You rise to your feet, rubbing your temple with the heel of your palm, curly dark hair being pushed out of your eyes.

It is a much later time. Around 300 years have passed since the Aldini Empire and the city of the same name were crushed by the alliance of dragons and men. Their troops scattered, their positions taken, most of the sorcerers would rot in prison. Rhissik Thungon was exiled with a few servants and criminals, never to see the shores of Manara again.

It's not called Manara anymore, you realize. Mandral is the new name, "Land Of Men and Dragons". You feel a sharp stiletto of agony fire through your head. Best to take it slow.

You lean on the wall for support, trying not to think. But the absence of memories wears down your mental defenses like a file. Who are you? What is your role here? Whatever answers you may have in your head, they are conserved in dark silence, like this cave. You lean your head against the dirt wall, the odor of earth seeping into your lungs as you take a few deep breaths.

Calm. Calm.

You must have had a purpose there, pretending to be someone else. You try to recall your last memory.

Off-topic: Where's Gargoyle Quest; I didn't see it.

"You look down the hallway as the gnoll lets Algers go, and he begins walking, clumsily. You smile.

"Not bad for a day's work." Fereed says. "I mean it."

"Yes it's been a hell of a day." You say back to him.

"Alkenin? How do know it's you and not a doppelganger?" Fereed laughs,

"Because you'll never hear me complain again." You say, grinning. Nothing to complain about today anyway.

You see Algers standing down at the other side of the hallway. "Want to go for a walk?" He says, smirking.

His face blurs for a moment, bars of your vision moving randomly as his image freezes.

SEQUENCE INTERRUPTED: BRAIN PATTERNS ABNORMAL

NULLIFYING HERITAGE ACCESS"

And then you woke up.

What will you do?

>>14191293
Gargoyle Quest is coming, give it a few minutes.

Unless you mean part 4, which happened on Monday and is archived here:

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/14166324/

This Quest was also attempted on Monday, but I only got a reluctant troll with a hat fetish.

>>14191329
Sweet.

A dragon for your trouble.

You are confusing the hell out of me VKO

Who are we now?

>>14191304
Trolling with ass creed huh?

Well fuck you.

Who was that woman?
Why was she spying on Alkenin?

Who is Fereed?

>>14191382

??? What is this I don't even.

>>14191365

You can't remember. But given the migraines that feel like your head splitting open form within when you try to, maybe that's for the best.

You remember that your are an adult woman, a spellcaster, and you can remember the spells that Came Like Second Nature to you. You know you are considered important by a small group.

You hear a boom from outside the cave, the wall shaking beneath your hand and startling you.

Outside?

>>14191420
Are we same woman from >>14191165 >>14191240 >>14191292 >>14191304?

>Outside?
Hell no.
Not before we know who we are, what we can do, what equipment we have, our immediate surroundings and the recent history and past events.

>>14191403

You were that woman. You are that woman. You are certain of that. You know you are far into the future relative to when Alkenin was alive. The Orb in the room is what you were using to become Alkenin. Yes... The orb. It's where the Memories of Alkenin and Many Others are stored. Some kind of a magical lock was implemented involving the Chain of Life. You know Alkenin was your ancestor. You can access his memories. You needed quite a length of time to Practice Acting Like Him to bypass further security measures.

Oh Gods. You were an actress. But not anymore. Now you are simply a sorceress.

You know you will need some time to meditate so you can safely re-enter the memories.

Fereed is a man who lived long ago. Father of the gargoyle races, his name was not recorded in history. You have a Certain Associate who would be interested in that knowledge. Fortunately, you have an Excellent Memory. It's part of why you were such a good actress.

>>14191450

Yes, all of that has happened from your point of view.

>>14191517
So .... what was the purpose of accessing Alkenins memories?
To gain his knowledge and power at spellcasting?

How good is our spellcasting? Is it at the same level as Alkenin?

Anyway go outside and see whats up. Be be prepared.

You know,

it's pretty sweet you can run 2 quests at the same time.
I need to catch up with Gargoyle quest, though not today.

You feel another shake.

The Aldini... The Manarans rolled them over, after being on the brink of defeat. Seemingly heralded by an oracle of the goddess Ria, hundreds of thousands of dragons migrated from a continent to the south. Some landed in that lone city state. The humans offered to feed them if they would fight, not as masters but as equals. The hungry wyrms agreed.

