Brii Qo Dun

Brii Qo Dun

     Brii Qo Dun: "Should you not speak to your other mates first, before you ask me?"

     Iriisii: "They will make their own decision, as I will not forbid them to find a mate that they would ask. I trust them to find someone we all can live with, but I will not force everyone to marry each new one someone finds. If they wish to marry one just for themselves, I am ok with that. If you answer 'yes' to me, I will let each choose for themselves whether to ask you for themselves."

     Brii Qo Dun: "This does bring up a situation completely different from what you have just spoken about."

     Iriisii: "Tell me what it is and I will work to resolve it."

     Brii Qo Dun: "To my knowledge, there is no 'Rite of Marriage' between dragons. They tend to either settle with one another or move around the field of candidates finding one that strikes their fancy."

     Iriisii: "Then perhaps it is time there was one created. If we can do this, I would make it voluntary to accept it. I will not impose it on all dragons. It should be their own decision which way they would follow."

     Brii Qo Dun: "But where would you start? It is not like it is with many mortals, I mean look at our natures, our physical size, who we are, what we are."

     Iriisii: "We start where everything starts, at the beginning. I know many treat this as some elaborate grand spectacle, but many also look at it as something very simple, as simple as a declaration of intent between the two wishing for the union."

     Brii Qo Dun: "Do you think, what we did, I mean our joining to create..."

     Iriisii: "I think that if you want it to serve, then who am I to say different."

     Brii Qo Dun: "Then, 'YES', my answer to you is 'YES'!"

     Iriisii kisses Brii on the side of her jaw, letting a small measure of power pass over to her.

     Iriisii: "Then I need to inform the others of what we have decided, and I must prepare a place for you that can be protected from intrusion. Do you have a preference for servants to help take care of the eggs?"

     Brii: "I will leave that to you, you know much more of the possibilities than I do, and can vet them more thoroughly."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, it will take time but for the present, I can ask among the Soul Hounds. They can also act as defenders as well, Nodens has command of the Nightgaunts, a few of them to act as watchers and defenders will help as well. They are all quiet unless they need to speak, so there will be almost no noise, and the proximity to a magma pool for heat for the eggs, will not affect them."

     Brii: "Thank you, my love, ...my love, never could I have imagined I would understand what those two words truly mean. I have heard you say them to your mates, but now they take on a whole new meaning for me. When I say them, I feel something inside, something I have never felt before."

     Iriisii smiles, "take it in, and give it time, savor how it makes you feel, you have all the time you need to experience all that it can show you."

     Iriisii feels the presence of Soul Hounds rather than hearing the flutter of their wings. Looking around she sees a group of five led by a Greater Soul Hound, recognizable by her having a dual set of wings. It is then she notices that all are of the female form.

     Greater Soul Hound: "The Mother thought it would be more appropriate if we were all female."

     Brii notices them for the first time, but seeing how comfortable Iriisii is with them, waits patiently.

     Iriisii turns to Brii: "These are Soul Hounds sent by the Mother, the one with dual wing sets is a Greater Soul Hound." Turning back to the Greater Soul Hound, "I take it the Mother has been carefully watching events?"

     Greater Soul Hound: "Indeed she has, you continue to go beyond any expectations or even possibilities of what you might do. The Mother delights in what you have done here, not just in returning the Draconic Divines to Reality, but in establishing a closer relationship with the dragons, she hopes your desire to bring them closer to mortals bears fruit for both races.

     Brii Qo Dun, in mating with her Daughter, the Mother gives you her blessing for the fruitfulness of this historic event. She welcomes you as another of her family and has sent us to care for you for as long as it is needful. She approves of the decision to move to the Krang, for the enemies of the Divines will come looking, and their wrath will be the cause of the future pain this world suffers.

     But know that this will only be temporary. That the time will come when these enemies will be dealt with, and then this world can be restored to what it was when you knew it. Now that this event has been entered into the streams of time, the changes are flowing forward, weakening some paths, strengthening others, and creating still other new paths. 

     The Mother recommends laying all other paths aside for now and going to find your lost daughter Kathea. The pieces are falling into place and the need for you to reach her is growing stronger. You know the path to take, move Brii Qo Dun and settle her in her new home, for she is exceedingly precious, then go find Kathea, after she is safe, then you can deal with Rassillon. Do what you feel is right in dealing with him. None will gainsay you. And know that the Spirit of the Balance will always be close to you through the Fount."

