AE5 The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin

      Iriisii: "Next up, we have one that is a bit different but no less powerful. The story behind it is one of unexpected love as because of this song, I found two loves to share my life with. And our first special guest to sing this song with me, will you welcome, VINCE RAVEN!

     The name sparks all kinds of memories from the crowd and Vince comes out as the band behind them starts playing 'Poison'. They each face the other like each is singing this song to the other. On the screen, Iriisii is singing to Desidarius and the crowd is totally enraptured by what is going on. Then they see Iriisii reach into Desidarius and bring out Illyria. The crowd then goes wild as both Vince and Iriisii take a well-deserved bow. Vince asks as Iriisii turns to him, "Did that actually happen?"

     And Iriisii steps into him to give him a kiss on his cheek, she whispers, "Yes, and I am married to both of them."

     Vince looks at her astonished then gives her a thumbs up as he turns to go backstage. She turns back to the crowd, "ARE YOU READY FOR MORE!?" The crowd responds with. "MORE, MORE, MORE!!!"

     Iriisii: "All right! Ready for our next special guest?"

     The crowd gives a strong, "YES!", and Iriisii gives a short introduction to the song, "I want you all to know, that yes I do have a man, but not just any man, a real man. The man you are going to meet in this next video, but first, let me introduce, 'The Bones'. As the band members take their places, the video shows scenes from the desert world where this event happened. Iriisii joins the lead singer as they begin the song, 'Where the Streets Have No Name'.

     The video shows Iriisii and Dettlaff, standing together with the band formed out of blown sand, the music of the song flowing across the dunes, and the vision Iriisii and Dettlaff experienced is shown as well. By the end, the vision fades, Dettlaff picks up Iriisii in his arms, and walks with her toward the solemn red glow in the west that is all that is left of the setting sun. The last thing the crowd sees is the lovers fading into the distance, the air wavering in heat lines as the lead singer raises a guitar high in the air, as a salute before the desert takes back the sand it gave to make him. On stage, the band members all bow to Iriisii, and the drummer walks up, does a half bow, and presents his drumsticks to her. She takes them and with only a moment's thought places them in her hair, takes the drummer's head with both hands on either side, and kisses him on top of his head. As the band goes backstage, the lead singer picks up one of their guitars and raises it high above his head. The crowd erupts into a cheer that vibrates the coliseum walls.

     As the moments stretch, the crowd begins chanting, "more, More, MORE!!" Iriisii walks back out and faces the crowd, "You want more?" The crowd replies, "YES!!!"

     Iriisii: "All right, I have one more for you tonight, just for you, but first I have been told, because of the tremendous response of those of you here tonight, we are being allowed tomorrow night as well, so for those who could not get in tonight, you have another chance. This last song is perhaps the one that is most precious to me. Because it is the first song I sang to my first mate, and you will see her in the video.

     The band begins the music and immediately the crowd is pulled into it. The lyrics flow into the minds and souls of everyone there. On the video is Priscilla in the Kingfisher starting to sing the song, and then Iriisii joins her in a duet. Then Priscilla goes down to dance with Dandelion and Iriisii is left alone. The moonlight shines into the inn and the dust is pulled together as Rigmor is pulled from Nirn to come and dance with Iriisii. And as the sun shines its light into the inn, the magic fades, and Rigmor returns to Nirn, but Iriisii is holding a crystal pendant. The video expands until only the pendant is shown, and as the sunlight strikes it, two figures inside form and begin to sway to the notes of the song that only they and now the crowd can hear.

     A few days after the second night, Iriisii is the talk of the 'Circus', as well as the entire town with two back to back sold out Coliseum appearances and the fans clamoring for more. Jean Claude and Tricia are already laying plans for a world tour, using it as a cover to meet with the other 'Were' and 'Vampire' clans. Iriisii is anxious to meet with the 'Were Clans' here before moving on. She is meditating after this mornings guard training session, which went surprisingly well. The guards all paying attention to what she was trying to get across to them in the demonstrations and no one shifting attention to the two previous concerts. She feels that now she can get down to serious advances in the training regimen, really see who is able to push the boundaries.

     Most of them are on duty, the next class is still hours away and a handful who had free time to spend are using it in the training room, practicing as she listens to their efforts. Then she hears a different set of footsteps that she has not heard before. She remembers that the Harlequin, Jean Claude's personal bodyguards were due to return from the 'Old Country'. They are comprised of a group of very old vampires, each with at least one Were tied to them. And are known to be very sanctimonious, as well as condescending to anyone else they encounter.

     The Harlequin enter the training room and start watching the guards practicing. They notice that the guards performance is now well above the level it was when they left and so are interested in how they improved so much in the short time they were away. One turns to ask a guard heading for the showers, and he points to Iriisii, meditating on a practice mat. The Harlequin then wonders why he or any of the other Harlequin, did not notice her presence when they walked in. He begins walking over to her when one of her trainees steps in his way to keep him from interrupting her. The Harlequin looks at the 'Were' guard with loathing and disdain as he brings his arm around to hit the guard alongside his head. The blow wcould likely take the guard's head off if it did not cave in his skull. The Harlequin's hand gets to within a foot of the guard's head when it stops abruptly, held as Iriisii stands to his side, her hand morphed into a dragon's claw and wrapped around the offending arm.

     Iriisii: "You will not harm one under my protection."

     The Harlequin tried to pull his arm free and surprisingly it will not move. One of the guards goes to find Tricia to defuse this before someone gets killed, likely the Harlequin.

     Harlequin: "Wha..., who are you to claim to protect these guards? They all belong to my master, Jean Claude, the Master of the City."

     Iriisii: "I am furthering their training as a courtesy to Jean Claude, as long as they are under my wings, they are due my protection. They have not abrogated their oath of service to Jean Claude in any way, yet you would kill one of them out of hand? I think it is you who are close to breaking your oath of service."

