Blood Moon

Part 2

"Well isn't that just joyful?"

The Koroza looked scornfully at her child, "This is a serious matter, Arlan. Veronwe and General Razvok Vlandis are the only others to know of this prophecy and I wish for it to remain between the two of you. Would you care to give them their first lead, Veronwe?"

"Of course, Your Grace," Veronwe cleared her throat, "There is a little known nursery rhyme that speaks of a magical lyre that can bring peace to all who hear it played. There may be a situation where this lyre is integral as according to the prophecy's mention of the instrument. This tale originated from the elves, so that is what we believe is your first stop on this quest."

Arlan snorted, "Seriously, Mother? You gave us a lead based around a nursery rhyme?"

"How will we find them, Your Grace," Ellora interrupted worriedly, "Their lands have been shielded magically for decades - ever since the war!"

"That is why," the Koroza continued calmly, "we have enlisted the help of one of your fellow Spellweavers - an elf-Commonfolk halfling."

Nodding, Ellora's mind raced trying to remember any rumors of this person, but she came up blank.

Seeing her lack of recognition, Veronwe made her way to the doors on the right and said something briefly to what must have been the guards posted outside the great oaken doors. Making her way back over, Veronwe explained, "Astrid Spellweaver will be on her way shortly."

Suddenly it clicked - Astrid was a few years ahead of her graduating class making her roughly 28-29 years old, to Ellora's 23 years. For whatever reason though, Ellora couldn't recall anything about Astrid being half elf. If she was, then the rumors would have reached her and everyone's ears. Perhaps that is the reason why she didn't know this interesting fact about her fellow Spellweaver.

"We also selected a delegate from the Orc Confederation's Army to represent their interests - seeing as you respectfully represent Commonfolk interests," Finished the Koroza.

"Her name is Jaelah Dosk," Veronwe continued for the Koroza, "and she will be joining us shortly along with Astrid."

Arlan now rested on their haunches and neatly curled their tail around their mighty paws. Sitting straight up and with their shoulders back, they resembled their mother across the room from them. Minus the fact that they seemed bored and disinterested with this meeting.

"We will also be sending three of our most accomplished warriors as guards for you, Arlan," Arlan's head shot up from where they were examining their claws, "and before you protest- remember your brother." The Koroza looked stern in her decision and would not back down from Arlan's harsh gaze.

"Mother, I simply do not understand how we're supposed to go running off into some forgotten forests chasing after elves because of some nursery rhyme that mentioned an instrument? Shouldn't our first objective be, I don't know," Arlan snapped, "finding my brother's murderer?"

"Arlan, I have told you before that you will be able to catch the perpetrator," the Koroza sighed and wrapped her tail tightly around herself, "but, we must first address this prophecy as that is the natural order of pertinence. Given time, the perpetrator will be revealed to you."

"Given time?" Arlan spat, "There is an assassin potentially still in our midst, and you want me to go gallivanting off with some band of jolly fellows? I have got a kingdom now that I have to learn how to run, which to remind you, I was never supposed to be ruling. And you want me to LEAVE when Capital City is in shambles over the loss of my brother?!" As if to prove their point further, Arlan slammed a massive paw down into the granite floor, which crumbled under the force of the blow.

Before Arlan could start roaring at their mother, the doors to the right of the cavern opened to reveal five dark figures. The first to become recognizable to Ellora was Astrid, who was tall and thin with skin even paler than her own. She had short cropped hair and vibrant violet eyes, and for the first time since Ellora had met her, she had sharply pointed ears. She was garbed in the standard Spellweaver uniform, a black cloak that went to the tops of Astrid's tall, black leather boots. Underneath she wore a dark purple tunic with a black leather waist belt corset and loose woolen black pants.

Next was an even taller, muscular dark skinned woman with beautiful, intricately braided hair. She also had small white fangs jutting up from her lower jaw and slightly pointed ears, which symbolized some amount of Orc heritage. She wore a mixture of black and dark brown leather armor with dark black metal pieces on her shoulders, sternum, forearms, and shins. She also had bright white tattoos across her cheeks and nose highlighting her brilliant aquamarine eyes. This must have been Jaelah Dosk, the warrior from the Orc Army.

Finally, there were three dragons in their secondary forms. The two in the front towered over their third companion. They all wore assorted dark sheer fabric draped across their upper chests but stopped at their shoulders and left their abdomens exposed, putting their impressive abdominal muscles on display. They also wore dark linen pants cinched low at the waist and then tucked into short black leather boots.

"Kass!" Arlan exclaimed while leaping up from their seated position, "You are coming with us?"

"Yes," the smaller blond haired dragon laughed and smiled wide, exposing short but defined canines.

"Thank you, Mother," Arlan turned their head to the Koroza.

"You are welcome, my heart," the Koroza shook her head, as if she would be regretting this decision later. 

The one who responded to 'Kass' had wormed his way in front of the two bulkier dragons. This dragon had a small pair of forest green horns protruding from his temples with green eyes to match and shaggy, windswept blond hair. His build was more lean compared to the two other dragons behind him. The first one she began to analyze had darker skin like Jaelah and was rather handsome. What was unique about this dragon was that he had two pairs of blood red horns growing from his skull. Maybe this meant something in the dragon world, she was not so sure. Then there was the other dragon that had fair skin like hers and had blue horns that resembled that of a bull's and shockingly blue eyes.

Arlan's excitement died down as she greeted the other two dragons. "Ah, Kaine and Harper. Thank you for joining us."

The two dragons nodded but said nothing.

"You all are set to leave here in two days time, so feel free to make yourselves at home until then. Arlan, you of course shall see to it that everyone is properly armored, outfitted, and prepared with whatever supplies you see fit." And with that, the leader and seer swept out of the cavern and left them with the dark dragon.

"Alright, everyone," Arlan gathered everyone's attention, "to start off I would like to commend each of you for voluntarily accepting a mission of unknowable length and difficulty." The group drew closer around the black dragon who seemed to have shifted into a different persona. "It seems that I need to shift forms and show you to the War Room for strategizing a plan of attack. The lead that we were given by the Koroza is not necessarily the greatest so we have a significant amount of planning to attempt to make up for it. Now, if you all could get to know each other - I will return shortly and meet you in the War Room." With that, they stood and made their way to the dragon-sized exit when they called over their shoulder, "Kass, can you lead them to the War Room? Thanks!"

Kass rolled his eyes but none the less clapped his hands together, "Please follow me everyone to the War Room, it's quite a hike from this side of the mountain!"