Millions of gnolls, lizardmen and gargoyles died along with the rest of the Aldini troops during the three year campaign that followed. When it was over, the Aldini city, while oppressive, was still a center of knowledge. Crude picks and dragon fire brought it all tumbling down. The state of magic has never been the same. Powerful learning that some say no man should have was lost.

The City-States broke off their agreement, once again becoming independent powers as they had when they were colonies. The dragons, at first hateful toward one another, became more open minded, and in some cases, even bitter enemies bore the fruits of love. Dragons eventually began holding office, but most still begin their lives as the allies of the Dragon Knights. Bound by magic rites to have a link between their spirits, the pair has been an icon of the strength of union between the two cultures for all the Mandrans.

>>14191678
Why did everyone steamroll Aldini?

>strength of union between the two cultures for all the Mandrans.
Which cultures? Human and Dragons?

>>14191607

It pretty sucks on my end. But my WPM is going back up, so I can't complain.

>>14191584

You recall your purpose for accessing Alkenin's memories.

You were to Ascertain the Authenticity of a Certain Claim. You did, and that is what triggered the falling out of his memories.

How can your head be so fuzzy? This is the first time this has happened.

You know you are not as powerful a sorcerer as Alkenin, but you are no pushover. You were born under the sign of Beklay, the winged serpent, the guardian of lost and precious things. You were born in Dominion's year, however. Your auspice is a terrifying fusion of the two. You have researched a spell in this vein.

You have a number of Hair Ornaments that have a variety of magical effects. They are still in your hair, though your hair is a bit gross now from being unconscious for so long.

Maybe seeing something will jog your memory. You head for the exit, blinding light burning into your retinas.

Maaaaan,

Sorcerer quest is damn slow today, VKO
It's like I'm the only one here and I'm going to leave now.

>>14191796
I mean,

keep bumping till this gain momentum, VKO

I look forward to archives

>>14191717

More comes back to you. The dragons and their human riders were devastating to the Aldini strategems. Mowing down countless soldiers, shrugging off arrows and spells, the dragons and their knights were feared by the Aldini, some known for hunting down and killing sorcerer commanders to help rout their troops. Despite a valiant effort, the morale of the slave soldiers was smashed. A forward press and final pincer motion sealed the Aldini's fate. Th slaves were set free or killed. But few remember the killed part, save the ancestors of those slaves. The humans and dragons pretend they were all let go. But the hatred towards the unwilling soldiers continues to this day.

The dragons, not having had a culture between their species for a "long time", soon began mixing with the humans. Few save the youngest live in the cities though. They are still huge creatures, and enjoy the space they have. Many serve in the military to secure a place to live in their later life.

The two cultures fused, and then the dragons began getting involved in politics. But what you discovered about the Bond Between a Dragon and his Rider...

You fall to one knee as a bolt of pain fires through your head. Maybe that's enough for now.

Then the unmistakable cry of a dragon, a blast of heat, and the cave shakes.

"Keep firing! Drive him off!" You hear from outside. A familiar voice, but who? You rise and continue out into the blinding light, ready to erect a magical shield around yourself should dragonfire greet you.

>>14191807

(Sorry, goddamn capcha keeps giving me superscript, umlauts and greek letters.)

Your vision clears. You see a number of men outside, a great flowing green plain that would be soothing were the hill to the side of the cave not smoking and smoldering, the bodies of a few men charred, still clutching their bows. A few gnolls stand with them, and a humanoid with the neck, tail and head of a dragon coated in shimmering blue scales.

Leading the men is a brown-skinned man with handsome features, his face clean shaven and angular, his long brown hair bound in braids and ornamented, a great flowing mane of honors and distinguishing deeds in battle. His boiled leather armor is reinforced by lengths of metal, and his left hand grasps a small sword. His eyes snap to you as you exit the cave.

"I see the dragon woke you. I was just about to come get you." He barks, suddenly looking concerned. "Are you- are you alright? You look confused. You didn't get shunted out, did you?"

"I did." You confess, looking to the clear blue sky. An imposing dragon winged figure begins coming around.

"Thunlon's damned spirit, I was hoping not." He says, looking around frantically. "Not too much of a headache?"

"No, not anymore." You say, your voice calm.

"Just stop me if you start to get one." He says, pointing to himself. "I'm Tukan Reid, a..." He pauses. "Friend I would like to think. You are Melane Kiried, You are a powerful sorceress, apparently descended from Alkenin-"

"I know that." You snap at him, pointing to the dragon turning around off in the distance. "Who the hell is that?"

"Rufen Millan. You two..." He pauses. "You two have some history together."

"Such as?" You say. "How do I get rid of him?"

