surviving clanmates will be able to forgive and support them through this difficult time."

Saranya and Fensalir looked sadly upon Laverna, who lay still and unconscious on the forest floor.

"Fear not, they will soon wake." Shadowsong spread her wings and took to the air in a single powerful swoop. "I must go. Yours is not the only clan affected this night. I must do what I can to save the others."

Fensalir approached the sleeping Nocturne, collapsing at her side.

"Rest now Fensalir. You have done well this night. Guide Laverna back to the clan when she wakens. I will return and see what I can do to help. There is much work to be done to restore our fallen clan."

Fensalir nodded tiredly, and was asleep in two breaths. The thick mist about the forest dissipated.

Saranya turned to make her way toward her clan, her heart full of trepidation at the thought of what she may find. Was her mate alive? Her priestess? Would the Necromancer be able to save the slain?

Saranya steadied herself, preparing to right the disasters that night had brought.
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Kali slowly opened her eyes to find two pairs staring intently down at her.

"Welcome back, my Priestess." Ivalaine felt tears of relief well in her eyes as she watched her leader rise to her feet.

"Tell me, what happened?" Kali looked to her adviser, but it was the Necromancer who answered.

"You died. You lay for some time with the Shadowbinder, but I called you back."

Kali frowned. "I remember being attacked... by..... Shiva? But that is impossible. She would never raise her blade against me..."

"She was not herself." replied Ivalaine. "Much has happened while you were gone, and there is much to be done to rebuild our clan. Come. I will tell you..."