     Iriisii turns back to Brii, "I guess it is time to bring the others to meet you, I need to instruct the Krang to prepare your new place for you. I will be back momentarily."

     Iriisii opens a portal to the Temple and steps through. Immediately she is swamped by everyone in sight. She finally gets the throng quieted down to find out what is going on.

     Iriisii: "All right, who can give me a reason for this tumult I just walked into?"

     Rigmor looks at Iriisii closely before exclaiming, "You did it didn't you?!"

     Iriisii not wanting to get ahead of herself, "did what? What is it you believe I did?"

     Rigmor: "Don't deny it! It is written all over you."

     Iriisii: "I do not deny anything, I just want to know what it is you think I did. If I did do it, I will admit to it. But first I want to know just what I am admitting to having done."

     Rigmor: "You asked her to marry her didn't you?"

     Iriisii: "If you mean Brii, then yes, but no one else."

     Rigmor: "I knew it, I knew it when you asked her, I felt the tremors as they flew through like a Tsunami! Not a paradox, but a true Time Wave. I felt the changes taking place. Almost everything was affected by it!"

     Iriisii: "All right, will someone tell me what they are certain of what changed?"

     Desidarius: "The 'Cold Death' beyond the Northern Ice Wall is asleep once again. That is the main thing around here anyway."

     Iriisii: "Ok, that gives me some time then, pieces to the puzzles are falling into place. We have a lot of work to do and not a lot of time to do it in."

     Rigmor: "What do you mean?"

     Iriisii: "This is the 'calm before the storm'. We cannot leave these people to what is coming, we have to get all of them out of here, off this world. REAPER! Ah, there you are! We need enough room opened on the Krang to accommodate all who live in this world, if we leave them here what will happen to them will haunt all of us for the rest of our lives! Also, I need the Krang to put a new addition to the habitat the Blue Lyrium Dragons inhabit, I am sending you the plans now."

     Reaper: "I will get on it immediately."

     Iriisii: "There is no time to allow everyone to gather, we will have to pick them up and transport them by portal directly to the Krang. They should gather all that they wish to take and have it ready."

     Rigmor: "What about Brii?"

     Iriisii: "She is coming with us as well. I will not leave her here!"

     Rigmor: "Whew, for a moment, I thought..."

     Iriisii: "I know, but she cannot move alone. The Mother sent Soul Hounds to care for her."

     Rigmor: "The Mother...sent Soul Hounds? How many?"

     Iriisii: "Four and a Greater."

     Rigmor: "Just how many...?"

     Iriisii: "We do not know, she said she feels her eggs continue to answer the call of my seed."

     Rigmor: "Wait, what does that mean, exactly?"

     Iriisii: "Eggs are still being fertilized within her. We have no idea how many she will lay. The Mother sent the Soul Hounds to help care for the eggs since they are tireless and can care for them constantly, are immune to the heat needed for them."

     Rigmor: "So you are having a place made for her in the Krang. What kind of place will it be?"

     Iriisii: "I am recreating the Temple of Kyne where Aleytys egg was kept hidden until we went to claim her."

     Rigmor: "Now I know you are in love with her. That is so sweet of you, I know that Temple means a lot to you. Come on, I want to meet her!"

     Rigmor rushes through the portal. The others all look to Iriisii, who with a sigh and a shake of her head, waves a hand toward the portal. The room empties quickly and Iriisii walks through last.

     Rigmor: "Amazing, she really does love you." Looking at Iriisii. "Sorry, I was not insulting, it is just I have never known that dragons could feel the softer emotions."

     Brii: "Truth be told, Lady Rigmor, I was just as surprised. All that has happened has caught me completely by surprise. Of course, it started with her call. I heard and felt, as she was calling, the shift into male form. It went through me like a lightning bolt. I took flight myself and answered. The rest I am sure you know. I have never felt toward anyone dragon, mortal, immortal like I feel toward Iriisii."

     Rigmor: "You are feeling 'true love'. Only one who has felt it before can know it in another. I see it in you, in every part of you." Rigmor places her hands around Brii, even though she can't reach very far, the sentiment makes itself known.

     Brii: "Thank you, my sister. It pleases me greatly to know you all feel the same. I worried so, that would not be the case."

     Dettlaff: "There was no doubt in my mind. She always goes with how she feels in her heart, and it never leads her astray."

