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"...And so ends the tale of Salas and Rue,
Though they were doomed, their love was true."

Applause filled the inn's front room as Taki bowed and wiped the sweat from his brow. He grinned at the cries for more. The Salas and Rue cycle was one of the more popular ballads, and it always earned him his keep.
"Sorry, I'm all played out for now," he told his audience regretfully, displaying sore hands. He winked. "But stick around another hour and we'll have some drinking songs!"
The men roared, raising their mugs high. Taki laughed and left the semi-stage the innkeeper had cobbled together for him. Truth be told, I only need about half an hour's rest, he thought as he dug in to the plate a barmaid had served him. But the longer those men are here, the more ale they'll buy - and the promise of some good drinking songs will keep them here for even longer.
Despite his apparent preoccupation with money, Taki was much more interested in playing his songs than getting paid for it. But life on the road had taught him that a soft bed and good food were easier to come by if someone else benefited from the music. The more he made the innkeeper in sales of food and drink, the more willing the man would be to put him up for another night.
A roar that sounded nothing like the men in the inn rang out. Taki looked up, startled. That sound... a dragon?
Suddenly there was a loud crunch and the sound of people screaming. The inn's occupants looked around in confusion as Taki bolted out onto the street.
A few blocks away, a massive black dragon had settled in front of the Cup and Sword, a tavern that used to be three stories tall. Now it looked closer to one and going down, for the remaining story was on fire. Indistinct figures ran from the flames, sobbing or yelling.
Taki's heart beat fast in anger and panic. "Hey!" he yelled.
The dragon ignored him, spewing another jet of flames.
Most dragons don't go for wanton destruction like this. What's going on? Taki wondered. A window burst and he winced. Guess it's up to me to stop this.
Taking a deep breath, Taki pulled out his flute and blew a few short, piercing notes, weaving into them a spell of Notice me!
The dragon's head turned towards him sharply.
Taki managed a weak smile. Great, he's paying attention to me and not the tavern, he thought, taking a few steps backward. Now what?

Nienna sat in a field a little ways from a town she did not know the name of picking some flowers for weaving amulets. She felt a great since of good at the moment. She knew it wasn't going to last either. She freed some captive weavers and peasants a few nights ago. Not so many as to truly be noticed, but enough they will start to chase her when they find out. She intercepted the letter going to the Twilight Forest mentioning a man named Serry and what he was trying to accomplish. She sent the letter as well as one of her own plus the captives towards the Twilight. Her people did not care for humes and other races invading their territory. And that was what her letter mentioned, 'Let them take refuge here and not be slaves. Requested by your truly, Nienna Earthen Sage.'

Whilst she was picking flowers she heard a terrible cry of pain. She looked in horror to see one of the Legendary Black Dragons ravaging the town, but the felt such sorrow in it's cries of destruction. She dropped the flowers she had gathered and collected her staff and bag. She began to take long strides towards the town and being fleet of foot she made it quickly, but was out of breath being as she is very meek. She saw the dragon turn towards a boy in the street. In three strides she stood in front of him.

She slammed her staff into the ground and knelled before the Black Dragon while chanting, 'Earthen power heed my aid. Protect us from his attack this day.' There was a vibration in the earth as her power went to work. This spell would only protect them from one large attack, but she hoped she didn't need to activate it as a last resort. Still knelling she was going to try her first resort.

"O, great dragon clan why do you ravage this city? I, Nienna of the elven clan beseech you to stop this destruction. This will only bring about more calamity to your kind. I heard your screams and felt your pain, but know not what has transpired. Please, calm yourself so that we may find ourselves a truce even for a moment. I know other races are under you, but maybe we can still sort this out." She looked up hoping she wasn't making a mistake all the while panting to catch her breath.

((Sorry for long posts. I only get one or two good posts a day if that.))

Sal was knocked out of his thoughts by two simple words. He decided he liked the voice that said them. Opening one eye about halfway (he had closed them to think), and looking his new compainion over a little, he sat up and removed his boots from where they'd been on the table. "Ah, Vancey, I must say, you're much more welcome than my last compainion. To what do I owe the immesurable pleasure, my dear"

'Boss, maybe you're laying it on a little thick?'

