Stone-in-the-wood. Once, it was the home to just the Stonewood Gelfling clan. But now, it was the meeting place of all members of the Gelfing race. Now, they were all one. The Stonewood clan was welcoming to ach of their neighboring clans, as each of them had come to them when they needed assistance the most. Every clan was diverse. They had their own rituals, their own lifestyles. They had their own ways of going about just about everything.

Stonewood's native species were perhaps the second best known of the clan. This was for a very good reason. Just like a certain other clan, this clan was best known for its best ability. Their virtue in the art of battle was what made them such a pick for the castle guard. Their bosses expected only the best from them, and that was what they gave each and everyday. However, when not deluded by the lies of the Skekses, their bravery was unwavered. It took only a warrior of true crafty will and hefty tactics to defeat them in combat.

The Drenchen, with their long, braided dreadlocks dangling from their heads, were ragged warriors. Even the females fell into this category. This clan was found within the swamps of Sog, a murky, mucky slime of a wood. The songs of its slimy fauna echoed throughout the reaches of its mist-clouded terrain, like a chorus of broken instruments singing to the skies. As full of grime and moss as it was, it was the perfect hiding place for the Drenchen. Hunting among the bog's and shadowy swamps was mainly the daily routine of these often dirty Gelfling, which also helped occupy their time.

Ever didst the Grottan wander the darkness of their caves of Grot, which now was where they shared living space with its original owners, the Arathim. These particular Gelfling were nit entirely accustomed to the upper grounds, nor were they fully adapted to the light of the suns. Being under the feet of all other Gelfling since Thra's beginnings, the Grottan were overlooked by others, but there always there. They were always taking care of the creatures who shared their darkness. The ones who feared the sunlight. Few nights were spent slacking from their peaceful songs and lullabies, as their particular songs cast their listeners into a deep, undisturbed rest.

If you ever needed to seek a clan who's main hobby included sailing the wide stretches of the silver sea, then it is the Sifa who you have come in search of. As skilled they were in fishing for the strange creatures inhabiting the silver waters, be wary of them. Many times, as the Grottan sings, and as the Drenchen hunt, the Sifa have been known to hide the truth of their encryption's words. Tricky to a fault, they always seek to dissuade many a weary traveler from their true goals, and trick them I to embraces their own "Truths." One may not remember this fact, but the Sifa have, at times, been known to even ease the memories of some of their visitors, just to hide certain facts from the world.

Never get on the bad side of a Dousan. Like the Sifa scale the Silver Seas, the Dousan wander the Crystal deserts, the most desolate and mysterious area on the face of Thra. This clan is just as mysterious as its home, barely ever venturing outside of these boundaries except on very important matters, and mainly keeping their personal thoughts enclosed to themselves and hardly ever interacting with the other clans. However, whenever they had cone across one whose actions they did not agree with, when they found that peacefully negotiating was put of the question, this clan was not one to make angry.

Warmongering and heavily talented in farming, the Spriton wore the darkest skin out of all the clans. This was what brought the subject of trade into their interactions with the other clans, for their abilities of growing valuable goods were unmatched. It is this specific fact that brought them I to close relations with the fellow native species known as the Podlings, the dirtiest beings of Thra. Lodgings found their vegetables rather enjoyable to feast on, and they seemed to be more addicted to them than Gelfling themselves. Well, maybe. You never can tell what a Podling is saying , can you?

Finally, the last clan to mention is the Vapra. Stationed up in the city of Ha'rar, the high-class Vaprans were proud of their nobility in the fine arts of their civilizations. As the Spriton take to the soil,, the Vapra spend much of their time dabbling in the making of metal object and crafting their practical and stylized designs.. This is the way they have been for many a Trine. However, during this time of riches and high class finery, these Gelfling became deluded and had begun to see themselves as above all other clans. This is one of the many breaking points in which the clans were separated. This, coupled with the Skekses planted lies, was just as separating as the sins of the Urskeks two thousand trine before.

But the world had changed when the Gelfling discovered the truth. The truth of their self-proclaimed lords. What they had done to the Crystal of Truth. What they had done to mother Aughra. To their All-Maudra. So many losses, these Gelfling endured. But these events were what had caused them to rise. Rise up against their oppressors, and take the world of Thra from their twisted hand of rule. The clan now united, the war for freedom had continued to rage on, like a wildfire to the dry forest.