     Brii: "Indeed, and she sets the example for the 'Balance' even in her personal life. Light, dark, vampire, dragon, and we all mesh together as one, proving that all who disparage such are wrong."

     Iriisii: "Good, now that introductions are done, once the Krang is ready, we must get these people off this world as quickly as we can."

     Brii: "What is happening?"

     Rigmor: "The enemies that will come will take their rage and anger out on this world. If the people were to remain..."

     Brii: "Of course! They will poison this place until it will never be thought that it could once have been a garden. But does it have anything to do with those who left that canister down in the cavern I was sleeping in?"

     Iriisii: "What?! You were what they ran into when they took it from the surface? Now it starts to make sense. We must hurry and get out of here. If what they put down there gets released when the Divines enemies arrive..."

     Rigmor: "What are you talking about?"

     Iriisii: "No time, we must get everyone to the Krang as soon as possible. I am not sure just what the effects will be but one thing is certain, it explains how this place is going to change so much."

     Rigmor: "What about the 'Wall'?"

     Iriisii: "What about it?"

     Rigmor: "Are there any men on the 'Wall'?"

     Iriisii: "Shit, I will go and see, if so I will portal them off. If Brii's new home is ready, have the Soul Hounds port her there. Start getting everyone else picked up and dropped into the Krang, no exceptions, everyone goes."

     Brii: "Be careful, love. The Cold Death could reawaken anytime, and if you are on the 'Wall' when it does..."

     Iriisii: "I still have tricks up my sleeve, I will return, you have my promise."

     Rigmor: "Believe her when she makes that promise. She has returned to me more than once, even from the edge of Death's door."

     Brii: "Go then, do what you must. I will await you."

     Rigmor: "Go and do not worry, I will stay with her until you come back."

     Iriisii ports to the surface, unfurls her wings, and takes to the skies. She thinks she should portal to the 'Wall', but some nagging feeling says 'no'. And she has come to trust those feelings.

     High in the air, she can see the edge of the 'Wall'. As she grows closer she sees the shadows cast by castles built on top of it, with towers every so often. But there are no fires lit and burning in the towers, and few enough within the Castles. What has happened that there are so few manning the 'Wall'? From the looks of its construction, there were tens of thousands at one time, maybe a hundred thousand or more.

     Not knowing if word of her had reached this far, she cast invisibility on herself. Better to not get skewered by an arrow more like a log than an arrow. But few enough of the catapult bows that fired them look to still be in working condition. Many are in pieces, covered in ice.

     She stays some distance off and is careful to glide where she can, the better to not make a lot of noise and attract attention. She goes alongside, until she starts to see signs of habitation, and then in the distance smoke from signal fires, doubling as braziers with the men keeping their hands from freezing with the heat from them.

     She hears the sounds of wooden blades clacking. Someone's mocking shouts indicate an intention to use invective to motivate sword training. In her experience that is more likely to get someone a sharp blade thrust in the night than better performance in training. She lands and continues on foot, using her stealth skills to stay quiet and see what the situation is here before revealing herself.

     Watching the sword trainer going about it with one trainee, hmmm, this one at least knows which end to thrust with. His opponents on the other hand are bad, really bad. Even as one, disarms the other quickly, the trainer will not relent in his verbal assault. The young man carries himself well, not letting the older man's words get under his skin. There is hope for him as a swordsman if he can get the proper training. Not here though, all he is likely to get here is a frozen grave. Having had enough of this abuse, she places herself back from the trainer before speaking and announcing her presence.

     Iriisii: "And who are you that seems to wield a tongue far better than a blade. For that seems to me, you are a great deal better at teaching swearing than fighting."

     Swordmaster: "And who are you, woman, to speak to me in that manner?"

     Iriisii: "You have not even come close to earning the right to know my name. He, however, " pointing to the young man she had been watching, "seems to show a degree of promise sadly lacking in the others I have seen here."

     The swordmaster walks to a weapon rack and picks out a steel sword.

     Swordmaster: "Make your choice and let us see if your arms are any better than your mouth."

     The young man starts toward the swordmaster, but Iriisii waves him back.

     Iriisii: "There is no need, young sir, I am well capable of defending myself. Besides, better to use one of these to balance things between us. I cannot have it said I won only because my blade was of better quality."

     Swordmaster: "What blade?"