     Iriisii tosses the Harlequin halfway across the training room floor. Almost at once he is on his feet and rushing to where he last saw Iriisii. When he gets there and finds her gone, even as he feels her clawed hand grasp his throat, the tips of her claws breaking the skin. A little droplet of blood runs down from one claw tip. Iriisii sniffs it and lets it continue on its way.

     Iriisii: "As I thought, your blood carries far too much bitterness to even be worth tasting a single drop."

     The Harlequin's rage increases and still he cannot get loose. The group's leader walks inside and reading the situation, disarms himself before approaching.

     Harlequin Leader: "My Lady, how can we resolve this situation before someone is gravely injured?"

     Iriisii: "You could start by teaching this one some common manners."

     Harlequin: "Get me away from this she-demon!"

     Iriisii: "Indeed, I would very much prefer a demon's company to yours. They at least know how to speak and act when they are in the presence of those more powerful. They would have known exactly who and what I am the first time they set eyes upon me. I know many of the demon clans, some have fought for me, all respect me, and the veteran Clans of the Blood Wars have pledged themselves to my service. Shivista, Destroyer of Worlds, Paladin of the Dark, is one of my soul sisters, Desidarius, the Fallen One, the Dark Phoenix, is one of my mates."

     The Harlequin tries to squirm out of her hands, all that happens is her claw tips dig even deeper, his blood starts running from several punctures. The Leader does not know the names she spoke of but the utter confidence in her voice tells him that these are powerful names that she can call upon. There is a faint popping sound behind him, the training room goes silent as the grave. The Harlequin in Iriisii's hands goes like a statue, the Leader turns his head to see what has happened and sees a nightmare standing on multiple legs, thick as tree trunks. Its face is similar to a barghest, but has a lot more teeth.

     Iriisii looks at it and asks, "Why have you come?"

     Shantaak Hunter: "News comes, you may wish to send me to help deal with it."

     Just then, her Fortress Custodian calls to her.

     Custodian: "Goddess, we have a situation requiring your orders. Also some people on your transport list are here."

     Iriisii: "What is the situation? And who is there that is on the list?"

     Custodian: "We are under attack by the An Elle, Wild Hunt. Geralt asks your permission to drive them back. The ones waiting transport are Eliza, Ciri, and the Countess Serana."

     Iriisii: "Tell Geralt to defend the Fortress with whatever forces he needs, I am sending an ally, and he is to allow him to pursue the Wild Hunt should he wish to do so. Hunter prepare to go to my Fortress when the door opens. Custodian open a door to my location and send Eliza, Ciri, and Serana to me, then await my Hunter to pass to you, then close the 'Door'."

     Custodian: "Routing through the Krang, Door will open in five, four, three, two, one."

     A white line draws itself across the floor for a distance of six feet, then rises in a white sheet of light eight feet high. The white light morphs into an carved ironwood door banded in arcane steel. The door opens and looking inside, the interior of her Fortress can be seen within the outline of the door frame. Iriisii sees Eliza framed in the door first, she tosses the Harlequin into the reinforced concrete wall where he collapses unconscious. Eliza sees Iriisii and dashes to her, Iriisii draws her into her arms and comforts her, as Ciri comes through next, followed by Serana. The Shantaak Hunter dashes for the door. his massive form just making it through as the door closes and fades.

     Ciri: "What was that...?"

     Iriisii: "I will explain later, just know he is in my service. And he has permission to fight along side of Geralt and to pursue the Wild Hunt when they withdraw. I daresay they have never encountered the likes of him before, and will sorely regret having done so this time. Were they chasing you again?"

     Ciri: "Yes, I have been running for several days now, before I could remember how to port to your Fortress. I am sorry to bring them to you."

     Iriisii: "If somehow they have managed to bind themselves together again we all needed to know and do something about it. I only hope Geralt can capture one alive. I want to know who pulled them together after Geralt killed Eredin. Serana, I am sorry this happened while you were at the Fortress, what can I do for you?"

     Serana: "I have something I need to speak with you about when you have time. We will need privacy, I believe."

     Iriisii: "Let me get Eliza and Ciri settled then we can talk. Damn, I just remembered I have a meeting later today with the 'Were' Clans."

     Serana: "No worry, we can talk when you are done with them."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, I promise to hear you as soon as I can."

     Iriisii motions to two of the 'Circus' guards that she trusts as she has gotten to know them through her training of them.

     Iriisii: "Please see my friends to my quarters, then post yourselves outside the door. If either needs to go anywhere, escort them to and back. They are to be treated with 'kid' gloves, be respectful at all times and nothing will happen. But keep in mind both are powerful in their own right, and I still have not discovered Eliza's full potential. I will let the guard commander know I am reassigning the two of you and will arrange for replacements when your shift is over. Know that I am doing this because I trust both of you, Ciri's father is in my service, and Eliza shares a part of my soul, both are like family to me."

     Both of the guards nod their heads to Iriisii and vow to keep their charges safe.

     Iriisii looks to Ciri and Eliza, "Please go with these two guards, they will take you to my quarters so you can rest. I will have something to eat sent later and will look in on you before I leave. If either of you need to go anywhere outside my quarters, one of the guards will go with you. I trust them with you so please heed their words if they need to direct you."

     As the guards show Ciri and Eliza the way they need to go, the Harlequin Leader steps up to speak to Iriisii.

     Harlequin Leader: "May I ask where that doorway came from and where did it lead to? That it could be created here at all is troubling for security, not to mention those that came through."

     Iriisii: "The 'door' is something only I have access to. I have come across no one else capable of creating and using them in that fashion. It is a function of one of four 'Fortresses of the Ageless Ones' that I have found and laid claim to. Where it currently sits is on my homeworld, within the great forest near to the Imperial City. In order for it to have placed that door here, it first had to make connection through my Krang for the additional power it needed to complete the circuit. No one else can use those doors without my direct permission, so there will be no more guests, invited or uninvited, without my knowing about it."