Ever since the great Battle at Stone-in-the-wood, things for the united clans had become slow and quiet. Slow and quiet…yet peaceful. But never did the Gelling let down their guard. Ever though they had not seen hide or hair of the hideous lizards that had once terrorized them, they knew that they were back at that secluded castle, hiding behind their curtain of lies and deceit. They knew all too well that it may be a matter of time before they find new ways to strike back at the uprising.

Rian was the first to have this in mind.

Watching his Vapran lover, Mira being drained of her vital essence was what had started the young Stonewood warrior on his road to leading this resistance. Once a guardian of the Castle of the Crystal. He was once loyal to the Skekses and his father, captain Ordon. But when the war started, he had lost so much. His lover. The trust of his clan. His father. Now, his goal was to take back the world of Thra from the Skekses terrible control. At first, every Gelfling from the Vapran to Drenchen believed him ti be ill, as was the will of the Skekses. But a good dose of Dreamfasting was enough to see it that they got the message. Now, it was only a matter of caution. The Skekses could strike back with a new weapon at any hour.

Of course, as serious as it was, that was not his only concern.

After the battle of Stone-in-the-wood, a new problem had arisen from the victory of the Gelfling. One of the close friends he had made during his journey, Deet the Grottan, had become possessed by the power of the Darkening unleashed by Emperor Skekso's staff. The Skekses' own weapon used against them. This had signified the beginning of the Skekses' end. But after this turn of events, Deet had mysteriously gone missing. No matter who he had asked, Rian had not found any whereabouts on his Grottan ally. It was a bittersweet day for the Gelfling. They had defeated the Skekses, but may have created something that no one had the means of controlling.

"Rian?"

The Stonewood hero turned to see his Drenchen friend behind him. No matter how bad things got when all the events that caused the resistance went down, Gurjin was always one for him to trust. Even when the Skekses had beguiled the entire guard and half the other clans into believing he was a heretic, Gurjin stuck by him. He was his shoulder to cry on when Mira was taken. He was the one who stopped the Skekses from finding his whereabouts. Rian was always happy to see Gurjin.

"Oh, Gurjin!" He exclaimed.

"Everyone's having a great time in there," Gurjin motioned to the temple of Stonewood, where Maudra Fara once sat. The Gelfling had all gathered to have a celebration of their great success against their foes with a big party. Much clamor and music came from the temple halls, as the Gelfling danced gleefully. "Why don't you join us?"

Rian turned his head back towards the night sky. "I would, Gurjin. But I'm still waiting for my scouting party to return. Maybe they've found-"

"Rian…" Gurjin put his hand in his friend's shoulder softly. "I know you're worried about Deet. Believe me, we're all worried about her. But standing around, waiting for something to happen isn't going to make her come back any faster."

"I know, but-"

"But nothing. You've got to come and try this brew the Spriton have brought." Gurjin insisted. He tugged in his friends arm.

Rian sighed, knowing that he would not win the argument. "You're right, Gurjin. I guess I've been acting kind of silly, haven't I? That brew does sound rather good about now."

"That's the spirit!" Gurjin nodded happily. But as they hurried towards the temple, they heard a loud animalistic moan. They turned their heads to the setting second sun, and saw something running towards them in the dimming sunlight. It was the tall shape of a Landstrider.

And it was carrying another Gelfling.

Soon, there were three other Landstrider riders coming into view. They were fellow Stonewood Gelfling like him. They made their way further into view as Rian hurried down to greet them, Gurjin close behind. The closest rider stepped off of his steed and approached the two. He was a male Grottan with hair of brown with only a streak of white on the side.

"Tabol, how was it?" Rian asked.

"Any sign of the Skekses?" Gurjin asked.

"None, not any sign of their putrid hides." Taboo replied as his fellow riders, a Vapran and a Stonewood, stepped off of their steeds. "However, I do bring news that you may would like to hear."

"What news is that?" Gurjin asked. "Is it good or bad?"

"Well…" Tabol scratched behind his head. There was definitely something up here. Rian and Gurjin both turned to each other with looks of concern. "Tabol?"

"We just come from the Spriton farmlands." The Vapran replied. "Let's just say… the Spriton don't have a home to go to anymore."

"What?" Rian said in disbelief.

"Or anyone to go home to for that matter."

Oh dear, it sounds like something happened to the Spriton's home. What do you suppose it was? Well, I can tell you right now: it may have had something to do with the story's central antagonist:, SkekUng. Sorry for the LONG delay. I've had other things to do. Other things to write, y'know? When I heard that TDC:AOR Season Two was canceled, I felt greatly disappointed. So that's where I got the idea to write this story here. So tell me what you think. And have a happy new year!