New Allies

 New Allies

      A resplendent figure in butterfly wings comes up to her.

     Dream Spirit: "Why do you shed tears for those who would have taken your life, Mother of Dragons?"

     Iriisii: "Because I know who and what they were before. They did nothing to deserve being used by the Blind Dreamer in this way."

     Dream Spirit: "And yet, it happened anyway. Could it not be that this was their fate? True it was not their decision to be used in such a fashion, but it was the Blind Dreamer's decision. So does not the onus of this action belong on him and not on them."

     Iriisii: "The responsibility for what he has done will fall upon his shoulders, but why must so many others suffer for something they had nothing to do with?"

     Dream Spirit: "What do you feel for these unfortunates? How does that make you feel toward the Blind Dreamer? And if this had not happened to them, would you still feel the same toward the Blind Dreamer?"

     Iriisii: "Do you speak of just this occurrence or all the things he has done?"

     Dream Spirit: "Does it matter? If he had never sought you out, and all of this never happened, would you still feel the same toward him?"

     Iriisii: "No, I would not."

     Dream Spirit: "So his actions against others and yourself, changes the way you think of him?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, they do."

     Dream Spirit: "And so you must now see why unfortunate things happen to the innocent."

     Iriisii: "Because that is the impetus for change, for someone to take responsibility and action to prevent such from happening again."

      Dream Spirit: "And so you have answered your own question. You see it now. Of course, it does not make things right. It is not supposed to. It is supposed to bring these things into balance, then all can go on. Justice is a whole different matter, and fortunately for you, not within your purview."

     Iriisii: "That I can agree with.

     Dream Spirit: "Still it speaks highly of you that you have the compassion in your heart to grieve for them. I can see that your heart is as big as many have said it is. Please, in your quest for 'balance', do not lose sight of the depth of your heart."

     Iriisii: "What does that have to do with what is happening?"

     Dream Spirit: "Just that you are a rare person. To be thrust into these ever-increasing decisions, climbing higher and higher as those above continue to push you. You hold on to where you came from, full of sorrows though it is. It serves to help you see the need to keep 'balance' in your own life. Then you can see what is needed to keep it in everything else.

     It is not a problem to ask questions about why things happen, just make sure to seek the answers as well, and thus keep the 'Balance' within you. Take this 'key' with you."

     Iriiisii feels it become solid in her hands.

     Iriisii: "What do I need it for?"

     Dream Spirit: "Rather you should ask what does it open?"

     Iriisii thinks on the question the Dream Spirit would have her answer.

     Iriisii: "Everything."

     The Dream Spirit grins from ear to ear.

     Dream Spirit: "You are learning quickly, good. First, it opens the door to a place you seek to go."

     Iriisii: "Where the Dead Gods Lie Dreaming."

     Dream Spirit: "Just so. And when you need a key and can find nothing else to allow you entry to wherever you need to go, this one will work."

     Iriisii: "Thank you."

     The Dream Spirit bows and fades away.

     She walks over to one of the new arrivals.

     Iriisii: "I thank you for answering the call, Death Dealer."

     Death Dealer: "The honor to fight for a cause worthy to fight or die for is all mine. You may expect that anytime you call for fighters, I will answer."

     And with that, he fades back to where he was engaged when he answered her call.

     She goes to each of the others, giving her thanks for their participation. They all respond favorably to her and promise further help if needed.

     Dorian Hawkmoon: "When you make it to Tanelorn, know that I will speak on your behalf. Most will listen to Elric, but with my voice added, and Cormac's as well, I am certain we can sway nearly all to your side. To know that someone is willing to take up the greater problems gives me hope we can one day at least know a semblance of peace."

     Iriisii: "I thank you Dorian Hawkmoon, it has been an honor to meet you and fight with you at my side."

     Dorian Hawkmoon: "My dear, to see what you did, to the Blind Dreamer no less. That is the stuff of tales to be told in a warm tavern on a cold and windy night, with a warm tankard in hand."

     Iriisii: "That is something I can agree with."

     Dorian Hawkmoon: "Good, then I will be looking forward to it."

     He and Cormac turn and fade back to the Waking World.

     She turns to the Angelics who came and she sees a face that was described to her, some time ago.  She walks up to him and asks his name.

     Knight Paladin Michael: "I am Knight Paladin Michael at your service, once of the Heavenly Hosts."

     Iriisii: "Yes, I am aware of what has transpired. It is a shame that he was so easily corrupted. But if I may have a word in private."

     Knight Paladin Michael: "Of course My Lady, lead the way."

     She walks with him over to the Arcane Tower, turns, and speaks.

     Iriisii: "I asked to speak to you because I have news that I feel you should know. I recently had a reason to talk with someone who knew you in the past. They asked that I watch over someone they thought could be in danger. In the conversation, I discovered who this person's father was and also that he had no idea of her existence."

     The Knight Paladin's face goes pale as she speaks.

     Iriisii: "I wish to let you know that she is safe for now. I have people watching over her and I have met her myself. She is living with another who I also know of and respect."

     Knight Paladin Michael: "Could you tell me her name?"

     Iriisii: "She is called 'Terhali', her mother had no choice but to leave her with her husband when she left to save herself from execution. Had she taken the child with her, they both would likely have died. By leaving her, the husband believed Terhali to be his child and spared her life. Terhali knows nothing of her true father, I leave it in your hands whether to tell her. She and her companion, Harskari, have quarters within the Great Library at Carcosa." 

     Knight Paladin Michael: "Carcosa?! But isn't that..."

