Title: The Dragon Slayers.
Sequel to: Undying Clan.
Series: The Immortals.
Author: David A. Knapton.
Email: belgin_tei@yahoo.co.uk
Archive: Any and All. Just drop me a line.
Spoiler: None in this part.
Rating: In my mind stories involving sex between consenting adults should be rated U but I suppose if I must giving a rating an 18 would fit.
Pairings: Buffy/Faith and Willow/Tara.
FanDom: Crossover BtVs and Highlander with Charmed (1st & 8th stories), the X-Files (3rd story), The Horseclans book series (6th story), and D&D's Forgotten Realms (7th Story).
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters used in this story (just borrowed them) except the D&D characters (Kyn, Sir Mandos, Ty and Gort).
Notes: Set in the Realms before the time of troubles. () = mindspeak. [] = Person mindspeaking.
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After Willow and Tara had walked about two hundred yards they came to the brook that the wagons were parked next too downstream, it was the most beautiful place they had seen since arriving on this world. While they had been occupied with the Woodfey the clouds had blown off and the setting sun struck a small waterfall turning the water golden and silver; they could hear birds singing in the trees.
Tara squeezed Willow's hand as she turned to look at her she placed her free hand behind Willow's neck drawing her into a passionate kiss; "I'm sorry for what I said earlier I do love you," she smiled after releasing Willow's lips.
"I'm sorry too," Willow smiled, releasing Tara's hand she walked over to the edge of the brook and sat on a large root she turned and held out her arms; "Come here."
Tara went to her, moving into Willow's arms, sitting on her lap to accept a hot kiss, a wet and ravenous kiss that took her breath away.
"Willow, I love you so much," sighed Tara leaning her forehead on Willow's shoulder.
Willow freed Tara's breasts exposing them completely then bent to lick and suck at the nipples; Tara moaned and nibbled at Willow's ear.
Willow now had a hand inside Tara's waistband, her hand sliding downward between the folds of Tara's sex, she stroked Tara's mound gently catching her clit. Then Willow's fingers slipped inside the wet groove.
Tara undid her trousers and opened her legs to Willow's hand.
"You're wet," Willow said.
"Wet for you," giggled Tara.
"This is one sopping cunt."
"Oh Willow..."
Willow's fingers pushed inside the slippery channel. Two fingers, then three fingers, Tara groaned.
Willow breathed against Tara's ear, "Like it."
"Yes."
Four fingers now, the fingers inside and hooked upward with the heel of Willow's palm smashing against Tara's clit. "Open your legs more," whispered Willow into Tara's ear.
Tara was almost drunk with excitement as she wondered if any of the others could hear them.
Willow's hand worked Tara's pussy, her fingers thrusting, churning in the wet. "Come on honey, come for me."
"Fuck me, Willow."
Willow watched Tara's face as the orgasm rippled through her body. She kept her fingers moving, more gently now, a slow stroking as Tara came down to earth again and slumped against Willow's shoulder.
Her palm soaked, Willow lifted it to her lips licking her fingers, she smirked as she held her hand out to Tara, "Tara juice, want some."
Tara giggled as she started sucking on Willow's fingers.
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Faith walked with Buffy unsure what to say, she knew neither of them was good at saying sorry. They must have walked about a half-mile both absolved in their own thoughts before Faith turned to her girlfriend; "You wanna do some sparing?" putting as much of an apology as she could in the question.
Knowing how her girlfriend was using the invitation as an opening she smiled at her taking up a defensive stance, "Ok."
Faith smiled back taking up her own fighting position.
With no warning Buffy attacked sweeping low trying to takes Faith's legs, Faith smiled as she easily avoided it by jumping up in the air as she came down she side kicked at Buffy's face. Buffy had expected the move and grabbed her foot heaving upwards sending Faith backwards, as she went backwards she turned it into a backflip and brought her other foot up and connecting with Buffy's chin sending her backwards onto her back. Buffy looked up as her girlfriend landed on her feet with a smirk on her face; Buffy did a flip and came back to her feet.
"Where did you learn that lover?" Smiled Buffy.
"I learnt it from the best," said Faith returning the smile.