     Even as Iriisii takes her Dai Katana from her back and hands it to the young man to hold for her.

     Iriisii: "Please hold this, I do not wish for it to..."

     Swordmaster: "You may use that toothpick if you like, it matters not to me."

     Iriisii: "No, it would not be fair, that 'toothpick' has shed more blood and claimed more lives than you have in your entire life."

     She goes to the sword rack and picks up a few before settling on one. Judging its weight, balance, and edge, she knows how to change her movements to accommodate them. Moving out into the training yard, she stands balanced on both feet, one slightly behind the other. She then flourishes the sword she picked, in her mind giving the swordmaster one last chance to back down. He does not care, his pride is already stung by this 'woman'.

     He moves in standard movements, predictable, and when his blade slashes down onto her position, she is not there. She is close enough to swat him on his ass with the blade's flat. His bellowing is attracting others around to watch, good, maybe after this the others will listen to what she has to say and will not dismiss her out of hand.

     He keeps making more of those predictable swings and she keeps swatting him with the flat of the blade. Sooner or later he is going to finally show what he is made of and then they will really see a show. He keeps using his voice to try and distract her but she keeps silent, focusing on his movements. Seeing him leading up to something that has likely worked for him in the past. This time however he is outclassed and outmatched. And he is so blinded by pride, he cannot see it.

     There it is, he makes his move, only to find her blade sending his flying up into the air, where she catches it in her free hand, assuming a dual wield stance. He tries to make a run to the weapon rack to rearm when another voice calls out.

     Keep Master: "Enough! Swordmaster are you in such a hurry to meet your end? She is far better than you are, admit it and move on. I for one would like to know her purpose in coming here. I am certain it is for a different reason than to simply show you up."

     Iriisii hands the two swords she has to another trainee. Then the swordmaster grabs one from the rack and charges her, she quickly watches his blade position. Just when he reaches a few feet from her, she slides to the side grabbing his arm. Twisting it to disarm him, she then slams him into the wood bulwark. Keeping her eyes on him, she reaches back to the trainee holding her Dai Katana. Grabbing its hilt she draws it and leaps in front of the swordmaster, placing her blade across his throat, and says, "move and I will give you a second mouth just below your old one."

     He hesitantly swallows and a thin line of red appears.

     Keep Master: "He deserves whatever fate you desire for his transgression against you, but I would ask that you spare him. For I continue to need his services such as they are."

     Iriisii then decides to spare his life, and she backs up, keeping the swordmaster in her eyes. She then asks the trainee to hold the sword sheath level to the ground and waist high. She hears his movements as he does as she requests. She then smartly sheaths her sword sliding it back into the sheath all while keeping her eyes on the swordmaster. She then slips her hand further back, grasps the sword, and places it across her back.

     Keep Master: "May I politely inquire who and where did you train?"

     Iriisii: "My Grandfather began my training while I was still a child, barely able to walk. Later, just before my eighteenth birthyear, my village was destroyed. I was the only survivor as a mercenary assassin group captured me, and kept me chained to their will with drugs while they trained me in their arts. When they later made a very rare mistake, I escaped and took asylum in a Temple of the Ancient Order of the Blade Dancers. They finished and polished my training using the methods they teach. I have been out on my own, following my destiny ever since."

     Keep Master: "You said your Grandfather started your training, what of your parents?"

     Iriisii: "My mother died giving birth to me, my father died not a year later of a broken heart over my mother's death."

     Keep Master: "I see, a tragic story all too often seen. Yet you persevered and from what I have seen, you have made something of yourself. Please come up and inside, tell me what brings you here."

     Iriisii: "I wish we had time for such pleasantries, I would enjoy talking with you, but the situation requires speed."

     Keep Master: "Very well, will you then tell us what is happening?"

     Iriisii explains as best she can, while not going into the many side issues that might or might not have any bearing. Mainly just trying to stick to why they need to leave quickly.

     Keep Master: "I am sure there is a lot more to this, but we do not need to know right now. But once this is settled what will happen to this place."

     Iriisii: "I do not intend to leave it the way I first found it. I will have it cleansed and restored to what it was first like."

     Keep Master: "And that was?"

     Iriisii: "A garden world, pristine and beautiful, a place worthy to call home."

     Keep Master: "Then I will pray that you are successful. There are more of my people at other stations along the 'Wall', but if you can create a passage for the ones here, I will send them onward. As to the others, I will need to go with you. They will listen to me if I speak for you."