     Iriisii: "Technically, yes, but the Great Library is neutral ground. None will break that neutrality and permanently lose access. The attendant staff are friends of mine, and their Elders have already declared for the 'Balance'. They will do all in their power to watch over your daughter. Also, I have a power sink still collecting power there, and more than a few Soul Hounds attending it. No one is going to risk an attack there, that I can promise."

     Knight Paladin Michael: "Thank you, that eases my mind greatly. Do you think..."

     Iriisii: "That she would like to know that you are her true father? Yes, I think so. It would help her to see where her true feelings come from and that she is not just a product of Acheron blood. I have looked into her soul and she does desire to know. She has long suspected it, but there has been no evidence presented to her about it. Tell her I said that your words are true and that I also spoke to her mother. She will believe you."

     Knight Paladin Michael: "Thank you."

     Iriisii turns to the volunteers who came through the Arcane Tower.

     Iriisii: "I want to thank all of you who came from the other parts of the Dreamlands through the Tower. You have not only proven your worth, but you have proven the efficacy of these Towers. More will be constructed and linked, more of your volunteers will answer the call, and more peace and security will be found throughout the Dreamlands thanks to you.

     I do not let the efforts of those who go above and beyond go unrewarded. And so," she tosses a large bag to the leader of the volunteers, "that bag is filled with gems. All are of the same quality and value. See that each one who came gets one. Each of you has my thanks and my blessing. Go back home with your heads held high, and know you stopped a dire threat to the Dreamlands here today."

     Each of the volunteer warriors who came, kneel and bow to her, rise and then go back into the Tower to be transported back to where they came from.

     Knight Paladin Michael: "I had heard of the loyalty that was shown to you by those who follow. But to see it with my own eyes, now I know that when it is said that you do not command loyalty, but rather that it is freely given is in fact the truth and not merely words. If you would accept my service, I would offer it to you freely."

     Iriisii: "Kneel before me."

     The Knight Paladin kneels with his head bowed. Iriisii takes her Star Forged blade and places it edge outward on his shoulder.

     Iriisii: "Knight Paladin Michael, also known as the Paladin of Light, I accept your freely given service to me and the cause I serve, the Restoration of the Balance, as I am the Champion of the Balance, and the Guardian of its Fount, I vow not to abuse your service, to take care of whatever needs you have, rise now, Servant of the Light!, Knight Paladin of the Balance!"

     As Michael rises, a glow of power shines down upon him from an area of the Heavens far from the High Heavens where his former master reigns.

     Iriisii: "The 'Fount of the Balance' within the 'Celestial Heavens' has given its seal to your service this day. Be honored, my friend, and know that I and the others who stand as Guardians of Balance, will fight with you, shield you from harm, raise drinks in your name, and honor in your deeds."

     Michael: "Who else numbers among the Guardians?"

     Iriisii: "You are the first of the Light, both the Dark Paladin and the Dark Queen stand with you and me. The Dark Emperor and the Emperor of Light are both corrupted by Wamphyri leeches. I do not know of the Dark Knight, the Knight of the Light, or the Queen of Light. As yet they are silent and hidden."

     Michael: "I may know of where to find the Knight of the Light and the Queen of Light. I ask your permission to seek them and see where they stand."

     Iriisii: "You have my permission, anything you may need to help you in this task, you have but to ask and it will be provided."

     Michael: "Thank you, I will go and take stock of where I may need to look."

     As he turns and strides away, Iriisii sees the General of the Demonic Hordes and the Nameless One, standing patiently out of the way. She makes her way over to them.

     Iriisii: "And so I save the best for last."

     General A'kil'tre: "Your compliment is taken with the grace in which it is given."

     Iriisii bows, "General, Nameless One, You both have my thanks for your participation this day. I hope the battle was bloody enough?"

     General A'kil'tre grins, showing the tips of his fangs, "indeed, you most certainly did not disappoint. In fact not since the Blood Wars", glancing at the Nameless One, "have I been in a more glorious battle."

     Iriisii: "Then I am pleased, but let the anticipation build, for there will be bigger battles ahead, and perhaps even the 'Blood Wars' may be eclipsed."

     A'kil'tre: "I will look forward then, you have my word on it."

     Iriisii looks to the Nameless One, "May I inquire what drew you to this battle? Or more specifically, is there something about this conflict I am in, that catches your attention?"

     The Nameless One smiles at her, "you are correct that there is something specific."

     Iriisii: "Then please, walk with me, let me show you the view from atop the Tower and we can speak more."

     They walk together into the Tower and up onto the platform top, while General A'kil'tre wonders what it is they will talk about and whether it may be of use to him.

     Looking out over the now uninhabited dreamland realm, the Nameless One speaks to her.

     Nameless One: "You really should not blame yourself for what took place here. You and I are pieces, albeit powerful pieces, moved around an infinite game board. What the stakes are, what the strategy is, we have no idea. All we know is what lies in front of us and what we must do about it."

     Iriisii: "That is a very pessimistic view, although one I can freely admit to thinking about in similar thoughts. But is it even remotely possible to one day rise so far to either take a place at that game board or even upset it?"

     Nameless One: "An interesting thought, one that had not crossed my mind before. I would say it is a possibility that could be what you may in fact are being groomed for. It is just a thought, and one not necessarily to be taken seriously."

     Iriisii chuckles, "But it does lend itself just a bit to reality when I stand back and attempt to see the bigger picture."

     Nameless One: "I can agree with you on that. But if I may hazard a piece of advice?"

     Iriisii: "Please do!"

