AE10 The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin

     Tricia: "Let us go, we can talk more on the way."

     They make their way through the streets, noting the unrest among the citizenry.

     Iriisii: "What is the cause for the unrest among the people?"

     Tricia: "It is difficult to point a finger at a single cause. There are many different things going on. Some financial, some political, others religious, still more point to a breakdown in ethical behavior. If there is a single root cause, I am not aware of it. But it is beyond this one city, it is spread across the country. And the current government is either oblivious to it, doesn't care, or..."

     Iriisii: "or is involved in it in some way?"

     Tricia: "You sense what I sense in this then."

     Iriisii: "I think you are both close to the mark and at the same time far away from it."

     Tricia: "How is that?"

     Iriisii: "What you see out here is but the symptom of what is going on. The cause is buried deep within, sharing space but at the same time not a part of it. Whether the government is involved, to an extent, a small part of it that likes to remain in the shadows, yes, but the major part of it is 'spinning its wheels' as you say, reacting to what it cannot see, but feeling something amiss, and frustrated that they cannot do anything about it."

     Tricia: "That I can well believe. It has always been a small thing, barely felt, until this current administration went into office. It has gotten steadily stronger since then."

     Iriisii: "Has any inflection of doubt, blame for current unrest, anything similar been attributed to the 'preternaturals'? Any marked increase in the government trying to intrude or control through political means or even more covert and subtle means?"

     Tricia: "Jean Claude and I have been talking about just that. We have begun to take notice of it, but the other clans seem blinded to it. We cannot figure out why?"

     Iriisii: "Then I need to take the opportunity of this meeting to rip away the blinders from their eyes. They need to see that they are being led like sheep to the slaughter before it is too late. If it comes to it, I am willing to lend my protection to all the 'preternaturals' at least until this can be resolved and life can resume its normal course here. I do not offer this lightly, but it may become necessary or suffer a pogrom not seen since your Inquisition."

     Tricia with fear developing in her eyes, "You cannot be serious, are you?"

     Iriisii: "I am not one to fearmonger, I speak plainly as I see it, hear it, feel it. The world itself cries out in its suffering, and I can not, will not ignore what it tells me."

     Tricia: "What does it say?"

     Iriisii: "Most of what it says you would not understand. It does not speak as we are speaking now, but what I can say is that a great and terrible evil, no, two evils seek to join and rear their heads here. This is why I was summoned and brought here. Why I was snatched from the heart of a monster of a black hole and flung across your universe to land here."

     Tricia: "What kind of evils, devils, demons?"

     Iriisii: "Against what I sense even devils and demons would ally with you, for it would consume even them as well. But I ask where are the angelicals? They should be at the forefront of fighting this. That is their prime commandment, to stand against this kind of thing, to not let it gain a foothold and spread.

     First I must safeguard the innocents, reveal the true enemy, then seek why those who should already be battling this are absent and abrogating their responsibilities. At least some, somewhere here, have seen what comes and acted to bring me here. I pray it is just not too late. But take heart, I am here and I can bring to bear forces beyond the imagination of what still hides in shadow. I still need to speak with the 'Fae' Queen, and through her, the divinity that watches over her and hers. Mayhap that one knows more that will help."

     Tricia mulls over what Iriisii has told her as they turn off of the main streets and enter a complex of buildings set back some distance from the noise of the city traffic. Iriisii senses the security measures that are active and scanning the area. She sends her own senses out to search out any holes or lapses in the existing system. Even as she does see where the current system can be improved, she detects no intrusions. Carefully she sets some triggers in the places where she sensed holes. Better to be warned of trouble in the current environment than be surprised. Thinking about a few what if's, she places a few special triggers up in the air well above the building complex to give warning of anything dropping from above or surveillance from heights away from the complex looking over long range. Satisfied now she follows Tricia inside, when Tricia looks at why she hesitated to follow.

     Iriisii: "External security was good, but had holes and lapses. They are covered now."

     Tricia's expression of shock was enough for her to later suggest Iriisii look over their own security at the 'Circus'.

     As they enter a huge room, filled with the Clan Leaders of nearly every band of Were's within a two hundred mile radius of the city. The level of power was very great and clashing auras making it difficult for the security forces to keep fights from breaking out.

     Tricia seems out of sorts that this is being allowed to continue and not being addressed. Iriisii tells her not to worry, she can settle this down as they did before. And quickly moves as close to the center of the building as she could reach, raises her head to the ceiling, and empowers her shout of Kyne's Peace with her Thu'um. The effect is immediate as her voice cuts through everything else going on, the animal spirits within the Weres backing down, letting the security forces begin separating the worst of them.

     The security chief goes to Tricia but she points to Iriisii with a wave of her hand. The security chief then walks to Iriisii and thanks her for whatever it was she did to calm things down. She nods her head and then rejoins Tricia.

     Tricia: "What was that?"

     Iriisii smiles, "A Dragon Shout called 'Kyne's Peace'. It mainly affects animals more so than humans, but with the animal sides of the Weres coming out, it would be the one that would do the most good. On my homeworld, Kyne is the Goddess of the Air and the Hunt. She made me her Thunderchild and taught me more of the Rotmulaag than I could have learned from any other source."

     Tricia: "I am just glad it worked. It was heading into an all out bloodbath in here. Somebody was lax in their planning."

     Iriisii: "Or maybe it was hoped that is what would happen, we should be alert for other possible attempts."

     Then they hear a gavel being pounded on the table at the center.