     Harlequin Leader: "Who is the third one who came through?"

     Iriisii: "Someone very close to me, who recently lost her husband. I brought the two of them together in hopes that they would bond and marry. She also adventured with me for nearly four years on my homeworld, as we saved each other's life several times. At that time she was 'vampire', and it was only to bind herself to Casius, that she sought my Gods to restore to her a mortal soul and take from her the immortality of being a vampire. Soon now I feel she will discover a new kind of immortality, one perhaps more suited to her liking."

     Harlequin: "So she did not choose to become a vampire?"

     Iriisii: "No, she did not. I will not go into how it occurred, for her memories are...unpleasant to say the least. I will say that it was done in a perverse ritual, overseen by her parents, as they too underwent the ritual. Her father has died the true death at both of our hands, for what is a matter involving our homeworld alone. Her mother eventually followed in her daughter's footsteps, renounced the one who bestowed 'vampirism' on her, accepted a mortal soul once more from my Gods, and is now married to the Lord Chancellor of the Empire my daughter now rules. However all of this might have come about, remember this, all the vampire races are different, and have different beginnings. A few actually natural, most are not. The natural ones cannot be reversed, all others can, but the means by which it can be done is different for each race. And each race has their strengths and weaknesses. I do not stand in judgment of any of them, but should they seek to stand in my way or harm those I have claimed as mine, then I will do what I think needed to impress upon them the folly of crossing me."

     Harlequin Leader: "You said this one could discover a new kind of immortality, of what other kind do you speak?"

     Iriisii: "She carries within herself a small part of my blood, taken when we adventured together. Although I had not ascended at that time, the potential was and is still present in that blood. Thus when it is awakened, she will have a choice to make. To follow me along the 'Path of the Gods', or renounce that path and remain mortal forevermore. For it can only be offered once, should its requirements be met, and if then renounced will never be offered again. Since it will be my blood that awakens within her, should she choose my 'Path', she will become of my 'Line', of which I have three ascended already, with the possibility of several more."

     Harlequin Leader: "And your mortal children?"

     Iriisii: "They will have to choose when their time comes. I will abide their decision."

     Harlequin Leader: "I respect one who cares for those under them as I do my own charges. I have none to follow me as you do, for I would not have any know the life I have led. But you give me hope that things may one day be different, and then such decisions can be looked at again."

     Iriisii: "That is also my hope as well, for now it is only possible for a vampire to have a child if the other parent is a God. Mayhap in the future that could change, and then, well, who knows how things will proceed. For now I must prepare for my meeting with the 'Were' clans."

     She looks at the still comatose Harlequin she had thrown into the concrete wall.

     Harlequin Leader: "Do not worry over him. I will see to it he corrects his behavior. Had you ripped his throat out, you would have been justified, and so I am glad it did not have to be. Maybe he will take this chance to learn to think and consider the consequences of his actions before acting out. I hesitate to ask..."

     Iriisii: "Have I actually met demons and might prefer their company? Yes, I have met a good many, and the higher ones are for the most part quite cordial to me. They know I fight for them as well and do not judge them by their alignment. I know they have a place in Existence, and as long as they do not seek to upset the 'Balance' they have nothing to fear from me. The lower orders follow me because battle follows me wherever I go, and I offer them the chance to partake freely. As long as they follow my orders, we exist quite comfortably together. And yes, I also have 'Angelics' within my army. Any who disagree with my decisions are welcome to leave, and I have yet to have any to take that option."

     Tricia walks in right at that moment and looks around, seeing the one Harlequin lying slumped against the wall below the imprint of his body in the concrete. She looks to the Harlequin Leader and raises an eyebrow. The Harlequin Leader explains what he witnessed of the altercation, claiming responsibility for not reining in his underling in time. Tricia looks to Iriisii who backs up everything the Harlequin Leader said.

     Tricia: "Very well, I assume this matter is now closed?"

     Iriisii: "Should he take this lesson to heart and refrain from assaulting any of the guards I am training, then yes, I will allow this incident to pass. If he attempts to harm another of them, I will kill him. I understand if there are restrictions on Jean Claude that would not allow him to deal with this matter in this way, but those restrictions do not apply to me, in this case. Celestial Law states that I am responsible for those I directly take under my wing. I am enjoined to meet any force taken against them with equal force. He did not kill the guard even though he attempted to, as I saw it. The only reason he did not smash the guard's skull in was that I intervened. Had he left it at that point, he would not be where he is now. But he turned his anger and attention to me, and when I was called to answer trouble from my Fortress. I needed to incapacitate him before I could deal with it properly."

     Tricia: "That was when the 'door' appeared, three came through that you allowed, and the 'big one' went through to the other side?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, one of the three was being pursued by the attackers. We thought they had been taught the error of their ways, but it seems someone has taken control of them and is still trying to gain control of Ciri. I cannot let that happen, she is far too powerful. This way I can continue to work with her to control her abilities."

     Tricia: "Which are?"

     Iriisii: "She can teleport across dimensional lines without the aid of a portal or gate. And if her power is allowed to manifest without control...whole worlds can be reduced to so much rubble circling their suns."                 

     Tricia: "Whew, the people you come into contact with!"

     Iriisii: "I know the history of her line, why she came to be. None of it is her fault. The events happened long generations ago and are just now coming into fruition now...with her. Her father is in my service, and I promised him I would protect her in any way I was able, so when she showed up at my Fortress, pursued by the Aen Elle. My Custodian contacted me according to instructions I had left him. And so I had the door opened to bring her here where I can watch over her."

     Tricia: "What of the others?"

     Iriisii: "Serana is an old...friend."

     Tricia: "Excuse me, but the way you said that. It speaks of much more than a friend."

     Iriisii sighs, "For nearly four years, we adventured together. Facing some of the toughest foes my homeworld had at that time. Several times we had each other's back, saving each other's life. Camping in the forests and wilderness, talking for hours around the campfire, we grew to know each other well."