     Iriisii: "Very well, I do not want to leave a single person to have to endure what will soon come ."

     Keep Master: "How is it you can change what will happen without major problems?"

     Iriisii: "It involves understanding exactly when and why the crux points form. They are what create paradoxes when the timestreams are changed. In this case, the restoration of the souls of the Draconic Divines caused the changes to the future, but this possibility already existed as a branch from a crux point. We merely shifted branches, then when things are cleansed and restored, as I bring the people back, we shift back to the branch we left, bringing the changes with us."

     Keep Master: "I will not try and understand everything you said, it is enough that you understand and can keep it straight. Come let us get these on their way so we may get to the rest of them."

     Iriisii creates a portal to the Krang, at first the men are hesitant to go through, so she asks someone from the other side to come through first to show the men it is safe. After a few moments, Lilith walks through, along with one of the 'Sirens'. Lilith's presence as a warrior is a symbol they can understand, and the 'Siren', clad simply as she is, shows that even normal people as they know them are on the other side. They quickly walk through with whatever personal possessions they have. In only a few minutes, the wind is the only thing that can be heard blowing across the top of the 'Wall'.

     Lilith: "Are you sure you will not need me to help with the others?"

     Iriisii: "No thank you, Lilith, get yourself back to safety."

     Lilith: "Before I go, I would just like to say, you did well with Brii. She is truly exceptional."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, I think so as well."

     Lilith walks back through. Iriisii looks toward the Siren.

     Siren: "Chances are good you will need me along the way. I am not sure for what, just that I will be needed."

     Iriisii: "Ok, let us get going then."

     Keep Master: "Who is this 'Brii' that was mentioned."

     Iriisii: "You would not believe me if I told you."

     Keep Master: "Try me."

     Iriisii: "Very well, Brii's full name is Brii Qo Dun. She is an ancient mutated dragon that I found and awoke, buried in an underground sink, asleep for nearly ten thousand years.

Just yesterday I summoned the four souls of the Draconic Divines from their prison in a place known only as 'Where The Dead Gods Lie Dreaming' deep in the wilds of the Dreamlands.

     As I channeled those souls, my body morphed into that of a dragon, my physical sex was changed from female to male, and I called Brii to join into a mating flight with her. She now carries a number of fertilized eggs, how many we do not know. But four of them will have the four souls of the Draconic Divines. 

     Those who first put them into the prison I freed them from will come looking for them. And when they are found to be gone, their anger and rage will turn this world into a wasteland. Another enemy has a weapon of unknown potential buried deep down. When this world is rocked by the rage of the former enemies, that weapon will be unearthed and detonated. Its effects will merge with what has been done here, and change it into something truly terrible to see.

     Somehow, and I am not certain who will do this, a lifeform I know of as 'Wamphyri' will be brought here and seeded. They will grow and through battle and conflict among their number, they will be trained and the lesser ones weeded out, until only the strongest, most deadly, most gifted of them will form an army that will be used in a future war against me and the forces I am building. At stake will be the very fate and destiny of all the Realms of Existence.

     Oh, and before I forget, I asked Brii to marry me and she said 'yes'.

     Keep Master: "At first I thought you were weaving quite a story, but this is too fantastic to be anything but the truth. And there are tales told among scholars of an ancient dragon buried in an underground cavern long ago. But why this world, what is it about this place that draws such evil to it?"

     Iriisii: "That I do not know, nor do I even have a guess. I go where I am led to go, and do what I am led to do, and pray I make the right decisions."

     The Keep Master nods his head, "is there truly any more that can be asked of us?"

     Iriisii: "Be careful what you ask for, you might just find out."

     Keep Master: "I take that to mean you know the answer to that question."

     Iriisii: "There is too much involved with it, to go into. It would take days at the least to go through just the high points, and more than a few barrels of wine, mead, ale, anything strong to keep the tongue flowing with words. Besides, there are many things out there, that once learned can never be forgotten, no matter how hard we try to forget."

     Keep Master: "I understand."

     Iriisii stops and looks around at everything, the ice and snow blanketing everything, the 'Wall' so high and wide, built to house an army, just to keep something out there from crossing over to the lands south. And this man, standing on top of this wall, spending his life trying to create an army to defend it, of thieves, cutthroats, rapists, the worst dregs out of the prisons, and just a smattering of good volunteers.