     Werewolf Alpha Clan Leader: "Order! This meeting is now called to order. We have been asked to assemble by Tricia Forsone, betrothed to Jean Claude, Vampire Master of the City of St Lou. I pass control of this meeting to her. Tricia?"

     Tricia stands and moves to the center table to stand before the Clan Leaders.

     Tricia: "All of you here, know of the efforts of Psy-Ops and the rest of the Government to grab and control us. This is just a small part of what is going on now. We recently had opportunity to retrieve something that dropped into our laps, something that Psy-Ops wanted very badly. If I had realized how badly, this meeting would have taken place well before now. We have had a Psy-Ops Tail and one of their Operations teams defect to us over what they learned is happening."

     From the middle: "Why are they not here then to tell us what they know before we strew their guts against the walls!"

     The sound of growls and agreement from the speaker spreading across the assemblage. Iriisii stands and utilizing the Thu'um causes her voice to resonate within the building.

     Iriisii: "Because they asked me for asylum from the Psy-Ops Department and I granted their requests in order to save their lives. Dead they are of no use to any of us, alive they are a treasure trove of information regarding who they have imprisoned, where they are being held, what has been done to them, what is being planned to be done to them, and this is but the beginning of what they have given to us.

     Each of you that has had any of your people taken will be given what information we have before we leave . Also know that I am in the midst of planning operations to get them all out of governmental custody and return them to their families. Why am I doing this? First and foremost, because it is the right thing to do. Second is to sow the seed of weakness in them, show that they are not the ultimate power they profess and want to be. Third, to draw the attention of the human population and the politicians to what is going on under their very noses. Because if they know it is being done to you, how long before it will be done to them.

     And finally, because if they are in such disarray that I intend to sow within them, it will make it that much easier for me to breach their defenses and get to the root of the corruption. For they are just the outer skin of the real trouble that lies within. The trouble that I was sent here to expose and deal with."

     The ensuing shouting takes a few minutes to subside and for order to be somewhat restored. The Clan Leader of the were tigers stands, "And why should we believe anything you say. We know nothing of you, you suddenly come on the scene, spout off, and we are supposed to bow down and lick your feet! How do we know you are not in league with Psy-Ops and are planning to give us all into their hands! What are you, for you are not Vampire, are you Were, I think not, not one of us knows if we can trust you at all!"

     As the power of the animal spirits rises again, there is a commotion from the back. As a path is opened, a small bent over woman clothed in skins, walking assisted by an ornate hand carved staff, makes her way to the table where Iriisii stands. Whispers circulate back and forth, questions about why she is here, why she came out of hiding to appear here, what could this mean?

     Iriisii senses the power about this 'Were', as she walks around the table and approaches the old woman.

     Iriisii: "Greetings Great Grandmother, how may this one be of service?"

     The uproar threatens to shake the roof beams, as the old woman shouts for silence. Slowly the room quiets, and the old woman replies to Iriisii's question.

     Were Oracle: "Give me your hand, my dear. Let me know you in the old way."

     Iriisii places a hand in the old woman's hand. She draws it to where she can see each line engraved in the skin, she brings it to her nose and sniffs her scent, then she takes her raspy tongue and licks the palm of Iriisii's hand, she then turns to the Clan Leaders.

     Were Oracle: "This one is she who is called by our oldest prophecies, she who would come in our time of greatest need, when all the Clans are to be threatened with enslavement and death. Within her, is her own human soul, powerful beyond any mortal soul, fused and melded with the soul of he we know only as the First Dragon of Destiny. She is the Mother Dragon, the prophesied Dragon of War has come at long last."

     This pronouncement is met with an unexpected amount of derision, heckles, laughter, but again it seems to mainly come from just a few of the clans present. Most have seriously listened to the Oracle, but they have not the power to stand up to the ones deriding the Oracles statement.

     Were Oracle: "Do you doubt me!? Do you doubt the word of our ancients!? Very well then!"

     The Oracle turns to Iriisii, "Show them the error of their judgment, Great One. Forgive them their disbelief and may this bring them back from the brink of damnation."

     Iriisii moves to the open area off to the side. The Oracle shouts for them to give her room or risk being squished to death. Iriisii then opens herself to her soul and begins morphing into her Dragon form. She grows and keeps growing, the clans moving farther and farther away to allow her room. Where once there was derision, now there is abject silence.

     Then she speaks, "Be there anyone here today who wishes to challenge me?!"

     One by one, the Clan Leaders stand before her, drop to their knees and stretch out their heads, baring their throats in submission to her authority. Then she returns to her human form, leaving one hand morphed as a Dragon's claw. She approaches each of the Clan Leaders, places her clawed hand around their throat, when she has done this with each one, she speaks, "I accept your fealty, know from this day forward you and yours are mine. My protection extends to all that is yours, know my wings will shield you from the arrows and spears of your enemies, and my teeth, claws, and breath will destroy any enemies that threaten you, for now you are my children, my family, and NO ONE FUCKS WITH MY FAMILY!"

     The force of her last words rattles the roof and walls, the thick glass of the high windows can be heard cracking. The Werewolf Clan Leader looks up to her and asks, "What would you have us do, Dragon Mother?"

     Iriisii: "Stay hidden for now, speak to the other clans, as I go to speak with them to bring them into my fold, under my wings. I know what goes on in those hidden government bunkers. I will get my children, your brothers and sisters, away from those who would torture and mutilate them. I will do this for all of my children, held against their will. And I will see those that engage in this pay dearly for it.