     Tricia: "Did you ever?"

     Iriisii: "No, always there was the memory of Rigmor in my mind. Until one night in Solstheim, when I got stinking, staggering drunk."

     Tricia: "What happened? What could have made you react that way?"

     Iriisii: "We came across a couple of Reavers down in the cellar of an abandoned farmhouse. I heard them talking about the man they found down in the cellar. They were talking about a letter he had written to the one he loved, who owned the farmhouse. About how he tried to convince him to leave Solstheim and meet him in Solitude."

     Tricia: "Two men, right?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, the second came back looking for his lover. The Reavers killed him. The one he came back to find was already dead from another cause. I cut the Reavers up into little pieces for what they did. Love is too precious to destroy no matter who it binds together. Then I and Serana went to the Retching Netch Cornerclub in Raven Rock, where I got drunk to forget the pain and loneliness I was in. Serana literally had to hoist me up over her shoulder to get me to leave the bar and dropped me on the bed we had rented for the night. My memories are still hazy of that night. I remember Rigmor in my dreams but somehow I do not think it was Rigmor I spent that night with."

     Serana: "You are right, it was me. I put you to bed, hoping you would sleep it off. Instead you..., I saw the tears of the pain you were in and went to wipe them from your face. You reached for me, telling me how lonely you were. I wanted nothing but to take you in my arms and console you, love you, but I knew you would regret it in the morning and I could not live with myself knowing I had caused you so much more pain. I screamed into the Aether, to the gods. I asked 'why' they kept hurting you, denying you the love you needed. I was so shocked, shocked to my core when I was answered."

     Iriisii: "Who answered you?"

     Serana: "Dibella, she told me what was happening and why. Even as later she buried it deep in my mind, as it only recently awakened and I knew I had to see you."

     Iriisii: "What did she do?"

     Serana: "Convinced me to give in and love you as you wanted me to. She said the only way she could and not endanger your future was if she could cloud your mind. Make you think it was Rigmor you were with that night, while I would have the memory of that night with you to keep me going, to know what it truly felt like to be with you."

     Iriisii: "So at the end, she had you bite me. So that a connection was made between us, and while she changed my memory, she kept yours intact."

     Serana: "Your blood burned its way through me completely, burned the memory into my mind so that I would never forget."

     As Serana hangs her head, Iriisii draws her into a hug, holding Serana's head against her chest as she kissed the top of her head.

     Iriisii: "It explains a great deal. They promised you something did they not?"

     Serana: "Yes. But I am too far from them to receive it now, and then I am not sure what they intended for me to have as reward. At first I thought it was Casius, but then he died and he is now with his previous family in Aetherius."

     Iriisii: "I would not worry about that right now. The 'Fates' will see that you get what you want, even if you are not aware of what you truly want. I am glad you are here, anyway."

     Serana: "You are? Really? I thought you would be angry."

     Iriisii: "After all we have been through together, I could never be angry with you."

     Serana, fresh tears running down her face, "Thank you, for that." (Whispering) "Thank you."

     Tricia: "When you are ready, I will have quarters arranged for you, close to Iriisii's. Take your time, we do not have to be at the meeting right away."

     Serana: "No, I am ready. I need sleep, and Iriisii needs to prepare for her meeting."

     Tricia: "Very well, follow me."

     As Tricia and Serana wind their way through the passages under the 'Circus'.

     Tricia: "Do you know anything about Eliza? I have never encountered anyone like her before."

     Serana: "No, I do not. My first meeting with her was at the Fortress, just a day or so before Ciri appeared. I know very little, and what I do know came from the Custodian when I asked him about her. He said only that Iriisii met her just before finding and rescuing her daughter Kathea. The Custodian said that those who created him and built the Fortress, the Ageless Ones, they knew Eliza's father. And the only thing they would say of him was that he was the first Eternal Champion."

     Tricia: "Thank you, even for that little bit, thank you. You also love Iriisii, don't you?"

     Serana: "I guess it shows, doesn't it. I was a vampire when I first met her. And she did not blink an eye when I told her. Practically anyone else would have destroyed me on the spot, but she did not. Instead she asked how she could help me."

     Tricia: "That is also how I see her, always willing to put aside her own needs to help someone else."

     Serana: "I was entombed with an Elder Scroll, at Dark Hollow Crypt. I was placed there by my mother, several thousand years ago."

     Tricia: "Wait! You are thousands of years old?"

     Serana: "At that time and as a vampire, yes. Iriisii never asked me if I wanted to go back to being human, I always wondered why she never said anything. Oh well, I asked her to take me home, to Castle Volkihar, and she did, not knowing what fate might happen to her from my father and his followers."

     Tricia: "What did happen then?"

     Serana: "My Father offered to turn her into a Vampire Lord, as he was. She declined to accept his 'gift'. That impressed me greatly that she had the fortitude to do that while surrounded by nearly the whole clan. It also impressed my Father, although he did not show it. He banished her from the Castle, declaring that she would have no protections from the clan going further. As it turned out she did not need any protections from them, but rather they who needed protections from her."

     Tricia: "So she hunted them?"

     Serana: "No, she just went her way. Any she encountered later, if they hunted her, she would destroy them. But otherwise she never went out of her way to hunt them. Until I gave her reason to, anyway."

     Tricia: "What reason could you have given her and why?"

     Serana: "The 'why' was my Father. For the entire time I was entombed, he had been searching for information concerning a prophecy that if fulfilled would give control of Nirn to the vampires. It was called, 'The Tyranny of the Sun'. I could see that it would bring about a total hunting of all vampires on Nirn, and their destruction. My Father could not or would not see this, and so I left and sought out where Iriisii had gone to. I found her with the Dawnguard, an offshoot group of the Vigilants of Stendarr. They were vampire hunters. I took a great chance that if I went to them and said I had valuable information, but would only give it to Iriisii, they would not destroy me out of hand."