"It's complicated." Tukan says, looking over to you with a grimace. "Let's just say he wants you and us dead."

You hold up a hand, feeling the glimmer of a headache. "That's all for now. Let's deal with this."

You strike an imposing figure in your red robes, embroidered with the symbols of your auspice.

What will you do?

(back in 20)

(Christ, fucking slow ass computer)

Crimson scales and a black banner depicting a seven-pointed star bear down on you, the wide, membranous wings spreading as the dragon hisses towards you.

You remember him now. His name was Rufen Millan. You loved him once. He is not that man any more. Not after being bonded.

What will you do?

Are we cognisent enough to attempt our dominion spell?

Pain bolt that fucker! Alkenin's blood demands it!

>>14192591

You know the spell is different from Alkenin's. A meshing of earth and air. You're not sure if it will penetrate the dragon's hide, but you have few other options.

"I SUMMON THE POWER OF THE UNTAMED WINDS AND MIGHTY EARTH!" You say, a venomous hiss backing your words as your eyes turn pure black with a whitish slit. You stretch up your hands, powerful cyclones forming near the dragon as an earthen fortification forms near it. You feel Leviathan's rage tearing at your muscles as you press down with your hands, the cyclones colliding with the dragon and forcing it down. The earthen fortifications quickly change, becoming edged like teeth, and as the dragon is forced down, the earthen chamber tries to slam on it like the mouth of a great beast. The dragon slips inside, avoiding injury until the spell ends, and you collapse the roof.

The drain from the spell is met by a pain in your forehead that causes you to cry out momentarily.

"MAY SKY AND LAND MEET UNTO YOUR DOOM." You say, as the dragon bursts partway out of its earthen prison.

"Keep firing!" Tukan yells, rushing forward with supernatural speed and grace as the dragon's front claw rushes out of the dirt.

What will you do?

Do we know any cold spells? I'm assuming that's how you deal with a Red.

Idle thought: I wonder if the gem containing the sorcerer Argus Morted's memories has been lost to war?

If we find it, it could be a very useful resource.

>>14192743

You do.

You fire forth a chill ray, the blast bouncing off the dragon's hide as it writhes in the dirt.

Tukan closes, stabbing into the dragon's hide with it like a needle, ducking beneath its claws and leaping sidelong out of the way of its bite. The dragon gets a bit more of the earth of of itself, its wings spreading as its knight comes into view.

What will you do?

>>14192834

Remember Jotaro's star finger attack? Focus all of our energy into a single point, then slam it into the fucking thing's eyes.

You augment your body, transmuting your right hand into the claw of a dragon. With an outstretched finger, your nail extends like a lance, stabbing deep into the dragon's hide. It howls, the nail disappearing like dust in the wind a moment later.

Tukan slices it shallowly several times, drawing the dragon's ire. It slashes at him, and he deflects two of the blows, the final claw slamming into him, but he plants his sword deep into the dragon's palm. It yowls, fire brimming at the back of its throat.

Your hand reverts to normal, free of the explosive elemental energy.

Next move?

Try blocking the dragon's mouth somehow. Like putting up a small shield right infront of it.

>>14193000

"Get back!" You yell to Tuken, and he springs out of the way as you call up a wall of stone in front of the dragon. It instead saves its breath with a huff of flame, lashing as it escapes the dirt. The archers send arrows over the wall.

What will you do?

Turn wall into stone fist. Apply fist to dragon face.

Repeat if necessary.

>>14193057

You form the stone into a Smashing Fist, slamming up into the dragon's serpentine neck. It recovers, breathing down a blast of flame that you can only sacrifice the hand to partially stop, a few more of the archers being brought down by the flame. Tukon ducks behind the wall, springing up twenty feet onto the heated stone remnants as the hand melts to slag. The knight on the dragon's back fires his bow, the arrow flying down into your calf. You feel a shudder as poison starts to move through your veins.

Next move?

Do we have anything really big and pissed that we can summon?

>>14193115

You do indeed. An old friend.

A great sphere of light, constructed of perfect circles and emblazoned with sunbursts appears above the dragon, and a swirling rainbow of feathers springs down, a great feathered serpent biting into the dragon's neck and coiling around it. The dragon starts towards you, slowly, the feathered serpent coiling like a vise around the creature. The dragon's neck circles around, biting back into it.

Tukon leaps off the building, catching the dragon on the interior of its thigh with a lightning fast cut, blood leaking down onto the ground. The knight draws his warspear, stabbing into the serpent's body viciously.