Buffy smirked, "Thanks lover," before Faith could say anything in return Buffy attacked again; she delivered a right cross to Faith's cheek then a left forearm to the other cheek. As Faith staggered backwards Buffy swept her legs from under her then as Faith fell on her back Buffy pounced on top of her. Faith smirked grabbing hold of Buffy flipping her over onto her back, she leaned down and planted a kiss on Buffy's nose; "I love you B. More than anyone else I have ever known, I'm sorry about earlier."
Buffy smirked as she heaved Faith onto her back again and straddled her, "I'm sorry too, I love you so much." She reached out and started to unbutton Faith's top she did it very slowly her grin grew bigger when she sensed that Faith wanted her to do it quicker. She licked her lips as she undid the last button and opened her top exposing what Buffy had long ago decided was her girlfriend's best feature, her breasts. She bent down and slowly planted kisses around each nipple without touching them, Faith moaned as she pleaded with Buffy, "Please B." Buffy took pity on her and started gently kissing and sucking her nipples, Faith moaned again as she arched her back towards the caresses. Her nipples were her most sensitive part, she liked nothing more than having Buffy's hands, lips, tongue or teeth working on them.
Buffy backed up, so she could get access to Faith's bottom half she undid her jeans giving Faith an evil grin as she exposed her lower half. She lowered her head and began to lick at her navel bringing a giggle from Faith; "That tickles," Buffy bent Faith's knees so she could get better access to her sex, she then used her thumbs to pullback the skin covering Faith's clitoris. Buffy took it between her lips alternating between sucking it and flicking it with her tongue, Faith pulled her hands through Buffy's hair, she moaned and began to buck as she felt the pressure building. Moving her right hand down to the entrance of Faith's vagina, she slowly pushed two fingers into her girlfriend moving in and out first slow then faster, before slowing down again as well as easing up on Faith's clit when she felt Faith was on the verge of slipping over the top only to build up the pressure again.
"Please Baby you're driving me crazy," moaned Faith.
Buffy began to suck hard on Faith's clit, while she slowly built up the speed of the two fingers thrusting in and out, she felt the walls of Faith's vagina grip her fingers like a vice as the orgasm exploded through her body. Buffy moved up and wrapped her arms around Faith until she came down from her high.
Faith turned in Buffy's arms and placed a kiss on her cheek, "Thanks baby give me a minute and I'll return the favour."
"It's ok we should get back, you can owe me," Buffy smirked rising and pulling Faith up.
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The next day when they set out Tara and Faith swapped place so that Faith could ride about a hundred yards to the south of the track while Buffy did the same to the north both using their foresense ability, Whitetip ranged ahead as he usually did.
That day and the next nothing untoward happened then on the third day a little over an hour after starting out. When Buffy was starting to think there suppositions about a possible attack were unfounded she felt a strong sense of danger coming from the Northeast and seemed to be moving south as she was about to alert the others she received a mindspeak from Whitetip.
(Cat friends there are creature's lying in ambush on both sides of the track we are following as well as behind a tree blocking it.)
[Buffy] (Make your way to the north and be ready to attack from behind. How long until we get to you?)
[Whitetip] (Maybe as long again as the time we have been moving since sun appeared.)
[Buffy] (Ok cat brother tell us if anyone starts moving in this direction but stay hidden I have sensed danger coming from behind us.)
Buffy and Faith moved back to the track and informed the others what was ahead as well as what was coming up behind them.
About an hour later the three wagons moved to the top of a shallow hilltop and saw the tree blocking the track about three hundred yards ahead. While Kort and his sons pretended to look at one of the wagon-horses Faith and Willow slipped behind the hill and moved with as much speed as they could to the south side of the track. When they were behind the orc ambush they mindspoke the others who remounted and slowly rolled down the hill Buffy and Tara on horseback about a hundred yards ahead of the wagons.
Just as they got to the edge of the ambush Buffy and Tara dismounted and Buffy mindspoke Whitetip (Now cat brother.) She and Tara drew their swords and sprang at the orcs hidden to the north as with a roar Whitetip attacked from the north.
The orcs jumped up in confusion as Buffy and Tara started slicing into their ranks from the track and Whitetip came from the north. The orcs from the south finally got their act together and started to move from hiding to help their comrades when Faith attacked them from behind and Willow sent bolts of energy into their backs.