     Tricia: "It sounds like you took a great risk."

     Serana: "I did, but it worked. They did nothing but keep me under watch until she came back to Fort Dawnguard. To make a long story short, we went out together to find the truth of the Prophecy. When we knew that truth, we both knew my Father had to die. He would never accept that the prophecy was a lie that had grown into a self-fulfilling truth. She would not go through with killing my Father unless she knew I was ok with it. That I knew in my heart that my true Father died when he became a vampire, and all that was left was...well, there really was nothing left of the Father I once loved."

     Tricia: "I'm sorry."

     Serana: "There is no reason to be sorry. It was his decisions that led us down that path. Decisions that he paid the price for, and because of what Iriisii did to end that Prophecy, that lie. My mother and I were granted a second chance, one we both took and have never looked back upon."

     Tricia: "Here we are, this will be yours for as long as you need it. Iriisii's is staying just two doors down. May...I ask...do...?"

     Serana: "Do I know what reward my Gods offered me to let her go?"

     Tricia: "Yes. You feel the time is near, or I think you would never have crossed over to this side of that door."

     Serana: "You are right. You must understand, I sent her back to Bruma, to save Rigmor from the trouble that had found her. I knew she would not come back to me, not in the way I wanted. But too much hinged on her leaving me, probably forever, and I felt I had no choice. Her Celestial Mother, Alessia, came to me while she was gone and explained everything to me. Why all of it had to happen the way it did, what the outcome that the events she was involved with was being guided toward. And then she told a secret that has stayed with me ever since and has kept me alive with a secret hope."

     Tricia: "What was it?"

     Serana: "That if I was patient and waited, her circumstances would change. You see, at that time Rigmor was her whole life, no one else had a chance, but later...later she would change, her heart would grow outside the bounds where one person could meet all of her needs. Then at that time, my time would come, all I would have to do would be to ask her the question that burned its way into my heart that night in Raven Rock."

     Tricia: "You mean to ask her to marry you?"

     Serana: "Yes."

     Tricia stops and takes Serana's hands in hers, "Good luck, I do not know if there is anyone, anywhere, who more deserves to have her heart's deepest desire. If there is anything I can do..."

     Serana: "Just pray that it works out, that is all I or anyone can do right now."

     Tricia: "Iriisii has told me that 'Hope' and 'Belief' are two of the strongest, yet most misunderstood powers in Existence. That if I would hold them close to my heart, I could do anything I set myself to do. I will 'hope' and 'believe' that this will happen for you and it will be everything you have yearned for."

     Serana: "Thank you, really. I will not keep you any longer."

     Iriisii: "What clan types will I be meeting?"

     Tricia: "Predator types mainly, some scavenger, wolves, big cats, rats, there are no tiger clans around here, lions, leopard, hyena. There may be a scattering of other, more rare types, Naga for the serpent clans. The non-predator clans have already informed me that they will back you. If they were to show at this meeting it would be a bloodbath. If there were ever any dragon clans, they are either dead, extremely well hidden, or found some way to leave this world."

     Iriisii: "There were a few dragon 'were' clans, but the true dragons that once lived on this world, left it during your last 'ice age', and the 'were' clans followed them."

     Tricia: "We had true dragons? Living here on our world? Then the stories, legends, books, and scrolls are all true. Why did they leave?"

     Iriisii: "They felt the changes in your world coming. That they would have no place in it and if they stayed it would mean their demise. So they left, by what means I am not certain. Some have the ability to portal to other places, if they have knowledge of those places." 

     As they ride down the city streets to the meeting place, Iriisii picks up on the aura of pensiveness surrounding everyone.

     Iriisii: "The people sense something is wrong, they look for it but either do not or cannot see it. It hides its face too well."

     She closes her eyes and reaches out with her other senses.

     Iriisii: "Why are the dead so restless, they speak of things in hushed voices, things they fear to speak of lest they be found out. There are areas of silence where their voices are no longer heard. This concerns them greatly, they know I am here, they wonder why I have come, could I be the one to bring peace once more? They ask why has the 'One' not heard their cries, why are they left where they died, the only voice they hear, is the other dead."

     Tricia: "You can hear the dead?"

     Iriisii: "Once I speak with them, they are able to speak with all the others I have spoken with. Distance no longer matters to them then. As they speak with those who know me, they are convinced they can speak to me and receive no punishment. What is happening to them, should not be allowed. I give to them my promise, this wrong will be righted. The 'Dream World' here is also in disarray, something is affecting the dreams of the dreamers. And that is waking things best left sleeping."

     Tricia: "What things are waking?"

     Iriisii: "Things so old, they remember how to walk between life and death, between waking and dreams, they stir but do not waken yet. We shall have to tread carefully, these are entities best left slumbering. We near the meeting place, we must hurry, passions and tensions run high. Blood will be spilled and...something stirs the emotions, wants to feed off of the strife, the hatred, the pain. There are painful truths in the oldest stories and myths, and the people, mortal, 'Were', and 'Vampire' are not ready to meet them, not yet. It is up to us to stop the machinations taking place, bring them back from the brink."

     Their car stops and they jump out, quickly moving to a warehouse where angry voices, growls, roars are flowing from. Iriisii listens and prepares a response, but first she must get within, close to the center of things in order to bring calm. Iriisii opens the door, steps inside and feels the boiling heat of rage and anger trying to escape and consume all present.

     She sees some trying bring calm back but they are not strong enough. She strides to the center of the group, raises her head to the exposed rafters and skylights, then shouts, 'Kaan Drem Ov'. The effect is immediate as the power of her Thu'um and the meaning of her shout join together and beat back the tides of war threatening to erupt. For just a second heads turn looking for the voice that drowned out the anger and rage. The animal spirits recede and settle once more, their hosts calm down and control returns to the meeting. A gavel can be heard pounding on a lectern, and a voice calling for order. Tricia and Iriisii move toward the lectern, gently flowing through the crowd, calming all they grow close to as they move about.