     Any who come to me seeking redemption, and truly desire it, to them it will be given. For I know how Governments can coerce, and threaten in order to gain cooperation. I will not see those who are innocent suffer, even if they had to do what they did to keep their own wives, husbands, and children safe. The ones who are truly guilty are they who set this path in motion. Their fate will be most horrible, this I promise. For their punishment will be commensurate with their guilt.

     Should any of you find yourself in dire circumstance, call on me, I will hear and I will answer. This is my promise to you, my children. So go now, before the government agents arrive. I will have a surprise for them they will not soon forget."

     Iriisii goes to the Oracle, "Be safe Great Grandmother, and know you did right for your children."

     Were Oracle: "Go with the blessings of the Ancients, Dragon Mother and Were Goddess of War."

     As the clans leave and disperse to their hiding places, Tricia asks, "I guess they did not learn their lesson the first time. What do you have planned?"

     Iriisii: "I will decide that when I see how they plan to come against me here. I know they are not stupid enough to attempt the same thing twice after what happened the first time. I think this time they will rely strictly on numbers, and I will have a very nasty surprise in store for them."

     Tricia: "I am not sure I really want to know if it is going to be personal and up close."

     Iriisii: "I will see that you are protected, but there will be no protection for them. Give me just a few moments to look around and see the layout of this place."

     Iriisii slowly looks around, taking ing all the details of its structure, open spaces, beams, catwalks, and anything else she thinks could be used. Then she matches the interior with those entities she knows will come to her call, will work together, and can utilize this building to create an ambush. She calls her Shantaak Hunter, and discusses with him what she wants to do, relates who she wishes to call, and what part she wants them to play in the ambush, then asks his opinion and thought about any changes that would work better.

     Shantaak Hunter: "I agree with most of your choices. This will strengthen your hold over them immensely, but I believe your Lord Nodens has Nightgaunts under his command?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, he does. Yes, I see, in the upper reaches, they can cling to the beams, catwalks, and drop down on top of the troops that are brought here. In fact, he himself would probably like to take part. He keeps saying it has been too long since he was in a good fight. I will call him and see if he would like to join us. I expect you will stay as well?"

     The Shantaak Hunter gives a grin, but with his physical facial features it turns into something a bit more deadly.

     Iriisii: "I thought so, very well, just leave a few for the others is all that I ask."

     Shantaak Hunter: "You are very much the best and most loved of all I have served, may this continue for the rest of time."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, now to call Nodens and see what he thinks."

     She sends a mental call to him and as soon as it reaches him his is answering.

     Nodens: "Harbinger! To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?"

     Iriisii explains what she expects to be about to happen and whether he would like to bring some Nightgaunts to the party.

     Nodens: "I would not miss it for anything. Hmmm, I just had a thought. Since you walled up Ithaqua behind a wall of enchanted ice, his Wendigoes have been, well let me say that they are lost without higher leadership."

     Iriisii: "I get it, ok, round some up and make sure you get a few elders as well. I can work through the elders to control the younger ones and restore some discipline at the same time. We can definitely not leave them to their own devices, otherwise there is no end of trouble they will eventually get into."

     Nodens breathes a sigh of relief.

     Iriisii: "And no, I will not put them under your watchful eyes, you have your hands full with the Nightgaunts. I will take care of them personally through the Elders, maybe..., no, that would not work at all, best I do it."

     Nodens: "I bow to your judgment, Harbinger. Let it be as you suggest. I will be there as soon as I can gather them up."

     Tricia: "Wendigoes?"

     Iriisii: "On many worlds they are legends of the far northern climes, especially areas covered in ice and snow. They share a few characteristics with werewolves. but werewolves are for the most part far more orderly and restrained in their behavior."

     Tricia: "Let me get this straight, werewolves are more orderly and restrained than these wendigos. I am not sure it would be wise for me to meet them then."

     Iriisii: "You may be right, but we do not always get what we want. I need to begin exercising some control over them before they go totally off the rails, since I buried their last master in a six foot thick wall of enchanted ice."

     Tricia: "That must have been quite some tale then."

     Iriisii: "You will have to get Rigmor to tell it, my lips are sealed."

     Tricia: "Better and better, now what could it have involved that you will not speak about?"

     Iriisii is silent as she waits for Nodens.

     Isis: 'Come on, spill it, my inquiring mind wants to know!"

     Darkstar: "No! She does not have to tell you anything about what happened. She did what she had to do and it worked, that is all that needs to be said of it."

     Isis: "Funny thing about that, Mother seems to have deliberately kept that memory from being copied to me. You wouldn't happen to know why would you?"

     Darkstar: "I had nothing to do with it if that is what you are alluding to. But I applaud her sense of respect for doing that."

     Isis: "I guess I will just have to ask her myself."

     Darkstar: "Go ahead, you will not get any further with her that you will with me."

     In the warehouse building, Nodens has arrived with his Nightgaunts riding herd on a pack of Wendigos. Tricia takes one look at them, and the details that she can determine about them, then buttons her lips tight and stays as far from them as she can. Glad that she does not have to have anything to do with them. The Elders show their respect for Iriisii and her decision to take a hand in disciplining these unruly children after she removed them from Ithaqua's control. Their respect for her rises high as she tells them that she wishes to control the younger ones through the Elders, thus keeping the Elders in the chain of command and in control of their daily lives. She makes it plain that as long as the elders keep the young ones in line she will stand with the elders and show a united front. They all breathe easier as they tell her how they anticipated Ithaqua was going to do the exact opposite of what she wants to do, and of what he was going to turn the younger ones into by doing that. Iriisii also breathes a sigh of relief to know what was undone by what she did while at the Fortress he was trying to take possession of.