There was suddenly a roar from behind the tree as a creature emerged around the north side; Buffy took a moment to size it up. The creature was at least eight and a half feet tall and held a club almost as large as she was, she instinctively blocked an axe swing from the side before sweeping the orc's head off and advanced on the ogre.
"Grorr crush you puny hooman," it growled swinging its club down towards Buffy's head.
Buffy smiled as she easily danced out of the way; "You'll have to catch me first ugly."
Grorr swept his club at Buffy's head who ducked the swing, he then reversed the swing but Buffy saw it coming and sprang over the top of it and nimbly ran in and slashed at his forearm before moving out of his range. The wound that would have been crippling on a smaller person was nothing but a scratch on such a large creature.
As the last half dozen orcs broke and ran Faith turned to see Buffy slip in behind the ogre's club to cut its arm. Willow and Tara joined her they both looked at her the question in their eyes not even bothering to mindspeak.
"Ok lets go help her just don't get hit by that club or you'll take a week to recover," she said leading them into the fight.
The four Immortals circled the ogre keeping out of the reach of the club, every time he went to advance on one the others would rush in and slash and stab him at which time he would turn and try catching one of them. However much they cut into him it seemed to have very little effect on him, although Buffy and Faith could keep this up for hours Willow and Tara were beginning to tire.
Then it happened Willow's tired legs failed her and she went down on her knees; the ogre sensing the kill advanced on her the club rising to crush the life out of her. Faith rushed in to save her sister she held her sword in both hands bringing it down so hard on the ogres forearm it hit bone. The ogre roared in pain as it dropped its club and backhanded Faith in the chest sending her flying backwards into a tree, Buffy clearly heard the sound of breaking bones as Faith slid down the tree, she turned back just in time to see the ogre advance on Willow again as she began to rise on shaky legs.
As Buffy and Tara rushed to protect her Whitetip rushed in from the side and using skill born of instinct hamstringing the ogre who fell to its knees just in front of Willow who took the opportunity to sweep her sword across its throat. The ogre grabbed its throat as it fell forward onto its face dead.
Tara grabbed hold of Willow helping to support her, "Are you ok baby?"
"Yeah you and Buffy go help the others I'll look after Faith," Willow weakly replied taking the opportunity to lean on her girlfriend for a moment.
"You sure?" Asked Tara.
"Yeah, now go," smiled Willow pushing Tara towards the track.
"Okay we'll come back as soon as we can," said Tara as she ran after Buffy.
Willow walked slowly over to where Faith had landed, "Don't get hit by the club she say's, it'll take a week to recover she say's," Willow mumbled under her breath as she laid her sister down in a more comfortable position.
As Buffy and Tara got to the track they saw the two well-dressed men and one of the guard's spur their horses back up the track, one of the men had Ty slung across the front of the saddle by the look of her she was unconscious. Surveying the area they could see Kyn on the ground with an arrow in his shoulder and another in his right leg, Gort was either dead of unconscious, Roff was in a similar condition, while Kort was helping his other son to the ground. There were also the five bodies of the other guards scattered around the small clearing.
Tara raced over to Kyn, while Buffy checked on Gort who turned out to be just knocked out.
Kyn groaned as Tara knelt down beside her, "I have failed you and Willow."
"No you haven't you tried to do what we asked you to do," Tara had learned enough about him and his people to know what to say, "Five of your enemies are dead at your feet we are proud of you. Now is Ty still alive?"
He smiled in spite of the pain, "Yes I heard her groan when they put her on the horse you must save her."
Tara nodded as she rose, "We will, Buffy let's go," she said running to the horses.
[Tara] (Cat brother Buffy and I are going after the men that took Ty guard Willow and the others until we get back.)
[Whitetip] (This cat will look after your mates and friends.)
Buffy and Tara mounted and rode after the fleeing men who were just clearing the rise as they rode Buffy frowned Was that a horn blowing.
[Buffy] (Did you hear that horn? Sis.)
[Tara] (Yeah I think so!)