     Lore Keeper: "Tricia Forsone, who has called for this gathering of the clans, is here. I hand this meeting over to her now."

     Tricia accepts the bone gavel and begins to address the gathering as Iriisii steps up close to her.

     Tricia: "I called this Gathering of the Clans to address what is going on between us and Psy-Ops. They are working on something that will affect all of us and not for our benefit."

     Lion voice: "What did you do to stir them up. They were being quiet for a change until recently."

     Tricia: "What I did was get my hands on something they wanted, something so powerful that if they got to it first, it would have spelled our doom."

     Lion voice: "And since when have you.."

     Coalition Leader: "Shut it, Keith, we all know how well you like to hear your own voice!"

     Laughter begins to break out in pockets.

     Coalition Leader: "Give her a chance to speak, you all know me. You know I am fair minded. I have been out among the other cities and they speak of the same things there that have been going on here. Psy-Ops walking the streets, clan members disappearing in the night, no one hearing from them again. And it is not just the weaker clans this is happening to, but all of them. If she knows why this is going on, I for one want to hear about it. First because it should concern us all, second, because it may be a portent of things to come, and if we know of it now, we can prepare to meet it on our terms, not theirs. Go on, Tricia, tell us what you know."

     Tricia: "I recently had a Psy-Ops black team defect to us, intensely disturbed over things they had seen. What they had to say gave proof of a lot of rumors we have been hearing recently. Our friends, loved ones, who have vanished without a word. They did not run for greener pastures, they were kidnapped, taken to Psy-Ops black sites where they are the subjects of interrogation and experiments.

     Psy-Ops wants to know what makes us tick, where we get our strengths from when we change form. And how can they control us, control when and even if we can change. And do this by means of being able to decimate us without firing a shot. They are close to finding the genes responsible for what makes us all different from them, and use that to create a virus able to infect us and leave everyone else unaffected. They can then hold that over our heads, we either toe their line or we die, horribly. But we now have a chance, a chance to put a stop to them."

     There is a rumble from the back, as a cloaked figure slowly walks forward. Whispers abound everywhere as she makes her way to stand next to Tricia. Then she pulls back her cloak and silence rules the gathering.

     Herias: "You know me, who I am, what I am. You see me now reborn through the 'Scroll'. The 'Scroll' that I have read by the light of the 'Hunter's Moon' The 'Scroll' that has prophesied the coming of the one that Tricia saved from the hands of Psy-Ops. The one called the 'Dragon of War'! She stands here among us now. You heard her 'voice' as she calmed the anger and rage, to allow us to speak and be heard. The Gods of our deep past, silent and quiet, since the 'One' rose and began consuming them, taking their power as his own, know she is here now, and are rising to join with her. For the 'Scroll' speaks and says she will be our salvation, the one to show us the way to defeat our true enemies.

     For only when we share a united front, can we hope to survive what will come for us, and with the 'Dragon of War' to gather us all into an army, to lead us, not just against Psy-Ops, but against those who stand behind them, who created them for the purpose of grinding us beneath their heel, making weapons of us to serve them, and when we are no longer needed, sending us to our extinction. Show them who you are, 'Dragon of War', let them see you in all of your glory!"

     Iriisii finds a large enough area for her to morph into dragon form. She concentrates her mind and kneels down as her body begins the change. Larger and ever larger she grows, a double row of wicked spikes erupts from her back, her wings expand and even the veins inside glow with power, her form is strongly muscled yet aerodynamic. Once she has achieved full body morph, she speaks, "Is there any here who doubt who I am, any who wish to challenge me! If so, let them come forth!"

     No one takes a single step, instead they all drop to their knees before her. She lets her morph slide back into a half-dragon, her claws glowing with temporal energy. She moves to one clan leader after another, placing her claws around their necks, accepting their fealty to her. Once she was done, the Oracle Herias steps before her and kneels, extending her neck in submission as well. Then a simple slithering was heard from the farthest corners, as the Naga Clan leaders came forth and declared her by another title she had earned, 'Mother of All Dragons'.

     Tsiosis: "'Mother of All Dragons', we your children abase ourselves before you, and ask that you use us in whatever way you see best. We heard your words when you freed the Draconic Divines, the first Dragon Gods from the place 'Where Dead Gods lie Dreaming'. We rejoiced when you mated with another dragon and took the Divines' souls into your body and gave them not resurrection but full rebirth, giving to them of your eggs for they to merge with. So that they came forth at their hatching with new bodies, sharing your power with them. For in doing so, you became the true 'Mother of All Dragons' and so all dragon kin will follow you, fight for you, and stand for what you stand for. We would ask of you, 'Mother', do you know what happened to the dragons that lived here of old?"

     Iriisii: "They still live."

     A loud gasp of surprise erupts from the 'Were' over these words.

     Iriisii: "Long ago during your last Ice Age, they chose to leave rather than go to sleep. Long did they wander in their travels looking for a new home. I first met them in my Dreamlands, near to the city of Ilek Vad. They heard me as I laid claim to my 'Doom Path' while immersed in the 'Streams of Time'. They came to me for help from an implacable enemy who wished to make them into an invincible army. I looked and found a path for them to follow, and now they live with the Father of my Soul, Shai-Hulu'ud, may his passing cleanse the world. There with him, they are shepherds and mentors to those of dragon kind almost hunted to extinction. They stand as a barrier between them and all other beings that come to visit the 'Hall of Remembrance', Shai-Hulu'ud's ever growing monument to me and those who walk with me. So all who live in this Existence may go and see the life stories those who paid the price to safeguard Existence from those who would destroy it, and know to whom do they owe the debt of their lives and souls."

     Iriisii looks up and 'calls' out, "Zu'u bel wa hi, bormahi, Shai-Hulu'ud!"