     They begin to get everyone situated when the wendigos' elders raise their snouts and breathe in a sharp scent on the air.

     Wendigo Elder: "Men come, many, but some different. Those around the different ones, fear them. Goddess wise to include us in your ambush. We can match the different ones in speed, strength, skills. Our numbers will let the rest of your force deal with the unchanged men."

     Iriisii: "Go, you know where yours are to wait for the ambush to be sprung. I will lure them in, keep yours in hand until we pull as many inside as we can. When I take my half-dragon form, that is your signal to attack."

     Wendigo Elder: "It will be as you wish, Goddess."

     The Elder turns and barks at the younger ones, who immediately scatter to their previously assigned places, crouching down and drawing shadows around themselves. hiding themselves in plain sight.

     Tricia: "I would not have believed it if I did not see it with my own eyes. They just disappeared into thin air!"

     Iriisii: "Close, they are still there, just letting the shadows clothe them and hide them from sight. Now let us go and be ready to meet what they are sending to us. We have to bring as many inside as we can. The ones left outside the Shantaak Hunter will take care of, but even he can be overwhelmed. When the crap hits the fan it will not be pretty. If you cannot take it then turn your head. This will be unrestrained and totally brutal, just so you know what to expect. I have my reasons for taking the gloves off, for it will get worse before it gets better. And I do not intend to get caught up in the niceties of 'rules of combat', which they have no intentions of following anyway. This is to send them a message, 'Stay out of my way and live. Get in my way and be damned forever.'"

     Tricia thinks back on what she heard spoken in her dreams about these events that are now coming to fruition. the words she heard the dragonsoul within Iriisii speak, 'Serve the Imperatrex of Dreams and know her blessings, stand in her way and be damned forever.' Now she is more certain than ever she made the right decision to hide her from Psy-Ops.

     Tricia: "Let's do it. I have a little surprise of my own to give them a taste of."

     Tricia goes to an open area of the concrete floor and pulls a tarp covering a portion of it. Under where the tarp lay are strange lines, curves, symbols carved in the floor. She then goes to a duffle bag, opens it and takes a ceremonial sword out. Iriisii can feel the power stored within the sword. Reading it, she determines what it is to be used for.

     Iriisii: "You are a necromancer."

     Tricia: "Yes, I have had to hide it, for so many look down upon on it with horror and disgust."

     Iriisii: "I understand. As there are skills I control that make necromancy very palatable next to what I know. As to what they are, the skills many of the older races used to divine the future in the entrails of sacrificed animals come from the parent skill of Anatomancy. I was taught the original skill and the ones the shamans and wise women practiced was very much watered down from the original. I have only used it a handful of times due to the heavy cost it bears. But I know what you risk by what is written in this floor. I can add protections for you, to shield you from what lies behind these sigils and symbols. I will, if you will allow, change the emphasis, so that the power is granted by me and not by..., no, his name need not be intoned. Best if I make the changes, he will then know it was me and he will accept it. If someone else made the changes, well they might be getting a midnight visit sometime, a very unpleasant visit.

     I am going to need to make an addition to the powers called upon. Under no circumstances are you to ever call out his name. I can do it, for I have stood in his presence and spoke to him, came to an agreement concerning certain matters. He will know you speak with my voice and so will not take umbrage over your speaking it."

     Tricia: "If you are sure about this?"

     Iriisii: "You will stand as the 'Priestess' calling upon the dead to come to your call, but it will be the power of my voice speaking through you to the 'dead', and those who will be opening the gates for you to summon them through. If any have a problem with this, it will be with me and not you, and they know me and what my destiny is, how it will affect them. They will not interfere or balk, for they want me to take my destiny. They want what I will do for them in that future."

     Tricia: "What is it that you will do for them that they want so badly?"

     Iriisii: "When the stars die and grow cold, and all of life goes through the Final Gate, that they not be left on this side of the gate."

     Iriisii feels troubled by something involved with this esoteric diagram. She reads it more closely, noting the requirements and knowledge the practitioner needs to be successful with the powers invoked. She then looks closely at Tricia, establishing the current limits of her knowledge and power.

     Iriisii: "Tricia, tell me something if you would?"

     Tricia: "Whatever you want, just ask."

     Iriisii: "How did you know this was here? Have you ever used any of the symbology used in this summoning circle before?"

     Tricia: "I have not used it before. Another practitioner that I have worked with in the past placed it here some years ago. He said I could use it if I ever needed to, why?"

     Iriisii points out a few places, traces out the link paths, the 'names' called upon.

     Iriisii: "Are these in any way familiar to you?"

     Tricia: "No, they are not. Is there something wrong here?"

     Iriisii: "To my mind, yes. These 'names' are very 'dark', some would characterize them as 'Evil'. Whether they truly cross that line, I could not say, but if they are acting as gateways, that would be troublesome indeed. That means they are being used as conduits for those who do not wish to engage with 'Evil' to access the power of 'Evil'. They think they are insulated from 'Evil' by using these in that fashion, but they are wrong. I look at you and see no 'hooks' of Absolute Evil in you. Therefore you have not used this summoning circle before have you?"

     Tricia: "No, I have not. What do you want me to do then?"

     Iriisii: "After this is done, you and I must have a talk with the one who created this and then gave you permission to use it. For now though..."