Next move?

Lightning. There can't be enough lightning!

Aim for the knight! That armor will just make him easier to hit.

Can we MINDRAPE? I really hope so!

>>14193196

Damn straight.

You fire a blast of bluish lightning, the knight catching it in full, fingers of it cascading off of your serpent harmlessly, the dragon appears angered and pained by the same azure discharge.

The dragon shakes off the serpent, growling at you as it tears a hole in the creature's neck in a flurry of motion. It wings over, its tail slamming within feet of you like an angry cat, and you feel the vibrations in your leg wound. Rufen turns, his bow out again, his face barely visible, cold and unfeeling, the bowstring drawn.

You feel a phantom pain in your chest, to the left of your heart. This has happened before. They will ride away, and he will put an arrow in you if you try to move.

What will you do?

>>14193207

You cannot MINDRAPE. The spell was lost when the Aldini fell, and Alkenin was the only one who knew it. Perhaps when you are more powerful, you can try to recreate it. The spell can only be executed by those born under Dominion's Auspice. It will be far more strenuous for you, but you are confident you can attempt it. It would have been easier when Dominion still lived.

You favor charms over the feeblemind spell because contemporary mages rarely have the Mental Guarding Items the Aldini carried. Such items are among the most sought after artifacts.

>>14193246

You choose discretion, the cold eyes of a strange yet familiar person leaving over the horizon.

You grunt, sitting on the ground and snapping the arrowhead off of the shaft, pulling it through your leg. You feel your skin crawl and an aching pain from the wound.

"Here," Tukon says, handing you a greenish potion. You drink it and feel the weakness disappear from your body. He bandages your wound. "Can you walk?"

"Don't ask me to sprint." You say, standing on your own after your leg has been treated, brushing the dirt off of your robe.

"Alright, what's the verdict?" Tukon asks, placing his hands on his hips.

I know I found what I was looking for, but I still can't remember WHAT it was I needed.

Over the course of several days, Alkenin discovered dragon's blood has mutagenic properties, chatted with a complete lunatic of a research sorcerer whom happened to create the gargoyle race, made a dragon/cat hybrid, won a spell duel after a 10 year dry spell by pulling his adversarty's mind into a gem, and discovered how to make fully functional prosthetic limbs. Any of that what I needed?

What exactly was the purpose of your diving into Alkenin's memories? You think back to the moments just before your rude awakening...

<You look down the hallway as the gnoll lets Algers go, and he begins walking, clumsily. You smile.

"Not bad for a day's work." Fereed says. "I mean it."

"Yes it's been a hell of a day." You say back to him.

"Alkenin? How do know it's you and not a doppelganger?" Fereed laughs,

"Because you'll never hear me complain again." You say, grinning. Nothing to complain about today anyway.

You see Algers standing down at the other side of the hallway. "Want to go for a walk?" He says, smirking.

His face blurs for a moment, bars of your vision moving randomly as his image freezes.>

Who were you investigating?

Can't have been Algers. Even if he was one of the first two being to sucessfully get functioning replacement limbs, he was only a servant.

Has to have been Fareed.

>>14193459

It could be any of that. You know that Fereed's creations would eventually become four distinct races, none remembering their creator except by pronoun. Sad, really.

Alkenin's life was mysterious, but you know he is departed. This person was close to Alkenin though. Yes... You think you have it.

>>14193477

"Fereed. That is the name of the gargoyle's creators." You say.

Tukon seems surprised. "Wow, you discovered that much in such a short time? That's fascinating. I wonder what Cagrazod will think of that."

He shrugs. "So, didn't find anything out about the Ripouse's leader, hm? That's disappointing. But now that our position is known, I think we'll have to move out."

>>14193499
Ripouse? You'll have to explain.

>>14193511

"Ripouse?" You say, realizing that wasn't what he wanted to hear.

Tukon looks at you with a frown and a raised eyebrow, then it dawns on him. "Oh, oh I didn't think you'd forgotten so much. Rather, I'd forgotten that you'd forgotten." He chuckles a bit as you begin to grow frustrated.

"The Ripouse are a people much like the gnolls. Smarter, weaker, not as tough, but more civilized. We met up with some a few days back. Biggest tribe I'd seen. Said they were the tribe from which all the others sprang, and that their father still led them. Glesra or something like that. They said he'd been alive for hundreds of years."

He pauses. "I said it was impossible, but you insisted on coming back to make sure, didn't tell me why. Said it was something you heard one of the locals say."