     Shai-Hulu'ud: "What would you ask of me, my daughter?"

     Iriisii: "Here before me, are kin to those dragons who shepherd the lost ones. I would that they are able to look upon their Ancient Fathers and for their Fathers to know these children still think of them."

     Shai-Hulu'ud: "This is a request worthy of you, Daughter of my Soul. I will prepare a vessel that they may see and speak to each other. It will be in your hands soon. May those who follow you never fear the Path of Enlightenment as they follow in your footsteps. Farewell my Daughter."

     Iriisii: "Farewell Bormahi."

     Iriisii turn to look at Tsiosis, "Soon, you will be able to see and speak with your Ancient Fathers. I am certain they will look with favor that you still think of them."

     Herias: "Who was that? All of us heard him?"

     Iriisii: "That was Shai-Hulu'ud, he who first guided my steps as I went out into the multiverse."

     Herias: "Multiverse?"

     Iriisii: "Each universe, realm, whatever name is given to it, exists apart from all others. But they can be crossed into and traveled by those who reach that far. Shai-Hulu'ud is one who is tasked with watching over several such universes, how many I do not know, nor have I ever asked him. Perhaps one day I will be as he is and watch over a number myself. For now those who do, use me to combat troubles that arise that they are unable to deal with. But for now, the clans need to seek safety from Psy-Ops. Along with their families, the space they need will be large. I will be bringing my Krang here, once I do, there will be room for all who wish to avail themselves of sanctuary within it."

     Herias: "You have something with that much room?"

     Iriisii: "With the power source it now has, it can grow the space needed to serve as many as needed. Before this, I had to create a pocket dimension, now the Krang can do so within itself. This is far more convenient and effective. Now I must see to meeting with all the other 'Clans' as well as the 'Vampires' and the 'Fae'. For what threatens one, threatens all, and all are equally deserving to live despite where they feel their place is along the Chain of Power. You may stay or you may leave, I give that choice to you. What may happen here, you might not wish to be witness to. My dark side has been aroused and it is not a good thing to arouse."

     Tricia: "I will take my chances with you, somehow I think I am far safer with you than I would be trying to get back to the 'Circus' alone. Besides, I have seen some horrible things in my lifetime, the scars of which I still bear, I am no stranger to such."

     Iriisii: "Very well, you will need to listen to me, do what I tell you, when I tell you, without question or hesitation. If I summon a door or portal for you, take it, for it will be the sole means for you to escape alive. And I would not wish to explain to Jean Claude about losing you."

     Tricia: "I understand and accept your terms."

     Iriisii: "Good, then first I will lay wards on you to serve as armor. I can protect you from the agents weapons, what I cannot protect you from is what you may see and hear. I can only pray that when this is done, you can forgive me for what you may witness."

     Iriisii then casts her strongest armor wards and spells on Tricia, layering and weaving them into armor that takes on a physical appearance against Tricia's body. She then reaches into her personal dimensional storage, and pulls out a Betalite crossbow for her. While she pulls a special set of gauntlets for herself.

     Iriisii: "This crossbow is self-feeding so you do not have to cock it. You simply fire it like any firearm weapon you already know of. Use it if you need to. The bolts it fires are explosive, so use it among the fringes or in tight packed groups to be most effective."

     Tricia: "What are you using?"

     Iriisii: "These", as she dons the gauntlets, and slaps them together, morph into Wamphyri War Gauntlets, "These have tiny slivers of a bane called the 'Illearth Stone' forged into them and underlaid with scaled gloves of void metal."

     They take on an venomous glow, all of the razor edges, needle points, barbs, spikes, that seem to shift and phase around the gauntlets. Looking at them, Tricia feels her stomach try and cramp with extreme nausea. She clamps down on it right away, using mind over body techniques she learned as a youth.

     Tricia: "What are they?!"

     Iriisii: "My own creation, based upon Wamphyri War Gauntlets, I forged these at the Forge of Stars, with metals and stones that took the fires of a blue/white star to meld them together. I then spent a solid month standing at the forge, day and night blending together, hammer and tools pounding and shaping, even as I inscribed the most deadly and ruinous spells of the Abyssal and Hell planes upon them. This is the first time I have brought them out to be used. But it will not be the last, I am afraid."

     Tricia: "Why wait so long then, just what can they do?"

     Iriisii: "What comes in the guise of Government agents requires the most dire and baneful of weapons. I cannot describe what they can do, it can only be witnessed and then remembered in nightmares. If after this, you find the burden too much to bear, ask, and I will remove the memories from your mind."

     Tricia: "You are serious."

     Iriisii: "About manipulating someone's mind, even to save them from the torment of the nightmares that seeing what these can do? Yes, I am serious. It is not something I would do except in the most needful of circumstances. To save you from insanity, I would do this, but even then only at your request."

     Tricia: "Then I will make that decision afterward, for now I can hear vehicles approach and even helicopters in the air."

     Iriisii begins scanning the area to see where everyone is and what they are doing. Even as she does this the ground forces use a megaphone to issue instructions.

     Agent in Charge: "We have you surrounded. We mean no harm to anyone inside if you will disarm and walk outside the building in single file. We will give you five minutes to decide before we take action."

     Tricia: "They do not know we are alone in here. There may be a way we can slip out."

     Iriisii: "No, these are not human Agents! They are abominations and must be destroyed!"

     Tricia: "What do you mean, abominations?"

     Iriisii: "Their DNA has been fused and manipulated with parts from another source."

     Tricia: "Were or Vampire?"

     Iriisii: "No! It is difficult to know for certain, all are not the same, some I know as Wamphyri. They do not have the leech, but do have its DNA. Some I am not sure of but suspect is Dahlek, these cannot be allowed to live. There is a third presence, but I have never encountered it before, but if it is present with these others it cannot be good. All share this third presence, it must be mitigating the other two, keeping them from dominating the host. This kind of manipulation is unthinkable, whoever is behind it or is accomplice to it will wish they had never knew its existence. All who are a willing part of this will share punishment, and it will be terrible indeed."