     Iriisii: "I believe you do understand. I believe you do at that."

     They reach each Castle built along its length, several thousand leagues long with about two hundred in each castle, with smaller outposts with a hundred or less now. With the Keep Master's assistance, they send all the men on to the Krang barracks created to house them until they can return. They reach the Castle at the far end to find it silent. Iriisii casts about with her senses to try and feel if there is anything waiting for them in the dark quiet.

     Iriisii: "How many men were here?"

     Keep Master: "Only about a hundred-twenty, I was going to send more once I had them trained well enough to know which end of a blade went where."

     Iriisii can sense the dead lying inside the Castle, deep down where its tunnels are cut into the ice.

     Iriisii: "What lies at the bottom of these Castles. Do any of its corridors extend into the ice below?"

     Keep Master: "No, at least they are not supposed to. It was felt to be a security risk should tunnels be cut into the ice below and used to breach the Castle by cutting into any adjoining stone corridors, why?"

     Iriisii: "Then this Castle has been taken, I feel the dead laid down in ice tunnels below the bottom of the Castle. I cannot feel anything in the Castle but they may be shielded in some way to prevent my seeing them. I know this may be asking a lot, but I want to see the bodies. To try and find out if they are truly dead or put to sleep to awaken later."

     Keep Master: "But why would they be put to sleep?"

     Iriisii: "I imagine the 'Cold Death' would need soldiers to conquer the 'Wall' before it would be able to pass beyond. Easier to take one Castle or outpost, convert the men in them and use them to gather more to convert. With enough converts, it would be ready to take on the southern armies in battle. Your people were stretched thin enough here to make such a plan feasible, gain a strong foothold before being discovered and they would take it with little trouble. The South would not know anything was wrong before the 'Cold Death' and its army was across the 'Wall' and moving on the cities to the South."

     Keep Master: "Merciful Heavens! If you had not come when you did!"

     Iriisii: "Now you see about making the right decisions. My decision to take everyone here to safety, to not leave anyone behind has exposed this plan before it was ready. I am sorry for these that were taken. At least I can release them to seek succor from whatever Gods they called upon."

     Keep Master: "May I ask a question?"

     Iriisii: "You wish to ask had your men known of me before now and called before they fell to the 'Cold Death?"

     Keep Master: "Yes, what would you have done?"

     Iriisii: "I would have answered their call, and done what was needed to wrest them from the grasp of the 'Cold Death'. Perhaps I would have gone on to battle the 'Cold Death', it would depend on whether or not it would withdraw from the 'Wall'. The men would be my first concern, the 'Cold Death' would be second."

     Keep Master: "Thank you, now I know what I must do for the future of my men."

     Siren: "What would that be Keep Master?"

     Keep Master: "Teach my men to honor only those Gods and Goddesses that are more than a name written in a book, or preached about in a Temple. To honor and follow those who by their actions prove they are real and care for those who believe in them."

     Siren: "Then will you take up the burden and task to be one of this Goddesses' heralds. To be empowered to go out among the worlds in the Realms to announce the 'Time of the Holy Choosing'?"

     Keep Master: "What is this 'Holy Choosing'?"

     Siren: "Where each being will choose where they stand when the 'Jihad of Truth' begins. The Great War determines the fate of existence itself. They must choose from Absolute Good, Absolute Evil, or Balance. Only the Balance seeks to find a way to thread a future between Good and Evil. The way of the Absolutes means death, one may be faster and more bloody than the other but both end in death for existence. Only the Balance looks to keep existence moving forward, keeping Good and Evil in check, and using them to push everything forward, ever forward. To keep life, bearing fruit through our children.

     Iriisii serves the Balance, and is its Champion, and is now the protector of the Fount of Balance, which holds the vital essence that is the Balance."

     The Keep Master stops and considers Siren's words.

     Keep Master: "I am not a poet or bard to string together the words that would convince people to listen to me."

     Siren: "But if that power could be given to you, would you accept it and use it to spread her message?"

     Keep Master: "Yes, yes I would."

     The Siren stands in front of the Keep Master and places both hands gently on each side of his face.

     Siren: "Then accept from me the 'Gift of the Siren's Speech' and become one of the 'Divine Heralds of Truth'."