     Nameless One: "Be exceedingly careful of the 'Blind Dreamer'. He is not to be taken lightly. You know more truth of him than nearly all others, but still, do you truly see him for himself. Can he be truly seen for who he is?"

     Iriisii: "You think he may be a close servant to one of those playing on this infinite game board? Maybe even an avatar?"

     Nameless One: "You did not hear that from me, but if you must face him, keep that in mind as you deal with him. Powerful though he is, while he is here, he is still bound by the laws that govern this place. If you mean to have a chance of defeating him, lure him to a place of your advantage, then show him no mercy. You cannot kill him, not as we know it anyway. But you are so close to seeing the truth of that and therein lies the way to defeat him.

     I am not of the power structure in this Reality. I am, perhaps, a holdover from another game, tossed in to stir things up. But if you need my assistance again, simply call and I will be there."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, is there anything I can do for you in return?"

     Nameless One: "I thank you for that, but no. My needs are simple and easily attained, but I must need to go now. There are things still awaiting me out there."

     He gestures with one hand and a shimmering door appears. As he opens it, she catches a glimpse of a very ornate and beautiful room, a throne of some form of fine polished bone, with runes carved over every visible bit. Sitting on that throne is a woman, clothed in silks that shimmer and glow, her face hidden by a silken veil, not even her eyes are exposed, but her gaze sees everything around her.

     Iriisii feels her gaze looking over her, evaluating her. She returns that gaze and gets the feeling the woman is thinking of how audacious Iriisii is, which strangely enough pleases her. As the Nameless one continues on inside, the woman gestures toward Iriisii and a wide simple gold bracelet strikes the magic floor on top of the Tower and slides toward her. As she picks it up, she notices runes of a kind she has never before carved on the bracelet. Yet they are not engraved, not cut, or chipped, but seemingly a part of the metal of the bracelet. Visible when she moves it in the light, but not there when she holds it still in her hand.

     She places it around her wrist and slides it up her arm just a bit till it feels snug. She bows to the woman on the throne, who nods her head in return, as the door closes and vanishes. She walks back down to where General A'kil'tre is talking to Dettlaff.

     As she walks up, the General sees the bracelet on her arm and though trying as hard as he can to hide the shock he feels. He just cannot quite keep it from crossing his face. Iriisii notices but does not let on that she saw his reaction, instead she casually mentions it is time they were going, that they still had a task to perform.

     They move about and go to gather Elric, once they are far enough away, Iriisii mentions the shock that the General tried to hide when he saw the bracelet on her arm. Dettlaff listens but does not ask to see it, feeling it better to wait until a more private setting is available. Elric is standing near her 'mount' and as they approach, her mount nuzzles her side, getting a look at the bracelet at the same time.

     War Mount: 'Be careful with that, it is extremely powerful, even for you right now.'

     Iriisii: 'What is it?'

     War Mount: 'Depends on who gave it to you. It changes according to who the giver is.'

     Iriisii: 'I think she is called the 'Lady of Pain'.'

     War Mount: 'You are about to live in interesting times.'

     Iriisii: 'You say that it is cursed?'

     War Mount: 'No, only those who know not what it is capable of would think that. There are no words in the tongues that exist in this 'here and now to describe what it is, much less what it can do. Even the power that is the Black Book, the Necronomicon, bows before what you now wear.'

     Iriisii: 'Is that good or bad?'

     War Mount: 'Neither, it is what you make of it. You will not see much of what it can do for now. It will need time to grow accustomed to you, who you are, how you think, what you desire, and what you need. It can be everything to you, nothing, or anywhere in between. There is no conscious thought or decision to direct what it does, it does as it wills, but as I said, who you are, and what drives you, these things will influence it. And if the 'Lady of Pain' gave it to you, there is no telling what that will mean, only that she saw it wanted to be yours is certain. And although I know of her, there is nothing I can tell you. She will reveal what she wishes to whom she wishes.'

     Iriisii: 'Even though that is not a lot, it is still more than I knew before, thank you.'

     The War Mount bows his head toward the ground then turns and gallops away into the distance.

     Iriisii: "Come let us go inside and see what Tower is closest to where we need to go."

     Inside she touches the magic of the Arcane Towers to see where they all are now. There is what she is looking for, and it is surprisingly close to where she left the caravan when she went to visit Borea. She doubts the caravan is still there, most likely they moved on so as not to become lunch for the Wendigos. But it is needful to visit Kadath and learn what she can before heading on.

     She makes known her desire and the Tower sends her and hers on their way. They walk back out and Elric is surprised at the change in landscape. It seems he never felt the transfer from one Tower to the other. She then leads them to the base of Hatheg Cla, the mountain on the top of which Kadath is built.

     She tells the men to wait at the bottom and she would port them up to her. The climb would be long and arduous, so she will fly up first. She unfurls her wings and leaps upward. She feels the cold as she drives herself upward. It is eerily quiet as she continues to where she sees a large balcony she can land on. Should she go ahead and port the men or check out the area first.

     Usually, she would check out the area, get herself into trouble, and then think to port them after everything is over with. So this time she ports them first. Dettlaff immediately begins looking for bodies, blood, guts, anything to indicate how many she had to kill before bringing them up.

     Iriisii: "I will have you know I brought the two of you up first before checking things out!"

     Dettlaff: "Be careful, it will either be empty or a trap, maybe both."

     Iriisii: "All right, go ahead and check it out yourself, I will wait here for you." And she settles herself on the stone rail around the balcony. "Go on, I said, check it out!"

     Dettlaff: "Look, I am sorry for that. I did not mean anything by it, but you have to admit."