As they got to the top of the hill they pulled their horses up, what they saw was like something out of one of those Hollywood fairytale films. There was a knight in full armour that seemed to glow and mounted on the most magnificent charger they had ever seen. He was bearing down on the three men that had taken Ty, his lance aimed at them, he hit the guard that was in the led square in the chest the lance sticking into his chest as he was de-horsed, dead before he hit the ground. The knight released the lance and drew a sword in one flowed motion; his charger crashed into the smaller horse of the first well-dressed men, while the knight swept the head off the one that held Ty.
As the knight dismounted Buffy and Tara spurred their horses down the hill, springing out of the saddles before the horses came to a stop where the knight was cutting Ty's bonds.
As he pulled her off they advanced on him swords at the ready, "Who are you?" Demanded Buffy.
He gently laid her on the ground before straightening and pulling his helm off, he had short curly blonde hair and piercing blue eyes he looked to be in his mid-twenties. He bowed his head to them; "I am Sir Mandos, knight of Tyr of the temple of Watergate, I mean you no harm."
Before anyone could say anymore Ty moaned Buffy and Tara rushed to her side as Sir Mandos knelt down holding her gently, he looked up at them the worry clearly visible on his face, "I maybe able to heal her may I try my ladies." At Tara's nod he laid her gently back down and held his hands just above her body and began to pray to his god;
"O mighty Tyr,
Lord of the just,
Grant me your might,
That I may heal this victim of crime."
His hands began to glow white which slowly spread out to include Ty's body, Buffy and Tara could see the bruise on the side of her head slowly disappear.
Ty opened her eyes and smiled up at the knight, "Thank you sir knight."
"It is my pleasure and my calling to help the innocent my lady," Mandos said as he helped her to stand.
Looking around Ty frowned, "Where are we? The last thing I remember is fighting one of Hoom's men and being hit with a cosh on the side of my head."
"We're about a mile back up the track Tara and I got back to the wagons just as they were riding off with you, we came to rescue you but this man beat us to it," explained Buffy.
"Is Gort all right?" Said Ty as Mandos helped her to the horse her capture had rode.
"Yeah he's ok just knocked out let's get back to the others," said Buffy.
"What about that guy?" Asked Tara pointing at the man Mandos's horse had crashed into.
"Oh yeah forgot about him, we'll tie him up and deliver him to the authorities in Shadowdale," said Buffy before turning to Sir Mandos, "Ah Mandos do you wanna give me a hand to tie him to his horse."
"Of course my lady it is my pleasure and duty to take this man into custody."
They dragged the man up and lifted him none to gently into his saddle before tying him to it with his hands behind his back. Meanwhile Tara had helped Ty into her own saddle and mounted her own horse. It took them about 15 minutes to get back to the wagons mainly because Ty was still a bit disorientated.
As they dismounted Buffy saw Willow helping Faith back to the track she ran over to them helping Willow support her girlfriend.
"Are you ok baby?" A look of worry on her face.
"Yeah just feel like I've been in a fight with an ogre... Oh wait I have," she smiled at Buffy.
"Funny!" Buffy leaned over and gave her girlfriend a quick kiss.
"So whose the guy in the tin can?" aAsk Faith.
"He said his name is Sir Mandos he helped us rescue Ty... Well 'he' rescued her really," explained Buffy.
Meanwhile Tara and Mandos were helping Ty down off her horse, she went straight over to where Gort was lying against a tree.
"Ah there yea are me friend glad I am to see your well," he groaned holding his side.
"Gort are you ok, is they're anything I can do to help you?"
"I little one there be a potion in me saddle bag if'en you can get it."
Ty hurried over to the pony that was quietly nibbling at some grass, on returning she gave him the bottle he upended it drinking the entire contents. After a few moments he sprang to his feet looking around and spotting Kyn across from him; "Let's see if'en I can help Kyn."
Willow, Faith and Buffy joined him as he got to Kyn who was receiving a sip of water from Tara; Whitetip was lying at his side.
[Whitetip] (Will friend Kyn go to wind cat friend.)
[Tara] (No he will live; Willow and our friend Gort know something's that will help him.)
"How are you lad?" Asked Gort examining the area around the shoulder wound then the leg.
"Not so well," his breathing sounded strange, "What do you think friend Gort?"
Looking him in the eye he sighed, "Well lad the good news is the arrows do not look poisoned, also the arrow in yea leg isn't barbed."