     A glow flows from her hands and surrounds the head of the Keep Master, seeping in and making itself a part of who he is. Giving him the power to speak on Iriisii's behalf, to warn all who cross his path of the 'Jihad of Truth' that is to come, and to seek the 'Way of the Balance'.

     Siren: "It is done. You who are now one of the first of the 'Divine Heralds of Truth', your way will not be easy, but your life has never been easy. Know that when your task is done, a place will be yours at the head of her Celestial Army of the Balance, as the Jihad of Truth walks through every world of every Realm, challenging the Forces of Absolute Good and Absolute Evil, with those who chose to follow them.

     All who survive and move forward will know your name and the part you played, songs and stories will be sung of your exploits, and drinks in every tavern will be raised in praise of your name. And you will be remembered with thanks for your sacrifices. At the end of your mortal life, there is a place where you will be allowed to go, where those already there know of and honor Iriisii, and they will know and honor you for your service to her. Your path begins now, Divine Herald of Truth."

     Keep Master: "I feel...like this is what I have waited all my life for. That this is why I have been tested by the events in my life. The eyes of my soul have been opened for the first time ever. I see you, my Goddess, in all of your glory."

     Iriisii: "Thank you both for what you have done on my behalf, but now we need to see to the bodies at the bottom of the Castle. At the very least, I can see that they are given rest, and will not be used by the 'Cold Death'."

     They enter, and immediately the smell of spilled blood assails their nostrils. They set their feelings aside and proceed, for there are the bodies of men below, that need their attention. The signs of fierce fighting are everywhere.

     Iriisii: "Your men gave a good accounting of themselves. I am sorry it is such a waste of good men's lives. Would they had lived, I would have seen them trained as I was. And so they would have become swordmasters of such skill that all their names would be revered."

     Keep Master: "I have trained thousands in my life upon this 'Wall'. Losing them has never gotten simple and easy. All of us deal with it in different ways. The invective my swordmaster uses is his way of dealing with it. He hopes it would serve to drive them to where if even one would survive where otherwise he would not, it is worth the pain."

     Iriisii: "I understand why he would use that, yet it only works on a very few. Others it can make a mess of them, turning them into the very things they fight against. A good swordmaster knows this and adjusts his training techniques according to what works best for each student. It is a lot of trouble to undertake, but the results are more than worth the trouble. I know because I have had a number of different teachers, all using different ways of teaching. I remember those who had the greatest impact on me and my performance. And so those I have taken to personally teach, I use the ways I was taught and when something does not work, I try something else until I find what does. Then I can make a difference in their lives."

     They walk on in silence, listening carefully to each sound that makes its way to them. To Iriisii there is history in each sound like the Castle is recalling its life and regaling her with the stories of the battles it has seen. The lives of the men who have bled and died within its walls. Eager that they not be forgotten, their memories lost in the creaks and groans of the everpresent ice.

     They reach where the bodies lay, arranged one next to another. All laying on the cold ice as if waiting for the command to rise up and fight once more. She goes to one who looks like he was hardly scratched.

     Keep Master: "He was a patrol leader, one of the best I had. A veteran of some twenty years, and this is how he ends. Why does this happen?"

     Iriisii: "Many blame the Gods, when it is not their task. I myself once asked a wandering itinerant priest that very same question. And that was his answer to me. The Gods have their tasks, they see the larger view. The fates of countries, continents, whole worlds, and more. They do not have the time, desire, or interest to concern themselves with individual mortals."

     Keep Master: "Then who does?"

     Iriisii: "That is our task, we who are chosen to be heroes, mentors, Kings, and Emperors. It is our task to be the servants of the people, to look into these smaller tasks. This does not mean they are any less important. It is simply who is best suited to deal with them. The Gods have a different sense of time than mortals. That in part is why we are better suited to these problems."

     Keep Master: "But you do not see things that way, at least you do not act like that."

     Iriisii: "I was once as mortal as you are. I was chosen by one of my Gods to be his agent, a special kind of hero. Sent when the fate of the world was at stake. Because of that, my personal life such as it was, was a shambles, an unholy mess as I waded through blood and guts to do what the Gods asked of me.

     Usually, when we have done what we were called to do, we simply go out and vanish into obscurity. Until when the next one is needed. In my case, however, the Fates took notice of me and saw how they might use me in a similar fashion, but on a larger stage. Older, higher Gods than the ones I knew, bargained for, and obtained my services. And as I succeeded in my tasks, others saw how they could use me.