     Iriisii: "I know what you thought. It went through my head once I got up here, but I thought I would do as you have asked me in the past and bring you up as soon as I land so you do not miss out on any of the fun. Then when I do as you have asked, the first thing you do is look around for bodies. All right, I accept your apology, but you owe me for this and I will collect." As she turns away to enter the hall to the balcony it is attached to. Elric sees the smirk on her face and wisely looks the other way.

     As they enter the hall, the silence is almost overwhelming. Nothing seems to be out of place. She opens her senses to see what residual may be here to tell what it may be. But she again finds nothing but silence. She motions to continue on, using signs to ask that no one speaks, to use their other physical senses, and no active magic, only passive. She touches everything with her senses open, but the silence is deafening.

     That's it! The big dragon in the room is the silence! It is the key to what happened. She signs to Dettlaff and Elric, to check every room but under no circumstances to speak or make a loud noise. Just be careful but be thorough. She follows them in case something is set to trip any visitors up, but nothing is found. She finds the staircase down into the dark depths of the lower floors.

     Thinking a 'light spell', a ball of light forms, illuminating the staircase. The dust on it is thick enough that she can see their footprints in it. No one has passed this way in a long time. Doors that are closed they leave closed so as not to risk any sound opening. Doors already open they look as far as they can, checking the dust for signs of prior passage. Not finding any, they proceed downward.

     They reach the bottom, the door there is open and she swears there is a faint flickering further on. She renews the light spell and they carefully move onward. The passage twists and turns, how could she have seen light flickering with all of these twists and turns. She could not so one of these things is not real. She places her hands on the walls, thinks the words to a 'dispel' spell, and lets the power flow into the walls.

     Most of the 'walls' start to waver and fade. The ones that are left make sense according to how things are laid out. She then keeps moving on until she reaches a massive double door at the end of the corridor. Feeling it with her fingertips, she feels heat from it. But it is heat seeping from the other side. With her hands against the door, she seeks to pass her magic directly into the room on the other side. 

     It is then that one of the double doors, quietly slips open and a hand beckons them to enter. Carefully sliding through the gap, the hand gently closes the door, and renews a ward with a gesture. 

     Old Man: "Now we can speak, once more. What took you so long? I have been waiting for ages for you to come. Do you know just how long I have been kept here?"

     Iriisii: "Who do you think we are?"

     Old Man: "You are the 'Promised One', the 'Mother of Dragons', the 'Greatest Dreamer', she who will become the 'Dreaming Empress'."

     Dettlaff: "Then just who are you then?"

     Sysieus: "Pardon me, I have been here so long, I have almost forgotten my name. Sysieus, at your service."

     Iriisii looks at him, stunned by what he said his name was.

     Sysieus: "Not who you were expecting then? I am not surprised at that. The guards up there have done such a great job of it, no one knew about the switch and things just went on as they have been. But I must ask, how did you do it?"

     Dettlaff: "Do what?"

     Sysieus: "Get past the guards, what did you think? I mean it is no small feat to get past all those 'Outsiders'. They are the worst of the worst of that bunch. Every single one who tried to get in here, eaten, bone, clothing, everything. Those monsters left nothing of them."

     Dettlaff: "You're not saying..."

     Sysieus: "You think I go around eating dreamers, is that it?"

     Dettlaff: "Well, the way you were talking there."

     Iriisii: "Let me talk to him, please."

     Dettlaff: "All right."

     Sysieus: "Who is he to be ordering you around?"

     Iriisii: "He is my Vyrkolos, and our personal life is none of your business."

     Sysieus: "Aasimar huh, well that is different anyway."

     Iriisii: "Wait, what are you talking about? First, you say you have been waiting for us, well, me anyway by the descriptions you gave. Then you seem to have no idea I am Aasimar?"

     Sysieus: "It is complicated, to say the least."

     Iriisii: "Then uncomplicate it for me. So I have some idea what is going on."

     Sysieus: "It begins with this place, Kadath in the Cold Waste, as it is known now. Once it had a very different name and purpose. Wait, the real Kadath, not this reflection."

     Iriisii: "This is a reflection? That may be the first thing you have said that is understandable. All right, what is it about this reflection, why is it here, what is its purpose, and how does it compare with the original Kadath?"

     Sysieus: "The real Kadath is where I am from, or rather where I once ruled the Lands of Dreaming from."

     Iriisii: "Ok, I take that to mean your 'Lands of Dreaming' and these 'Dreamlands' are two completely different places."

     Sysieus: "Now you begin to see. This place is an offshoot from mine, an illegal one at that."

     Iriisii: "Now you are losing me, but let me see. Yours is the first of the Lands of Dreaming. Where it all began?"

     Sysieus: "Yes, you do see it. As the Realities grew, so to did the Lands of Dream. But some of the Realities faded away, and because of the nature of dreams, the Lands of Dreaming that were associated with those Realities did not fade, but stuck around."

     Iriisii: "How can a Reality..., wait, they did not just fade away, they were destroyed."

     Sysieus: "Fade away, destroyed, from the Lands of Dreaming it is all the same."

     Iriisii: "So when the Realities were reborn, recreated, however, it was done. New Dreamlands arose with them?"

     Sysieus: "Yes, copies where there were never supposed to be copies."

     Iriisii: "Because the original Lands of Dreaming still existed?"

     Sysieus: "YES!! You SEE!"

     Iriisii: "And this happened multiple times, did it not?"

     Sysieus: "YES, YES, YES!"

     Iriisii: "But each new Reality was just a little bit different from the previous one, and so the Dreamland associated with it was also different."