'Nonsense. Vancione knows how I am.'

'I know how you are too. You're an insufferable litte sh-'

'Shut up, Heph.'

Maluit could feel that something was happening. Every bone in her body ached with anticipation of some great event. She had received letters on entire towns being destroyed. She desired answers.

She trudged through the streets of Little Olaedihoo. She moved with crafted elegance through the streets, her white hair and the bag that was slung over her shoulder bobbed in rhythm with her smooth steps as she looked for a place to lodge. Her gray robes were stained brown around the bottom from dragging through the dirty city streets. She had visited the town many times in her life, but it seemed to change drastically between visits, or maybe she just could never remember where anything was.

Coming around a corner, she looked up and saw the sign for The Marquessa and the Imp. It looked comfortable enough from the outside, though seemed to have more people flowing in and out than what she would prefer. Hopefully, she thought to herself, no one would get too rowdy. Taking a deep breath, she walked over and pushed open the heavy door and strode inside, chin high and shoulders back. She sat at a round table near the middle of the room with her back to the bar and set her bag down on the table with a soft thunk. She glanced casually around the the room, her soft yellow eyes wide, and noticed the couple sitting together – the girl appearing to have tears well up in her eyes. She turned away, not wanting to stare, opened the brown cloth bag and pulled out a small book. She flipped to what seemed like to anyone watching a random page and began reading.

Vancione raised an eyebrow, accompanied with a smile. "Yeah. Just make sure you don't suddenly remember me while you're killing him, or else the curse against me might take effect, and if it does, it will affect you too. But, sure, it'll be great to have lunch. You didn't think I only came here to eavesdrop, did you?"

Maluit was deep into her book. She had stumbled upon a chapter on the medicinal properties of some rare items. Currently, she was on the section about dragon's teeth. She had never considered the possibility. Most of what in the book was only prediction based on a few contained studies. Honestly, who would what to go against a dragon for the sole purpose of maybe finding something revolutionary?

As she flipped the page, an overworked waitress rushed by carrying several plates of food to a group of men crowded around a table. The waitress tripped on a loose floor board, sending the plates of food flying and covering poor Maluit in a messy mixture. Maluit sprung up from her seat, screeching loudly and sending the chair falling backwards. She turned to the waitress, who stood there stunned.

"WHAT are you doing just standing there, child!" she bellowed. "Get me something to clean off with." She spoke slowly and articulately, emphasizing the words more than necessary. She restrained herself from casting a spell on the poor girl, though she wanted to badly. The poor waitress, almost in tears, ran into the kitchen to fetch a towel.

Taking a deep breath to try and calm her rage, Maluit stripped off her deep blue cloak to reveal a long, silken light green dress. Luckily, nearly all of the food had landed on her cloak, rather than on the dress. She shook the cloak, dropping some loose food bits to the floor.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. Here you go," the waitress returned with a small towel. Maluit snatched it from her, and began wiping her hands and arms clean.

Salamander was just about to answer Vancione, when he was distracted by an outburst from a woman across the room. As she took off her ruined cloak, Sal's eyes narrowed. She was a drow. Of course, she was also a Sage, but that was the second thing he realized. First in his mind, she was a drow. Sal had never been on particularly good terms with her, but he extended her a bit more civility than he would any other of her race. Meaning that Sal had never been openly hostile with her. Still, he was unsurprised to see her berate a probably innocent waitress. In his opinion, someone ought to give that girl a medal for dropping food on a drow. Sall hoped it was burning hot soup.

'Um, boss, knock it off!'

'What, I can't be mad at those who destroyed my home and massacred my friends and family?'

'Well, she didn't do it.'

'Yeah, but she's one of them.'

'Boss, I keep telling you, this drow hating thing isn't good for you. Don't get mired in it. Besides, if you'll remember, drow are the least of your worries right now.'

'True, I can't afford to alienate drow right now. They might join with Serry. And with all their underground cities, who knows what kind of advantage that'd give him.'

'Exactly my point'

'I still don't like them.'