     Tricia: "What will that punishment be?"

     Iriisii: "They will be consigned to be tossed into the 'Engines of Nightmare', within the depths of the darkest corners of the Dreamlands. There they will experience every nightmare known to exist for at least a thousand years until every shred of their soul is consumed by the Engines. If there is a more terrible fate, I do not know of it. And truly if there is one more terrible, I do not wish to know."

     She is still scanning the area. Two minutes have elapsed and she senses activity in one of the helicopters hovering overhead.

     Iriisii: "One of the helicopters is readying a missile. His thoughts call it a 'Hellfire'?"

     Tricia: "Oh God, no! They cannot use those here, we are too close to other innocent people!"

     Iriisii: "Then I must deal with the threat now."

     Iriisii slaps her Gauntlets together and pulls them apart, a noxious green glowing ball forming between her hands.

     Tricia: "What is that?" Even as she bends over to begin retching.

     Iriisii: "Justice."

     She targets the helicopter in her mental sight, then releases the ball, shoving it by telekinesis at the roof. As it passes through, the roof explodes into splinters creating a hole at least twenty feet in diameter. The pilot pauses in releasing the missile, and then the 'ball' engulfs the helicopter.

     It is difficult to tell which is louder, the screams of the Agents on board, or the screams of the metal of the helicopter as it's very molecular structure is ripped apart. The Agent in Charge, cursing at the helicopter pilot for 'jumping the gun', immediately calls for his troops to get inside and subdue whoever they find.

     Iriisii casts a series of rune glyphs in front of the doors, then using the wreckage of the roof as raw material, she converts it and uses it to create a Mantella around Tricia, telling her, "This will protect you when they start firing in here. They have nothing that can pierce this crystal, and it will keep you alive. If they somehow manage to capture you, stay inside it. I can track it to you and retrieve you."

     Just then some canisters are fired in through the broken windows and the hole in the roof. Iriisii scanning the thoughts of the ground Agents, looks to Tricia.

     Iriisii: "They are firing, 'Tear Gas', CS canisters, and something called VX gas?"

     Tricia screams: "VX is a nerve agent! It is supposed to be outlawed from being used even in wartime! You must get out!"

     Iriisii: "The Mantella will protect you, I can change the VX structure and render it harmless once I inhale some of it."

     She starts choking as it reaches her lungs, she then analyzes it as she stretches her time sense. There, change it there, again here, manipulating the chemical chains, it looses it toxicity. She then exhales what she has changed and the effect begins spreading to the rest of the airborne particles.

     The Agents are almost to the doors. She steps away from Tricia and raising her gauntleted hands, moves her fingers as though gripping sword hilts. Two green katanas form out of the very air into her hands, and then begin dripping with glowing green droplets. The floor begins to smoke as the droplets eat at the artificial flooring.

     As the Agents break down the door and begin piling into the building, Iriisii uses her Thu'um to issue her challenge.

     Iriisii: "COME AND MEET YOUR DOOM. SURELY YOU ARE NOT AFRAID OF A WOMAN?"

     She then swings one blade in a sweep across the front of her position, the droplets from the blade fly toward and land on the Agents in front. They then drop writhing to the floor, their bodies begin decomposing into a green puddle. As one steps forth, he steps into the puddle. He makes it another couple of feet before the puddle eats the soles of his shoes, comes into contact with his foot and he too falls and begins decomposing into a green puddle.

     By this time another half dozen are standing in the puddles and they too drop and join their comrades. The Agent in Charge steps forward just short of the puddles, looks at Iriisii and says, "Who are you? What are you?"

     Iriisii: "You have chosen to come against my 'children'. And that makes me your worst fucking nightmare!" 

     She activates the rune glyphs, and they all explode, showering the remaining Agents with the green puddles. In a few scant moments, silence reins once more as the helicopters beat a hasty retreat. She allows them to leave to pass the tale of what happened to those who ordered this. She then moves to the edge of the green puddles and places her gauntleted hands into the corrosive and toxic substance. It is then drawn to and absorbed back into the gauntlets. Once the pocked and scarred floor is clean, she summons a breeze to clear the remaining gasses in the air outside to disperse harmlessly. Then she goes to the Mantella holding Tricia, and dismantles it back into the pieces of broken roof she first formed it from.

     Helping to carry Tricia outside, she patiently waits while Tricia regains her sense of self, after having witnessed what went on inside.

     Tricia: "If I had not seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it possible! What was that green stuff?"

     Iriisii: "Are you sure you want to know?"

     Tricia: "Yes."

     Iriisii: "On one of the deep worlds of the Abyssal Planes, that 'stuff' lives in pools, a few as large as a small sea. The inhabitants of that world, live in cities that float above the surface. They throw their garbage over to that stuff to consume. They also throw unwanted slaves, prisoners to be executed, anyone targeted to be assassinated, and sometimes just for the fun of it. In their incessant wars, victory is declared if an enemy city can be dropped into one of the larger ones."

     Tricia: "Please, enough."

     Iriisii nods her head and says no more on the subject. 

     Iriisii: "We should be going, the absence of these and when the surviving pilots report, there will be a great deal of attention paid to this place. And I still need to speak to the vampire clans."

     Tricia: "Just for a few seconds, I thought I saw an expression of glee on your face as you ignited those glyphs showering that stuff on the remaining agents."

     Iriisii: "I wondered if perhaps you saw it. That was my 'dark side', Isis, daughter of Shivista, called the 'Destroyer of Worlds' and Rassillon, one of the founders of the Timelords of Gallifrey. When situations require those kinds of actions, I let her handle them. In your werewolf clans, I believe she would be compared to one of their 'Doer of Evil Deeds'?"

     Tricia: "I had not thought of that, but you are right."