     Iriisii morphs one hand into a dragon's clawed hand, uses one finger claw and makes the needed changes to the spells carved into the concrete floor even as she reinforces it by her whispering the changes, charging them with draconic power.

     Iriisii: "Now you can use it with no chance of harm to you. The 'names' I have changed are now of the 'dark' but ones I have dealt with before and who know me. We have understandings between us. As I have aided them in problems they had, so I can call upon them for aid. There will be no cost to you for this since they are repaying a debt to me."

     Tricia: "If you are sure of this?"

     Iriisii: "I am. I think this was a 'setup' aimed at you. Not to cause you to fall, but to provide a path whereby you could be influenced toward 'Evil'. A little at a time, until you would be ensnared. One just beginning to walk the 'Path of the Gods' would be a prime candidate for such a trap. But knowing of the existence of such a trap, is the first step in avoiding it. And with the correct knowledge, the trap can be defused and used to your own purposes with no harm."

     Tricia: "How can I thank you for this?"

     Iriisii: "No need, if ever you have further questions or need help, just 'call' on me, and I will do what I can. Now is there anything else before we are ready to activate this?"

     Tricia: "Do you ever call upon the 'Light' in these 'circles'?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, I do."

     Iriisii points out a couple of 'names'.

     Iriisii: "These are of the 'Light'. They are being asked to provide 'protections' to you as the practitioner. And no, I do not call upon 'Absolute Good' to do anything like this. First, they would not answer. And second, it is possible they would attempt to interfere. The 'names' of Light will not, since your purpose here is neutral. You are raising the 'dead', yes, but doing so to protect not to kill, unless the opposition gives no choice."

     Tricia: "I see I have a lot to learn, yet."

     Iriisii: "We all do, I never stop learning. And so you should not as well. We will make mistakes from time to time. Own them, make whatever amends it is possible to make, then move on. Do not allow the mistakes to own you, that is a fast path to your own destruction. I use them as learning tools, to watch for any cousins that come looking for me, and so I am not caught a second time. Get ready, Psy-Ops is gathering outside along with Special Forces soldiers."

     Tricia: "Special Forces! How are we to deal with both groups?"

     Iriisii: "Let us execute the summoning, raise those of the 'dead' who are waiting for us to do this."

     Tricia: "Waiting for us? They are 'dead', their awareness is 'somewhere else' but not here."

     Iriisii: "They are waiting for us, I hear them. I have spoken to them of what we desire. They gather and wait for us to petition for the gates to be opened and allow them to come to our 'Call'. Take my hand and listen, let my voice speak through you. Let it be heard where the 'Dead' await."

     Listen ye powers over Life and Death

     Listen ye Holders of the Keys of Death

     Hear our voices call out to thee

     Hear the Dead muster to do our will

     Let them come over to the land of Life

     Let them protect those who live

     From the abominations of the Absolute

     From the creations that serve Evil

     The Evil that destroys all it touches

     The Evil that waits to destroy Life

     By Destruil and Olaviese

     By Yggasgki and Qpawuuio

     Misquamakus, hear us now,

     We who are your daughters

     Humble ourselves to you

     Look upon us with favor

     And send unto us the Dead!

 

     Iriisii: "Stand in the glowing sigil, you are the focus of those that come to aid us now."

     Tricia: "Then it worked?"

     Iriisii: "Look at the floor."

     As Tricia looks, she sees the concrete seemingly phase in and out of reality. And she sees an almost endless line of the dead coming to where she stands.

     Tricia: "Oh My ...!"

     Iriisii: "When they reach you, your touch will bring them over here to us. Our power will give them flesh once more, and they know what they are to do. I will lead them into battle and woe be unto our enemy who dares to face us. If they should seek to carry you away, go with them. They will protect you and bring you home. I can find my own way if needed."

     Iriisii and Tricia both can hear the sound of a battering ram against the thick metal doors. Tricia feels the dead touch her, become solid and move away for the next. Iriisii draws Mahfaeraak and sends battle enhancement spells over all the assembled dead. One stands forward, dressed smartly in a ranking military officer's uniform. He draws a saber from his side and salutes her.

     General: "I know you have no knowledge of me, Dragon of War. But I dreamed many days and nights while alive to be able to fight at your side. I thought that when I died, my chance was lost forever. Now however, I see that I was mistaken. I give thanks to whatever Gods heard my prayers and kept faith with me, to bring me to your side."

     Iriisii: "General, I sense about you the memories of many past battles that you experienced, some in your true life, most in your dreams. Know that I am also Dovah Do Hahne, the Dragon of Dreams. Fight beside me this night till the dawn crows and not a enemy is left standing. And I will take you with me, to be one of my Commanding Generals in the Jihad of Truth. In that battle, we fight for the fate of Existence itself, across every land, on every world, in every Realm, of every Existence that comprises Infinity. And when the last battle is fought, the last enemy falls at our feet, and Existence is saved by our efforts. There will be a place for you in my Father's Hall of Remembrance, where our story will be told to all who will hear it, see it, experience it. And I will send you onward through the Final Gate to the Great Beyond, to await when my Task of Destiny is complete and I join you there to see what new battles we can find to win."

     General: "My Lady, to fight by you this night, you would do an old warhorse proud."

     Iriisii: "To fight with me at my side, you will come to know many proud moments. This I can promise you, whether we ride at the front of the 'Wild Hunt', leading the Armies of the Celestial Balance, flying with my Dragon Legions, our enemies will know the meaning of fear and despair as our Battle Standards are unfurled and displayed in all their glory. Telling them just who has come to deliver them to their doom."