     Sysieus: "Keep going."

     Iriisii: "And someone from one of these copies went back to the original and took you from there, brought you here, and imprisoned you here."

     Sysieus: "Yes, you are smart, you understand."

     Iriisii: "And that someone took your place in the original and is about to do something very bad. Now let me see, he is going to merge the original with the copies and rule over all of them!"

     Sysieus: "Yes!!!"

     Iriisii: "But what does this have to do with me?"

     Sysieus looks stunned, "you haven't been told yet? Oh my, that explains it all. That knowledge has been somehow kept from you, but you wear the band."

     Iriisii points to the bracelet on her arm, "this, I just got this, maybe half a day ago."

     Sysieus: "So you really have no idea, they really managed to keep you in the dark about it. Tell me, who gave it to you?"

     Iriisii: "The Lady of Pain, ruler of the city of Sigil."

     Sysieus: "Of course, she was the only one who could have gotten it from the ones who took it. No one else could reach where it was taken but her, well you could but..."

     Iriisii: "But what?"

     Sysieus: "Have you by chance been to the 'Vale of Pnoth'? You don't have to say anymore, I can see by your face you have. But you did not leave there with the 'band'. So somehow when you escaped, you did so by a different path. Had you taken it out with you, you would know everything about this by now."

     Iriisii: "Just what is this about, give it to me straight up."

     Sysieus: "You are to become the Mistress of All Dreams. You are to rule over all, and I mean all of the Dreamlands."

     Iriisii: "But what about you?"

     Sysieus: "That will be up to you."

     Iriisii: "I see, at least I think I see what is going on. It does answer a few questions that have been nagging me of late."

     Sysieus: "About why the 'Blind Dreamer' is so interested in you?"

     Iriisii: "That one is near the top of the list. But if he were to gain control over me, and I rule over all the Dreamlands, then he would control the Dreamlands through me. And could then expand his influence over the Waking World through dreams."

     Sysieus: "Indeed, he would also gain access to the Dream Magic. Even though it would never serve him willingly if he channeled his desires for it through you."

     Iriisii: "It would do as he wished."

     Sysieus: "Yes. The tenacious way you defy him, the strength you show in dealing with him, this and more tell those above that you are the one to safeguard the Dreamlands from him.

     Iriisii: "And all these others coming at me from all corners? Are they, conspirators with him?"

     Sysieus: "No, unknowing pawns at best, at worst, possessed chattel. Only a few of the most powerful of your enemies are not bound to him in some way. Even as he seeks a means of drawing them to him, they resist. They know who and what he is, and they want no part of him.

But you could never trust them, even if they allied with you against him. Once the day was won, they would turn on you."

     Iriisii: "Thinking to set themselves up into the place he wanted to be."

     Sysieus: "You see the situation clearly. The road you travel will be long and bloody, there is no getting around that, but the damage inflicted against the innocent can be mitigated. It cannot be eliminated, but mitigated, yes."

     Iriisii: "You have seen much that is hidden from other peering eyes."

     Sysieus: "I have my ways. The one you know as Wotan, is not the only one who has 'eyes'."

     Iriisii: "But I suspect yours see into places his cannot or will not."

     Sysieus humbly bows to Iriisii, confirming something she was thinking.

     Iriisii: "Will you be all right here when we leave?"

     Sysieus: Do not worry over me, that which waits outside dares not harm me. Besides my person is sacrosanct, yours is not. It knows you are here, but it waits until you leave to fight with you. You must go another way."

     Iriisii: "How, there is only this one door, the one we entered by."

     Sysieus: "But then there are doors, and then there are doors. Come let me show you."

     Sysieus walks with them to the door they came in by.

     Sysieus: "Place your 'band' against the door and think of Samarkand. It is but ruins now, where once it was a bustling city. But it is safe enough, and much closer to where you must need to go next."

     Iriisii: "And where is that?"

     Sysieus: "Irem, the City of Pillars, you must go down to the City of Orisenis, a necropolis buried deep beneath the sands there. Do not worry, you have friends there. You must seek an artifact, in the Tomb of the Lost One. No one remembers who the 'Lost One' was, or even what he was. For all that, we know it may be a she, but what you must find is called the Gemstone of Dark Delight.

     You must take it with you to 'Where The Dead Gods Lie Dreaming'. Its radiance will illuminate the keyhole for the 'door' that you must use the 'band' to unlock. The 'door' will allow entrance only, and once entered you must find another way out. The one you seek has not been seen since he entered, and yes, you follow the same path he did. where he went once inside, no one out here knows, you must figure that out on your own."

     Iriisii: "If he went before us..."

     Sysieus: "What he went there to find was different from what you seek. It is different for each who makes the attempt. The places are the same, only the artifacts are different. Your key is special in that it will remain with you, all others return to where they came from once used. And, no, I have never been there myself, so I cannot tell you of anything you might find. But once you reach Irem, be careful, it will be dangerous until you reach the Necropolis.

     The dead know you and know of you, they will serve you of their own free will. For the restless still dwell there, dark things out of the eras before time began, things that even nightmares forgot. And what you will face on the other side, may very well be even worse."

     Iriisii: "I thank you for your help Sysieus. And I will remember your words of advice."

     Sysieus: "Survive to pass through, and do what you must then, that will be reward enough for me."

     Iriisii faces the only door she has seen in this assembly of rooms, holds up the 'band' she is wearing till it touches the surface, and thinks of what she knows of the ruins of Samarkand. She swears she can feel the hot desert wind, the grains of sand between her toes when Sysieus tells her to open the door. Dettlaff and Elric both tense up at what might be on the other side waiting to charge through.