"If it's any consolation, we need their help. After the Cult Changed Leadership, we've been much weaker." He pauses, looking to the skyline. "I wish our scouting party would get back, they're making me worry."

>>14193552
Algers?! Quick, did their leader have a missing limb?

Glesra

Algers


Iseewhatudidthere.jpg

>>14193552
Ask him to elaborate on this Cult, we seem to be missing much.

>>14193561

"Did their leader have a missing limb? A missing leg specifically?" You ask, spurned on by a sudden realization.

"Couldn't tell you, they wouldn't let me or you see him." Tukon says, shrugging. "They were very protective. I can't blame them. Not like mandrans have been kind to them in the past." He sheathes his blade. "I killed a hunting party myself when I served. Thought they were gnolls." He sighs. "It's like they know."

>>14193585
Well, fuck. But it has to be Algers. But how? How in the hell is he still alive 300 years later?

>>14193604
The prosthetic was supposed to give him a measure of elemental powers, perhaps it also had side effects like lengthening his lifespan. Well that's assuming it's really him.

>>14193576

"What's this about a cult?" You ask.

"Oh Thungon's mercy, your don't-" Tukon starts to get angry, then sighs.

"It's not like I forgot it on purpose, you ass." You retort.

"Well, your temper's coming back I see." The warrior says, shaking his head. "Our cult, the Legacy of the Aldini, is a splinter of the group now known as the Hand of the Masters. At one time, we were one cult known as Thungon's Teachers."

He rolls up his right sleeve, revealing a distinct brand of pinkish twisted skin, like an eclipse. "Each of us bears the mark of our Auspice, our birth protectorate, in an attempt to let them guide us. Your mark was on your spirit. Mine is Macran, the archer or warrior. Yours was a combination."

"Our goal was to overthrow the new tyranny that the people face. However, infighting over new information..." He pauses. "Information you brought to light resulted in the death of our leader. You, I and these people remain dedicated to the cause. The rest follow the rule of Jaquio Lerenid, who assumed the leadership position shortly after Yenad was killed."

"Your information... Well, I'm not sure I believe it all the way. But Yenad died for it, so here I am." He pauses, considering the last few months. "I hope it is real, and yet I don't. But, I can't just consider it my whole life. That's why I came with you."

"I'm beginning to think you're a bit foolish." You say, reflexively.

Tukon grins. "I think I am as well."

How can he be alive? Maybe it's just someone using a pseudonym.

You feel part of your memory burst in your skull like a bubble.

You are standing amongst a great number of the hyena-people, the ripouse. Their language is quite similar to the gnolls, descended from old Aldini. The dialect is unmistakable, however, the crude growls and snarls absent from the lexicon except as expletives. An old ripouse woman hangs clothes out in the bright plains sun as half-armored soldiers patrol, holding spears decorated with red flags.

"Armalouge-toungrzad ad mercatul verun
Caladre vou mes tongrenas al merezangey grun"

You translated the words in your mind a time later at the ripouse townhouse.

"Armor-legged the warriors did ride
Their spirit like the iron stance of the living father."

No doubt.

"We go back to them." You say.

"What if Gruntrezax follows us?" Tukon says. "The dragon." He adds.

"Let him. With those wounds, it'll be the last thing he does." You say, conjuring a mystic steed and mounting it with a bit of difficulty.

Your group heads out, a group of wagons covered with black cloth, some modified carriages. A caravan with a wide base about fifteen feet across remains towards the back. The dead are buried, the injured cared for by a priest, you assume of Thungon. The wagons are slow, but such is the way of travel with such a large group. You will arrive at the Ripouse Confederacy in 2 days.

You are joined midway through the first day by a wing of gargoyles, the smooth, more delicate kind from Fereed's laboratory. Each of them has a silver band on their upper right arm with various inlays. The lot of them are mostly stone, though their leader shimmers with metal. Great jets of flame come from his thirty foot wings as he buzzes over you. You know he is called a marteau. He lands in front of you some ways out, with the rest of his small wing of twelve. His body is bare, save some additional armor and a red tabard that is slim towards the top with a silver phoenix, and his head is like that of a dragon, with etched feathers and a beak instead of the classic scaled features. His wings fold in on themselves, sheets upon sheets, until they are the same size as the wings of the other 'goyles. He snaps up his goggles to his horns to reveal green crystal eyes. Despite having little in the way of cheeks, he grins and his metallic tail swishes to one side.

He kneels, his voice like supple leather. "My beautiful and esteemed leader, your faithful and adoring Cagrazod wishes to report the incident we have just returned from."