     Each time, I would be given more power, until the time came when I crossed over and ascended into godhood myself. And still, it has not ended, only grown more hidden, more dangerous, for higher stakes. But in order for me to survive, I learned what most other Gods never knew."

     Keep Master: "What was that?"

     Iriisii: "What it meant to be mortal. Because I have never forgotten, I have always kept that knowledge close to my heart. I can interact with other mortals as if I still was one. I can understand what drives them when other Gods who were never mortal, remain mystified by how you live your lives. And I never want to become like they are, chained to their ignorance, blinded by their hubris. For I know that without mortals, there would be no Gods."

     She takes a closer look at this patrol leader, lifting a still-pliable eyelid back to look into his eyes. Then she notices that all of these bodies are still pliable when they should be stiff as wooden boards. And this one's eyes have taken on a blueish tint when she could tell that when he was alive his eyes were brown.

     Iriisii: "I need to deal with this, they are being converted. Their flesh is not frozen as it should be down here after the time they were placed here. The magic of the 'Cold Death' is slowly seeping into their bodies. Once done they will arise into fearsome warriors, almost unkillable."

     Keep Master: "What will you do?"

     Iriisii: "You fight ice with fire. Move back toward the Castle, what I am going to do could weaken and collapse this tunnel. But even if it does, it will not quench the fires I am going to use. There will be nothing remaining of the bodies for the 'Cold Death' to use. And no way for it to reach their souls and pull them back into their bodies."

     The Siren and the Keep Master turn and move back out of the ice tunnel and into the Castle interior proper. Iriisii stands contemplating what she is about to do and whether it will be seen as 'throwing down the gauntlet' to the 'Cold Death' or whatever started converting these men. She decides now is the time and she delves deep inside herself, connecting to the part of her that is now a dragon. She merges herself with her understanding of 'Yol', letting its sound reverberate within her, letting its desire to consume envelope her mind, gathering its essence and then focusing it. Her eyes see the target, what she wants her inner fire to consume, and then she releases it with, "Yol Toor Shul"!

     The fiery flames become visible scant inches past her lips, they seem almost alive as they reach the dead bodies and start licking them, the heat of her Dragonfire causing the clothing to ignite in seconds, the flesh blackening, splitting, the ice surrounding them boiling into steam almost instantly. In less than a minute, flesh turned to ash crumbles from the burnt bones. She is reminded of what Byrsael's hands and arms looked like when Dettlaff brought her out from the cavern after she froze the Balrog.

     She keeps channeling the Dragonfire until even the bones crumble into powder. There will be nothing to use to bring these men back and enslave their souls. When she is done, she can almost hear Paarthurnax comment, 'Well done, Dovahkiin, truly you have the voice of a Dov.'

     She turns and walks back into the Castle, the steam and melted ice refreezing around the ash, all that remains of the brave men who made the last stand against the forces of the 'Cold Death' trying to defend the Castle. She does not see the ghosts of those men form in the freezing mist, draw Aetherial weapons, and salute her. Her last thought toward them is that, now, finally they may rest in peace. The freezing mist falls to the floor of the tunnel, becoming ice once more. And the Aspect of Death comes, draws the grateful souls into his embrace, and escorts them to the final gate.

     As the gate creaks open in his hands, the souls look back to where they came from, to the one who freed them from eternal servitude to the 'Cold Death'. The Aspect of Death then speaks to them.

     Death: "I know you wish to go back and help her in any way you can. But this is her wish, her gift to you in recognition of your sacrifice. Many are those on the other side who know her, honor her, and love her. They await you with pride, with honor, for a job well done. You were not supposed to defeat the minions of the 'Cold Death', your sacrifice gave her the time to save your brothers. And for that, she honors you, maybe one day she will join you on the other side. Whether that is to be her final fate, still remains to be seen. 

     But whatever her fate is to be, she will be remembered by those who saw what she stood for, believed in what she believed in, and fought with her for what she fought for. And that legacy, a legacy you share with her, will be a very powerful force. Enter the gate, accept her gift, and you will honor her in the way she wishes from you."

     As the souls move on and go through the gate, Death can hear the cheers from those already passed who greet these new souls. And he gives them a bow as he shuts the gate. Now they are truly safe from the 'Cold Death', beyond his icy fingers' reach, forevermore.