     Instead, a bright light reflecting off of trillions of sand grains comes shining through, followed by the blistering heat of the full desert sun. They stand amazed at what has just happened, not the least of which is what laid in wait on the other side of that door, that still sees the face of that solid door in front of it, even as Iriisii, Dettlaff, and Elric pass through the door itself into somewhere else.

     On the other side, they walk into magnificent ruins of a city that was once the hub of a mighty civilization. Although in the Waking world, there are few if any fragments of the city left for anyone to find. Here in the Dreamlands, its presence still stands above the desert sands. Iriisii stands in awe of what it once was, as she feels the echoes of the ghosts that once walked these sand-covered streets. Still going about their lives as they did when they were alive.

     They look around but see no other living beings there. Wondering which direction to go in, a loping shadow moves toward them from the shadows cast by the sunlight against the crumbling walls of the ruins. As it grows closer, Dettlaff feels the presence of it and recognizes what it is. Iriisii also recognizes what it is and knows it for a friend, and Elric also recognizes it and draws Stormbringer to defend as according to his knowledge, ghouls attack in packs.

     Iriisii: "Elric! Stay your hand! It is a friend."

     Elric looks at her to gauge her seriousness. Seeing she does indeed mean exactly what she said, he grumblingly sheaths a moaning Stormbringer. The ghoul approaches until it stands

in front of Iriisii.

     Ghoul: "(a series of grunts, barks, and howls)"

     Iriisii: "I understand, you are to escort us to the 'Pickman'. I take it he is within the Necropolis beneath Irem?"

     Ghoul: "(a single bark)."

     Iriisii: "Then lead on, we will follow you."

     The ghoul turns and lopes off at a normal pace. As they begin following, Elric grumbles.

     Elric: "I hope you know what you are doing."

     Iriisii: "I do, the Pickman and his group of ghouls were being hunted and enslaved by moonbeasts when I was transported to a far corner of Vaermina's Realm by the Necronomicon. I freed what number of his group that I could and killed all the enslavers. The Pickman then rewarded me with his group's loyalty should I ever have need of it. It seems to have now come to be an advantage to us."

     Elric: "I still hope you know what you are doing."

     Iriisii: "They do not attack the living except to defend themselves. They are scavengers, primarily consuming old corpses and bones of the dead. They have relatives like the ghasts that will attack mortals and consume them. And all too often are confused with them. Just know that we share enemies, the ghouls and I. And as long as that is so, I have no fear of them. For they know what would happen to them should my enemies win."

     Elric: "And when you win?"

     Iriisii: "They have their place and role to fill in Reality. You should know that they are singular in that they can exist in both Dream and the Waking World. Passing from one to the other with but a thought, how else do you think they can acquire what they feed upon?"

     Elric: "I really never thought about it. I just assumed for so long that they deserved nothing but death, or so that was what I was taught."

     Iriisii: "And so many think that not realizing that the dark deserves to exist as much as the light does. For if the difference between the two does not exist, how do you know which one you wish to strive for? How do you know why you desire one over the other if you have nothing to compare?"

     Elric: "That actually makes sense. If you had nothing to compare what you have with, how do you know the value of what you have? If it is worth fighting for to keep, dying for to preserve, living for to enjoy."

     Iriisii: "And so you see the essence of the Balance. For this is truly a gift to be shared with all mortal and immortal alike, especially immortal."

     Elric: "Why especially immortal?"

     Iriisii: "Because it is only the ascended ones who see this as I do, and all too often as they age, they are convinced by those who have never known mortality that they should forget what they once knew and embrace their way of thinking. And so we are on the path we are on, to correct the Balance so all may continue with their lives. 

     This could have been corrected long ago before it became so dire, had the immortals bothered themselves to see what was happening and cared enough to correct it then. But they did not and so it falls to us."

     Elric: "I guess, now that you have explained it such that I can understand. It does explain much of the behavior of immortals that I have encountered as an Aspect of the Eternal Champion. And I agree with you that remembering what it is like to be mortal can be an advantage when you are an immortal. But if they never had the chance or the inclination to learn, what then?"

     Iriisii: "You pick this up quickly. The Gods of Nirn were once truly immortal, but Lorkhan, whose stories tell was sent by Sithis to undermine them. Instead, he convinced them to pool their power and create the Realm of Mundus. There the stories differ on how Nirn came to be. The really strange part of this is that all of the stories are correct, even though they differ on some aspects."

     Elric: "How can they all be true if they are different in the story?"

     Iriisii: "As simple as I can put it, time and reality were not fixed 'laws' at that point. That came later, at the Compact reached at the White Gold Tower. It was at that point that all the parallel realities were merged into one. Although some future events forced smaller breaks of much smaller duration, they were always rejoined again by the Jills, who were given this task by Akatosh."

     Elric: "Did anything like that happen to the Realms outside of Mundus?"

     Iriisii: "Now you ask a supremely important question. I really do not know for certain. I would have to travel back in time to the absolute beginning to know that. But I think it likely did, it would explain many things I have seen. And furthermore, I think repairing the timelines was not as neatly done as it has been in Mundus. But what may come about because of that, who can say?

     Look there on the edge of the horizon, you can see the tops of the pillars. We are near Irem, the City of Pillars. Be on your guard, we do not know what may still inhabit this area from when it was in its heyday."

     Elric: "What lived here then, do you know?"

     Iriisii: "According to the Necronomicon, a race of saurians. Steeped in evil, if anything worse even than Acheron, hard as that may be to believe."