>>14193805
Your tardiness had us worried. But, you're safe, so no problem. What have you to report?

also: fuck it is late. hitting the sack after next game post.

"Oh, come off it, man." Tukon says, slapping the air in front of him. "No one needs to do anything like that for Melane."

"I beg your pardon, charlatan?" Cagrazod snaps, looking over at him incredulously. "Mayhap if you did, knowing that she deserves such respect, you would not incur my lady's wrath so often."

"You boiling suit of..." Tukon starts.

"Stow it." You say to Tukon. "Let him do as he wishes." You incline your head down toward the kneeling marteau. "Please report, Cagrazod."

He smiles, teeth of pointed metal showing as he sways his tail happily. "As my lady commands. We flew approximately three miles to the south east and there engaged the remnants of the old order. Several of them were holding Aldini artifacts, and they were closely guarded."

"Your orders were to observe only, Cagrazod." Tukon says.

"I regret to inform my lady that we were forced to engage due to being discovered, and then attacked. The tentacles spell my lady has employed on several occasions. We engaged, slew the mage as ordered, but not before one of my men dropped his arm and leg trying to escape." He says, looking back at the line where one of the gargoyles kneels with a fist on the ground, his right leg and left arm missing. "Other than that, all injuries were superficial. He should be capable of acting again in several weeks when the limbs regrow. I apologize for the flaws in my leadership which led to his injuries." He prostrates himself.

"Oh brother." Tukon says.

"Does my lady wish for more details of my gross failure?" Cagrazod says into the ground

>>14193921
Wait a minute, they can just regrow limbs now?
Also, do these gargoyles breed true or are they still created by magic users?

>>14193970

These gargoyles can regrow limbs. However, they increase their metabolism and it takes several months to regrow an entire limb. They also possess the ability to drop their limbs, like a lizard drops its tail. You know Cagrazod has dropped one of his legs once, and then had it quickly grafted back on, an ability unique to the marteau.

Gargoyles cannot breed: They are all infertile, though they do possess a cloaca used for the act of reproduction. Instead, they are born fully grown from large machines they keep in their secluded civilizations.

No living magic user knows the magical rituals to create a gargoyle, and they refuse to allow the machines to be examined.

Maybe he'd like to know we discovered the identity of his race's creator?

>>14194124

"Perhaps I shall ask you later. I have discovered the name of the creator of the gargoyle races." You say to him. "Fereed Grignos"

He rises up partly in surprise. "Oh, my lady's wisdom knows no bounds! Truly this is a glorious day!" He looks back to his troops. "Everyone, please remember that name! That is the name my lady has divined from the ruins!"

"I met him actually." You mention.

He looks over at you, eyes twinkling. "He yet lives?! My word!"

"No, actually." You say, trying to calm him a bit. "When I was Alkenin. You do know what I was doing in there, right?"

He pauses. "I... I'm afraid my mind did not grasp it my lady. But I know what you did was for the good of us all!"

"Well, he was a bit eccentric, cruel at times." You say, feeling a bit like Alkenin. "But he loved you very much."

He sniffs a bit. "I am moved, my lady. If these eyes could weep, if this body held water, I would spill it all in a display of emotion." Cagrazod sobs once, bringing his forearm up to his eye, though no water leaves it. "It is good to know that though our peoples were created by the hand of man, that it was a loving father who did not wish to use us as slaves."

"He treated even the older gargoyles like his children. It was strange, but touching." You say.

"Thank you for telling me, my lady. Should we live, all shall know of Fereed Grignos, our loving father." He bows his head. "Does my lady wish anything else?"

"I may ask for more information later. It was not your fault." You say.

The marteau raises his head. "I am moved, my lady, with the leniency and kindness you show in the face of my worthless leadership."

"I wouldn't say it was worthless. They all came back alive." You point out.

Cagrazod makes a sound much like a snort. "Oh, my lady is too kind. If my body could, I would weep from my eyes in recognition of her generosity, even if it was my own body and blood that came out."

"Relax, go get them looked at." Tukon says to the marteau. He looks up at you questioningly, and you nod.

"Very well my lady." He says, his voice constructed once again. "Alright Mercurial Phoenix Battalion, retire out to quarters!"

All of the unit salute, two helping the wounded goyle back to the wide caravan.

"All we need to concentrate on now is how Algers is still alive." You say, looking off into the setting sun.

Anyway, I suppose that's all for now.

Tune in earlier on Friday for the next chapter!