     It is then that the upper windows shatter and Psy-Ops agents drop down into the warehouse.

     Iriisii shouts to Patton, "Protect Tricia, let no one interfere with her!"

     He nods his head and starts issuing commands for a group of the dead to gather around Tricia and the others to meet the Psy-Ops agents dropping down to the floor.

     Iriisii focuses her Thu'um on the metal doors and unleashes "FUS RO DAH"!

     The doors are blown off of their hinges and become projectiles smashing into the forces arrayed outside. Her Shantaak Hunter, anticipating this action placed himself far enough to the side to avoid the 'doors' as well as the 'green puddle' that was picked up and is now a toxic, corrosive fog spreading its way across the soldiers and agents in the immediate front of the warehouse. The screaming is now loud enough to drown all other sounds around the entire area. Iriisii steps out and surveys her handiwork. The soldiers and agents outside the 'fog' see her and begin moving around to where they can get to her. The Shantaak Hunter gets to her first as she morphs into her half-dragon form. Mahfaeraak still cradled in one clawed hand, she mounts her 'Hunter' and they go on the hunt. Slamming into the forces arrayed against her. Her shouts sending soldiers flying, her magic decimating still others, and Mahfaeraak's power extending like a bladed whip, slicing through waves of agents. And then her Shantaak Hunter, his claws, teeth, and tentacle tips burrowing into bodies, laying waste to the enemy forces sent to capture her. 

     Now the Command Structure has changed its orders, now they just want her dead. The last troop carriers to arrive, now open and disgorge enhanced were and vampire agents. These are going to be tougher to deal with than the fodder they have thrown at her so far. But she is not without options either. She knows this night is moonless, no light piercing the shadows. She reaches inside and 'calls' the 'god' who makes his home on 'Yuggoth on the Rim'. At her asking, he sends her some of the more dangerous wildlife specimens that he feels could be of use to her. The servitors she can send back when the battle is over, the others will die and dissolve in the morning sun.

     Together, they craft a tube like portal to link the two worlds. She hears a wild call that still manages to send shivers up and down her spine. She sees eight foot tall plants quickly crawling out on tri-fold pads, suction cups on the undersides with sheathed hooks in the center of each cup, similar to that of giant squids. Their trunks are as tough as steel, with a crown of long, slender, tentacle branches that even now are reaching out, grabbing dead bodies and stuffing them into their maws in the center of the crowns, with teeth like a lamprey eel. And from somewhere in those bodies comes that cry, 'Tekili Li, Tekili Li". Separated from the servitors, she now sees something that amplifies her shivers into full blown chills.

     Now comes a horde of 'Fly-the-Lights', their milky white amorphous flesh rolling forward, ever forward, drawn by the scent of the flesh, blood, and gore covering the battlefield. As they reach its beginnings, mouths begin forming everywhere on the bodies, and the ground is picked clean. Both groupings catch the scent of the preternaturally augmented agents and a massive free-for-all erupts. Iriisii and the Hunter stand still and watch. Knowing that sound is what these beings use for tracking their prey, as long as they are silent, they are ignored. She shifts her hearing to the warehouse, and listens to the fighting in there. She still hears Tricia's breathing and heartbeat, then she hears the rustling movement of the dead.

     A few heads peer out from the warehouse, but Iriisii motions for them to remain inside. She dismounts and goes quietly to the open doorway, reaches into a dimensional holding bag, pulls out M'narian Starstones she has been collecting on her trips through the Dreamlands, for that is the last remaining place where they can be found. She begins placing them, one at a time, from one side of the doorway to the other. Each starstone touching a corner of another, once done she activates them with a 'word', and a barrier wall springs into existence. It will not stop her, her Hunter, or the dead crowding the warehouse, but the Servitors and the 'Fly-the-Lights', cannot cross it, due to a quirk in their genetics.

     General Patton walks out and stands next to her, watching the remaining agents trying desperately to regroup before they are hit again by these exo's. He turns to speak but she places a finger across her lips indicating silence. She then points to the exo's and then to her ears. He gets the message loud and clear. She then tries a couple of forms of 'sign' before finding one he can use and understand.

     Iriisii: 'They track by sound. As long as we are silent, we could even walk among them with no harm.'

     General Patton: 'Do I even want to know what they are or where they come from?'

     Iriisii: 'A very, very long way from here. Worlds on the very edge of Existence, where the laws of biology are as twisted as the laws of space and time. I know someone who makes his home there, seeking the solitude and isolation. He has created a walled garden, where he keeps the safer specimens on display.'

     General Patton: 'Like a zoo?'

     Iriisii: 'Similar, they roam free within the walls. The rare visitor is allowed to wander among them safely.'

     General Patton: 'How did you ever meet up with him?'

     Iriisii: 'I found out about the 'Lost Legions'. Went in search of them to recruit them into my Army. My search stalled on a 'Hellworld' they had been abandoned on by their Commander. He escaped, while they were left to fight to the last for their lives.'

     General Patton: 'How did you find them then?'

     Iriisii: 'I inquired of certain sources within the Great Library at Lost Carcosa. Once I knew what questions to ask, the answers were simple to get. A survivor's journal was kept in the Library and I was allowed to read it. I got most of the answers I wanted from it, but I felt led to continue my search to find the remains of the Legion. The journal spoke of what transpired, of how their numbers were whittled down. Until the ones that were left prepared for their last stand. They readied a 'Death Curse' against the coward Commander who betrayed them, and as they fought, they uttered that curse. It reached the ears of the one I know. It drew him to them, and he felt that they should have the chance to see their curse fulfilled. He took them to his home on 'Yuggoth on the Far Rim'.