     Elric: "How did the city die then, at least I am assuming that is what happened to it?"

     Iriisii: "The bones of their victims were interred in the Necropolis. It was not until Orisenis, who he was, what he was, alive or dead, is not revealed. The 'Book' said that he raised the bones of the entire Necropolis and went to war against the Saurians. Destroying them in a single night of terror and chaos. Afterward returning to the Necropolis to sleep until needed once more. The 'Gemstone' we seek was not mentioned at all, so I do not know what if any part it played in this."

     Elric: "He must have been an extraordinary necromancer to raise the entire Necropolis."

     Iriisii: "No, he was not a necromancer, but something else. All the 'Book' said of it was that the 'dead' loved him and came back to fight for him of their own free will. That he was somehow able to speak with them, distance did not matter. Wherever the dead were, he could speak to them."

     Elric: "I have heard whispers of what you speak of. They are called Death Speakers and are the rarest of talents. Only a handful have ever been known to exist, and the dead guard them jealously. Why this is, has never been said or recorded for all I know. Maybe here we will find out?"

     Iriisii: "If it is for us to learn this secret, then we will. If not, then better it remains secret."

                                               *

     They stand for a few moments looking over Irem. Iriisii sees the pillars, some completely free of sand, others in various stages of burial, and some may be completely buried. There is something nagging at her subconscious as she begins to see a pattern in the pillars, she just does not know what it means, but she cannot help but feel it could be important. Maybe not now, but in the future maybe.

     Before she is even aware of it, she sinks into a dream trance, her mind working to put meaning to what she sees. Then the fog starts to clear, these represent star patterns. But she feels they are different from what she has seen in the night sky. But don't the stars move over time, changing their positions according to some preconceived dance among them?

     She doesn't know if she is looking forward or backward as the starry sky changes, slowly coming into alignment with the pillars. Then once the alignment is complete, she looks at the pillars. They start to glow with the starlight, and pulses begin flowing around from one pillar to another. It is then she notices as the pulses flow, so are the corresponding stars pulsing in time. The sight is mesmerizing her until she sees the glowing forms of Saurians before each pillar. And the knives they hold over the bound forms of captives.

     Now although she feels she is looking at the past, she also feels it is the future as well. As if when the stars return to this position once again, this ritual will take place once more. The pulses grow in intensity and speed as they circulated among the pillars until all the pillars are now alight. The screams of the bound victims echo and seem to be absorbed by the pillars. The light of the stars is also mirroring what is happening here on the ground.

     Then a solid shaft of light streaks from the ground upward and a similar shaft drops down from the sky. Where they meet there is a corruscating explosion of light and that so very bright explosion drops down to the ground. Her sight is blinded by it, the screams become a crescendo of terrible agony. And she feels herself being shaken awake.

     Dettlaff: "My love, whatever just happened will have to wait. We need to get moving, night has fallen. Your scream has attracted attention from whatever lifeforms are buried within the sands to avoid the light of day."

     Iriisii looks to the ghoul, who is extremely nervous at the sounds coming from the City

of Pillars.

     Iriisii: "Then let us go now, I can revisit this later and see what it might mean. Right now I give it over to my Ancestral Memories to see what they may glean from it."

     She motions to the ghoul to move on and they quickly follow as he moves with the speed only the intimate knowledge of his surroundings can impart. She feels the buried lifeforms beginning to surround them as the ghoul opens a heavy stone door to a crypt still standing whole and unburied by the sands.

     They enter and close the door, the ghoul turning the handle of some device inside the wall, and the door is sealed from intrusion. The howls of anger and rage from those outside denied their prey echo eerily inside the space of this crypt, like it is no longer a part of what lies outside. The ghoul turns and motions for the three to follow. His pace is now more sedate as their safety is now ensured.

     They follow along noting the lack of dust in the alcoves for the internment of bones. At first, Elric thinks it is because the ghouls got to them, but then he remembers what was said in Kadath about all of the dead in the Necropolis having raised up. If they did not or were not returned to their resting places, then the alcoves would be empty. But why no dust in such a desert environment?

     Elric: "Why is there no dust anywhere here, none in the alcoves and none on the floor?"

     Iriisii: "Somehow the door is ensorcelled to seal off the repository from the outside. I felt it reseal when we closed it before coming this way."

     Elric: "I am assuming that the bones are not here because after raising themselves, whatever they did, their bones are still there and were never returned here."

     Iriisii: "You are starting to grasp the strange details of this place. Momentous events happened here in the distant past, and maybe are slated to repeat, if no interruptions occur."

     Dettlaff: "Events like what you envisioned happened here in the past?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, I am still waiting to see if my Ancestral Memories can make out anything from what I saw. I think in any case it bears further investigation. Part of the problem is that this should not have happened only in the Dreamlands. The event was of such magnitude that it had to have happened in the Waking World first, then what I saw outside would be reproduced here."

     Dettlaff: "But by understanding what you saw here, you will know what happened in the Waking World?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, just not which particular world it happened on, or even which Realm that world is in. Both are likely to be important pieces to this quandary."

     Dettlaff: "You suspect some bearing with entities you have had disagreements with?"

     Iriisii: "I may be seeing shadows where none exist, but I think you are right. And if so, this could go a long way to explaining where a certain adversary came from."

     They go on deeper and still deeper. The air is cold but dry to the point that it feels comfortable. Luminous fungus growths on the walls provide enough light to see their way. And the decided lack of insects further reinforces that there are no corpses, ancient or fresh to be found here.

