"Hey, Lily!" shouted Jean, opening her bedroom door. "Wake up; you're the only one still asle – oof!" He broke off as Lily's pillow hit him dead in the face.

"Get out," she said groggily, not lifting her head. She was lying face down on the bed.

"What's your problem?" asked Jean. "You haven't been up all night, have you?"

"Out!" she said, lifting her head to glare at Jean.

"Fine," said Jean, throwing her pillow back to her. "Be antisocial. See if anyone cares." He shut the door and walked away.

Jean walked back down to the library. The new arm for Randor was coming along nicely. It now resembled an arm instead of a hunk of steel. A tangle of steel wiring was pouring out of the socket. He sat down at the desk and began work on the elbow, making sure it bent smoothly. He didn't even notice Balder enter the library until he spoke.

"What are you doing?" he asked curiously, his head cocked slightly to one side.

"I'm making a new arm for Randor," said Jean.

"Wow, that looks like it's going well," said Balder, sitting down across from Jean and bending forward to get a better look.

"Where's Isarda?" asked Jean.

"She left already," said Balder. "Her meeting with the war chief is today. Do you need any help on this, by any chance?"

"I could use an extra hand if you know what you're doing," said Jean.

"I do hope that isn't steel," said Balder. He pointed at the wiring spilling from the socket.

"It is," said Jean. "Is that a problem?"

"That's going to be connected to his nervous system, isn't it?" asked Balder. "That's going to allow him to move the arm?"

"Yes," said Jean.

"Steel won't conduct," said Balder. "He won't be able to control the arm as well as he could if you use steel. Steel is tough, too. He'd have trouble rotating his shoulder. What would usually be the best would be lead; it's nice and soft, flexible; but that would poison him over time. I think your best bet would be copper wiring."

"And where are we going to get copper wiring?" asked Jean.

"I can get that," said Balder. "I still have a few friends from back when I used to make golems. I could get you enough copper to make ten arms within a few days."

"That would be extremely helpful," said Jean. "Thank you."

"Now," said Balder. "Let me see how well the wrist works."

Isarda nodded to the guards and entered the war chief's room. An odd sight awaited her. The war chief was on the floor, roughhousing with two very small orcs. The small ones were laughing. Isarda smiled. The war chief looked up and saw her. He stopped playing.

"Alright, kids," he said. "I have to work now. Run along, now. Daddy will play with you later."

The two children looked disappointed, but walked past Isarda, out the door. The war chief smiled and gestured after them.

"My sons," he said shortly. "The oldest will be five this year. Anyway, what was it you wanted to discuss with me?"

"A peace treaty," said Isarda, "between the elves and the orcs."

"I'm listening," said the war chief.

There was a knock on the door. Jean got up and went to answer it. Balder had left him to his work to go and wait for Isarda so he could escort her back. Lily was still asleep. He wasn't entirely sure where Tsubaki and Randor were. He reached the main hall and opened the door. He didn't see anybody there. He looked around.

"Helloooo," said a voice. The voice was ridiculously high.

He looked down. A gnome was standing on the doorstep. "Are yoooouuu Jean?" he asked.

"I-I am," said Jean. "Who are you?"

"Master Arthur has sent meee to find yoooouuu," said the gnome. "Iiiii am his assistaaaaant."

"Okay?" said Jean uncertainly. "Why does he want me?"

But then he was unconscious.

"Jean? Wake up."

Jean groaned and opened his eyes. Arthur was standing over him. Jean didn't recognize their location.

"Where are we? What happened?" he asked, sitting up.

"We are in my private lab," said Arthur, holding his arms out and gesturing around the room. "Sneals knocked you unconscious and dragged you here." He held out his hand apologetically and helped Jean up.

"Why?" asked Jean in exasperation.

Arthur shrugged. "I can't beat it out of him. I tell him once that I don't want anyone to know the exact location and he translated it to knocking people over the head and dragging them through the streets."

"It's necessary, Master."

Jean looked over and saw the gnome from before in the corner. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, glaring at Jean with great dislike.

"No, it isn't, Sneals," said Arthur patiently. "Anyway, I had you brought here because I want you to help me test some new traps."

"Oh, excellent," said Jean.

"Sneals, if you would," said Arthur.

Sneals left the corner and walked into the next room. He stepped into the center of the room and the floor dropped out, fire shooting up to engulf him. Jean started, but Arthur took hold of his arm to hold him back. After the fire dissipated, a rather singed gnome crawled out of the hole.

"It works," said Sneals weakly.

"What…?" asked Jean.

"I made him," said Arthur, "to test my traps, you see. He's impervious to everything except for dragon fire; at least, I haven't found a way to kill him yet. Sneals, the next trap, if you please."

Sneals grumbled and shot a glare at Jean.

"No," said the war chief.

"No?" asked Isarda.

"No," repeated the war chief. "I'm sorry, but a peace treaty with the elves just isn't in the picture right now."

"Why?" asked Isarda.

"The war between the elves and the orcs is an old one," said the war chief. "A peace treaty isn't going to stop most of my race. Maybe in the future, but not now. You understand, of course."

Isarda nodded solemnly, bowed, and departed.

Argh, sorry this chapter is so short, I just wanted to get it over with. I'm looking forward to the next chapter and the chapter after that most of all. Also, sorry for the delay of this chapter, I was caught up in Neverwinter Nights. But after a spot of trouble with a white dragon, I ragequit, and here it is.

Hnnng, so many reviews, all from the same person.

Faleyn - (1) I love that elf. He'll make another appearance. Yes, the cutting off his arm for directions was one of Randor's finer moments. And I KNOW. Isn't Hooker a great class?

(2) Collecting hands is one of Randor's many quirks, but unfortunately it's the only one we really got to play with. Another was that he was supposed to be afraid of chickens. Lily doesn't hate Randor, but she really doesn't like him. I sometimes wonder why Andrew even joined the game. Tsubaki doesn't do anything, and now he's the reason we can't play because he's never around.

(3) Yes. Jean and Lily have a deep deep hatred for each other.

(4) Lily does have a boyfriend. It was a magical thing. It was after Xant was introduced when I started having the most fun with the game. Hnng I love him so. Randor is amazing. I will give him that. Chaotic Stupid. But amazing.

(5) Not only a virgin, but 2000 years old and never even kissed a girl. I agree, Isarda could've easily been attack by Xant if he hadn't wanted to keep a low profile. And Xant would have won. Easily. I know that a black elf is called a drow. Our Dm for this game plays a drow in another game. But Balder is not a drow. He is an African-American elf. That's what's crazy about it. He's just a black elf.