     It is dark but beautiful there. I could look out over the perpetual night sky and see the spiral arms of the galaxy it is a part of. A sight like that is rare indeed, one to be treasured. I found him in my search, spoke to him of why I was looking for them. He agreed to wake one of them and let me plead my case to him. If he agreed to help me, then the rest would be woke and they would vote on whether they would go with me or go back to their sleep. They now are my 'Black Dragon Legion', and have increased their size ten fold. There were fifteen hundred survivors when I found them. They now number over fifteen thousand, every one dedicated to me. And yes, I did help them track down the Commander that betrayed them and he paid the price of the Death Curse leveled against him.'

     General Patton: 'It is good to know that there are those who still uphold the right things that call out to be settled.'

     The 'dawn' comes quickly as the restless dead wander among what bodies remain, even as the servitors and 'Fly-The-Lights' take care of the remains. Iriisii forms a return portal and calls all those sent to help her to take the portal back home. Once they are gone, she turns to look at the 'dead' who came to fight with her. She bows her thanks to them, and bids them return to the peace they left for her need. They shed the bodies she made for them all but one. The 'dead' all flow back to their rest through Tricia and when the last passes the gates are closed once more and Tricia falls to her knees.

     General Patton goes to help her rise.

     Tricia: "How is it you remain?"

     General Patton: "My Goddess still has need of me to serve her. Truth be told the entity over where I found myself when I died is rather glad to be rid of me. I was forever telling everyone of the dead of the dreams I had while still living. And now they have come to me fulfilled in the person of my Goddess."

     Tricia nods her head in understanding. They return quietly using side streets, and lesser used roads to avoid attention, once inside, Tricia increases the number of guards on duty. Iriisii goes to check on her own, starting with Eliza and Ciri. Eliza is still asleep and resting comfortably, Ciri is sitting at a table in the dining area drinking coffee. As Iriisii enters, Ciri rises and comes to her.

     Ciri: "Thank you for bringing me to you, I am sorry I brought them to your fortress, but I was running out of options."

     Iriisii: "I have no problem where your safety is concerned, so please think nothing of it. But how is it that the Aen Elle Wild Hunt has recovered so quickly from being decimated at Skellige?"

     Ciri: "That has worried me as well. There has been no previous sighting of them until all of a sudden I was being chased once more. I never let them get close to me, so I have no idea of whether they are true Aen Elle or some relative of them."

     Iriisii: "Hmmm, Wait for a few minutes, I will ask the Custodian for any information they may have now. Custodian?"

     Custodian: "Yes, Goddess?"

     Iriisii: "What is the current status concerning the attempt of the Wild Hunt to enter the Fortress?"

     Custodian: "Geralt, your troops, and your Hunter were able to beat them back and force their retreat. He says that they seemed not the same as they were when last he faced them."

     Iriisii: "Did he give any specifics?"

     Custodian: "No Goddess, he is currently watching as your healers are examining the bodies they left behind."

     Ciri: "What! Custodian! Please tell my father to be careful and observant of those bodies! The Aen Elle Wild Hunt do not leave their bodies behind, for no reason have they ever done this. There is something very wrong here."

     Iriisii: "Custodian, initiate defense protocol for internal breach immediately. Anyone in contact with those bodies are to be scanned for parasitic infection. If any are found they are to be quarantined in the 'Time Vault'."

     Custodian: "Initiating protocol."

     Ciri: "What is this 'Time Vault'?"

     Iriisii: "A room I had specially constructed to house people for just such an event like this. If any are found to be infected, they can be held there in stasis. The infection will be stopped and held in abeyance until it can be treated."

     Ciri: "What kind of infection do you suspect?"

     Iriisii: "Wamphyri."

     Ciri: "I am sorry, I do not know anything about that."

     Iriisii: "It has so far been localized to a few places. But it has been spread by agents of those who oppose me. Think of an intelligent parasite, capable of attaching itself to a host's spine. Then using extreme pain to break the will of the host. It then begins amplifying the base emotions to the point where it can control everything the host does or thinks. It can with enough time within a host, give the host the ability to, in a limited fashion, morph its physical body. The longer it spends in a host, the greater the range of changes it can make. Sometimes if the host has natural gifts, such as some psychic gifts, even these can be enhanced.

     What one of these will do to a host is truly horrible. I have seen captured people used to create other life forms, flyers to act as transport and warriors, siphoneers created to pull water from deep wells up to the surface, trackers, more animal than anything else. And if there are no other uses needed, they are used for food."

     Ciri: "That is just..."

     Iriisii: "That is why I fight and destroy them any chance I get. They were thought to have been destroyed thousands upon thousands of years ago. But they keep showing up. I am close to finding their source, not just where they are being made, but who is doing it, and I will not stop until they are eradicated permanently."

     Ciri: "If someone is infected, is there no hope for them?"

     Iriisii: "If they can be gotten to in time, before their will is broken and they give themselves totally to the parasite, yes, there is hope. I have developed a means by which the parasite can be induced to leave a host. Once that happens, it is easy to destroy them. And a Time Vault is crucial to this."

     Ciri: "You are very driven to destroy them, why is that?"