     Finally, they walk through a doorway into a vast room, the ceiling supported with columns of stone, carved with bas-reliefs of scenes better to be forgotten. There is light flickering from small campfires some distance yet and so that is the direction they head toward. Once they get close, a figure rises and walks toward them.

     As the ghoul gets close, Iriisii recognizes him from her sojourn through Vaermina's Realm. She greets him by crossing her arms in front of her and placing them against her chest, palms to her body, then giving a half bow. The ghoul returns the gesture.

     Iriisii: "Pickman, I greet you, my friend. It seems you have done well since I last fought at your side."

     Pickman: "Dragonborn, it is an honor to see you once more. We were told to expect your coming and the word was correct. But nothing was said of why you were coming."

     Iriisii: "I myself, did not know until my feet were treading the sands of this place. As to why I am here, I seek to enter 'Where The Dead God Lie Dreaming', to enter there I require a key. I have been told by one locked within Kadath In The Cold Waste that I need the Gemstone of Dark Delight."

     The Pickman is quiet for a few moments, then "why would you wish to enter there. No one who has ever entered has returned."

     Iriisii: "I seek my lost child, Kathea. I know she still lives for I have spoken to her through the ancient mirrors and once while opening a portal. More than one entity I have spoken to about this has indicated that is where I must go. I have also witnessed my future in entering that place. If I go with the two I have brought with me, we will come out alive and with my child. The timestreams tell me it is the only way."

     Pickman: "I understand. As to the Gem of Dark Delights, I will be glad to give it into your hands, but for one thing, I need it for."

     Iriisii: "And what is that?"

     The Pickman rises and waits for the three. Once ready they trudge off into the dim darkness.

     Iriisii: "Do you know anything of what happened here that caused all of the dead to rise of their own accord. I witnessed a dream memory of this place when I first beheld it. I saw what happened so long ago, of the sacrifice that was made, something was summoned if I guess correctly. I did not see what, but I get the feeling it is seeking me out."

     Pickman: "What you speak of happened so long ago that nearly all records of it are gone. Only the power of the event is still so great that the city above has not faded into nothingness. There may be one who knows what happened and can answer your question. We will have to see if it is possible to reach him."

     They continue on, and soon enough reach a crystal sarcophagus, it rests on a dias, with braziers at the corners. Looking inside Iriisii sees a human male, perhaps thirty years of age. His body is perfectly preserved, almost as if he could wake and rise up at any moment.

     Iriisii: "Who is he?"

     Pickman: "You should know, Dragonborn. You have much in common with him, being as you are both Great Dreamers."

     Iriisii is amazed by the knowledge that floods her mind about him, "this...this is Titus Crowe?!"

     Pickman: "Yes, he was placed here in this crystal by the Elder Gods, long ago. They held hope that he would one day come back and walk among them once more."

     Iriisii: "If his body is here, where is his soul?"

     Pickman: "That even the Elder Gods were not able to answer. All they could find out was he had somehow evaded the Great Old One's trap for him. And he left this writing behind."

     The Pickman hands it gently over to Iriisii to read.

     "To whoever may read these last words I write with what remains of my strength. My name is Titus Crowe, Great Dreamer, and Explorer of the Dream Lands. I am a friend of Kthanid of the Elder Gods and mate to his adopted daughter, Meria of Borea. Many are the tasks I undertook on behalf of the Elder Gods and the Dreamlands, following in the footsteps of Randolf Carter. To defy the efforts of the Great Old Ones and their desire to return once more from their prisons among the planets and the stars.

     I know not what is to become of me. I am wounded, near death, and this time there are no allies to put me back together. I hear the cries of the Dark Dragons of Lornea, my one hope is that at my death, they can gather my soul and keep it safe. The Oracle said she would send them to me when death came for me. To lay claim to my soul and hold it until I am recalled.

     If you wish my help with opposing the Great Old Ones then call me from wherever I am. Likely it will be an improvement in my situation. You will need three things, the first is my signet ring. Given to me by Kthanid when I wedded his adopted daughter Meria. It is held by none other than Yog-Sothoth, the Gatekeeper. I do not envy you this task as my own previous narrow escape from him was almost my undoing.

     The second is the Gemstone of Dark Desires, to call my heart from where it rests with my beloved Meria in her tomb. Third, you will need the blood of a Dragon Goddess to reach my soul, for the Dark Dragons of Lornea will only give it to one of their own. One strong enough for them to pass it on. I have no help for you on this one, as I know not the existence of one such goddess, maybe Kthanid will know if you are able to speak with him.     

     Bring these things to wherever my body lies, call me back from wherever I now dwell. Do this and I will gladly reward you. If you are knowledgeable enough to acquire these things and know the meaning of them, then knowing how to summon me should not be beyond you. I hope so anyway, the results of such a ritual if it fails...I shudder to think about it. Just do not fail, please!"

     She passes the letter to Dettlaff, waiting to hear his opinion on this.

     Dettlaff: "I take it you intend to do as he asks?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, but first I must speak to Kthanid about him. I want to know his thoughts about if I should do this. If so, we will need help from others. I have an idea about how to acquire the ring. It will be dangerous, but with the proper help, doable."

     Dettlaff: "What did you have in mind?"

     Iriisii: "First let us see if I am going to go through with this. No need to bite off so much if it is not needed."

     Dettlaff: "I understand."

     Elric, following the conversation, merely nods his head in agreement.

     Iriisii speaks to the Pickman, "I will need to speak with Kthanid first about this. There are overtones to the entirety of this that I want his thoughts on, before deciding what to do."

     Pickman: "As you wish, Dragonborn. There is no hurry here."