     Iriisii: "They were created by a God, to hunt and destroy a servant he created, that went on and formed a soul. Allowing him to develop a free will, to question the decisions and orders of his creator. He then set them loose against this servant, to follow him wherever he went as he roamed the planes searching for safety. They were not kept under control, but allowed to go wherever they willed. They mutated into what they are now and their creator cared not for what they did as long as it was not within his realm.

     They can and have infected gods. Think of what a host infected would be like with no morals or compunctions. Driven to do anything it wants whenever it wants, no matter who gets hurt, then give that host the power of a god. I have already had to kill a brother to prevent just such a thing from happening. I pray to never have to do it again."

     Ciri: "I am sorry for your loss, I have no sibling so I do not know how you felt. But I know how I would feel to lose Geralt, Triss, or Yennefer, and I do remember Vesemir. The pain of losing him was almost unbearable."

     Iriisii: "I will have to tell you about my brother sometime, but for now I have another meeting to see to this evening, and I will want to check on Eliza once more."

     Ciri: "She is most unusual, but I find I like her a lot. She is not as simple as her speech would lend one to believe."

     Iriisii: "She is most definitely not simple, just different in that most of the common points of reference we have and use without thinking, she has never experienced or acquired. If I had not been present at her conception, she would not have survived. And I count myself very lucky for that, very lucky indeed."

     Iriisii peeks in on Eliza once more and sees she is waking. Walking to her bedside, she sits on the edge of the soft bed and lays a hand across one of Eliza's.

     Iriisii: "Eliza is well?"

     Eliza: "Eliza is good, good to be with sister and family."

     Iriisii smiles as she replies, "Good for Eliza to be with me. Must ask that Eliza be careful if walking about, keep family near. Others here know nothing about Eliza and may fear. Sister wants no harm to Eliza."

     Eliza: "Eliza be careful. No harm to anyone."

     Iriisii: "If family comes for you, go with them. If others come and try to take you, defend yourself. If any try to harm Eliza, you may kill if they threaten you."

     Eliza: "Eliza understand, Eliza will do as sister asks."

     Iriisii: "Eliza hungry?"

     Eliza: "Eliza hungry, yes."

     Iriisii: "Sister will send food, Sister must go now, will return soon."

     Eliza frowns that Iriisii has to leave her. Iriisii seeing that frown, leans back over her and gives Eliza a kiss on the side of her face. With the kiss she sends a special blessing to establish a link between them so that Eliza can see as Iriisii sees. And can call if needed.

     Iriisii: "Now Eliza not be lonely, sister always near."

     Eliza smiles and hugs Iriisii, "Eliza thanks sister! Not lonely now."

     Iriisii: "I will send food soon. Sister loves Eliza."

     Eliza: "Eliza loves sister."

     Iriisii gives her a second hug, slowly gets up, and leaves, looking back at Eliza as she goes through the doorway giving her a smile and a wink. Seeing Eliza's smile in return she feels better about leaving her now. Before leaving, she wards the door against anyone with harmful intent from getting through, and goes to the 'Circus' kitchens to arrange some food to be sent to her.

     As Iriisii moves through the 'Circus' she feels the atmosphere beginning to change. What is happening is altogether very subtle, and she cannot tell in what direction it is going in. As she approaches the main hall, she hears voices, some raised in false anger masking other intent. She casts a glamour of misdirection about herself, not wanting to risk full invisibility, which might be detectable. With misdirection instead she is seen, just not noticed, since those in the area of effect see what they would normally disregard in that place and situation.

     Entering the 'hall', she sees Jean Claude and Tricia sitting on the seats upon the raised dais where they hold court and official functions. There are Harlequin placed as guards on either side of them and at strategic places within the hall. She feels the 'Were' guards on alert throughout the 'Circus'. Standing in front of Jean Claude and Tricia is a group consisting of a pair of Government lawyers, some local police, and Psy-Ops operatives. For now the lawyers are speaking and Jean Claude is doing an astonishing job of containing his own anger, even as the lawyer is projecting his own false anger. Iriisii wonders what it is he is masking?

     Government Lawyer: "We have shown you and placed in your hands the arrest warrants. We ask that you give them both over to us immediately. They are wanted in the unwarranted and heinous killing of several Government employees and the destruction of Government property! We do not want this to get out of hand but we must insist you comply with the warrants or we will be forced to use all means at our disposal to execute those warrants."

     Jean Claude: "You come in here and make these accusations about people in my care without any form of evidence? All you have is these warrants that you have shown nothing to back up the claims made concerning them. You know full well it is not enough that you get one of your lackey judges to sign off on these. Before I will allow anyone to be taken from here, you will have to do much better than that. The agreement between the 'Vampire' High Council and your Government details this. We are sovereign in our demesne, and you have no authorization to simply make demands without adequate evidence, which so far you have failed to show any."

     Iriisii is no stranger to diplomatic evasion tactics, having witnessed them first hand on both sides of issues, both against her and on her behalf. She knows something is going on behind the scenes, but what? She could scan the area but she thinks that may not give a complete answer. She is going to have to get closer and see what this legal government mouthpiece is hiding. Slowly she sidles closer, the Harlequin see her but sensing her motives they make no move to even acknowledge her.

     She gently eases the smallest tendril of power toward the mind of this lawyer. One of the Psy-Ops agents senses something and becomes more alert. A couple of the Harlequin divert his attention, giving Iriisii the opening she needs to sneak a peek within the lawyer's mind. What she sees within causes her to clamp down on her own reaction lest she give everything away. She knows this must be carefully handled, but at the same time is going to require a huge show of force.