"And the bad news," put in Tara.
"The arrow in yer shoulder is barbed an' pierced the lung, the least dangerous way to get it out of ya is to push it through and out yer back."
"Aw that's gonna hurt," said Faith.
"Yes but if'en we try an' pull it out the front it'll be worse," pointed out Gort.
"Well whose going to do it," asked Willow.
"I'll be doing it, Buffy kin you be sittin' him up and get his top off," said Gort.
After sitting him up Buffy gave him a half smile, "Do you want me to hold you still?"
"No I have had such wounds before I can stay still," Kyn said returning the half smile.
It was over very quickly Gort pushed the arrow through Kyn snapped the head off and swiftly pulled the rest out the front, Willow then used her ability to heal the wounds as best she could, it was enough to completely heal the leg wound but only partially closed the shoulder wound. Gort assured them all that he would be able to finish the healing the next day after praying to his god, so they bandaged it and allowed him to rest.
While Ty and Gort prepared a meal and looked after Kyn and Kort's two injured sons the rest set about clearing the tree from the track, after a brief discussion they decided that the quickest way would be to cut it in half and use the horses to pull each half to the side of the track. It was starting to get dark before they finished.
They sat around getting to know Mandos.
"It was lucky that you came along or Buffy and I may not have got Ty back from those men," said Tara sitting next to Willow by the fire.
"Luck had nothing to do with it my lady, a little over a week ago my god sent me a vision that I would find my path through the barer of the tear."
They all looked at Ty who paled, "W-what do you mean?"
"It is quiet simple my lady I am on a quest for my temple in Westgate to find the sword of Sir Lythe the founder of the temple, he dead somewhere in the north some 200 years ago. I had been planning to stop at our new temple in Hillsfar before moving west around The Dragon Sea and on into Anauroch, when I was instructed by mighty Tyr to make all heist along this track. From your reaction my lady I take it you are the barer of 'this tear'."
"I-I don't k-know what y-you mean," stammered Ty beginning to look around as if she was getting ready to run.
"Ty I think its time to put all this to rest, none of us are after taking the Tear from you we be your friends," said Gort trying his best to reassure her.
"I-I can't do that," she said starting to sweat now.
"You're under a spell," they all looked at Tara.
"I be thinking your right Tara," nodded Gort, he turned back to Ty, "Calm down lass we won't push it."
"How do you know Ty is under a spell and how can we help her?" Asked Buffy.
"I don't know how I know I just do," replied Tara, "As for how we can help her, I don't know, Willow and I have no working knowledge on how spells work in this world."
"Well the only thing we can do is leave the subject alone for now and hope it does not come back to haunt us," suggested Willow.
Sir Mandos turned to Ty, "My lady I swear my mighty Tyr that I will not let anything happen to you or the Tear even at the cost of my own life."
Ty looked for a second as if he had struck her then with a hand that shook she reached into her jerkin and pulled out a pouch; she loosened the drawstrings and tipped the contents into her palm. A collective gasp went up as they looked into the gem that she held, it was a little bit smaller than a tennis ball it seemed to be continually changing colour from brown to clear to red to blue then back to brown again.
Buffy turned to the others, "What just happened?"
"Somehow the spell was broken by his statement," said Willow, Tara nodded in agreement.
"I it is possible for certain spells placed on people or items to have a trigger that will break them such as a word, phrase or when they get to a person or place." explained Gort.
"The spell is still in effect I can feel it stopping me doing things like giving the Tear to anyone here or that I have ever met, but I know that as long as Sir Mandos is around I can show you the Tear and even talk about it as I am now," smiled Ty. For the first time since they had met her they saw her really smile.
"Well now I'm happy for you lass but can you tell us anything about what the spell is making you do?" asked Gort.
They could see the strain on her face, "No. But it does not seem evil."
"Well if the spell is not forcing you to do anything you really don't like we'll leave it as it is ok," smiled Buffy the others nodding.
"Okay," she smiled while putting the Tear back into the pouch.
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It took almost four weeks for them to get to Shadowdale, after helping Kort and his sons unload their wagons they delivered their prisoner to the guard at the tower of Ashaba Lord Mourngrym's residence before taking the track that led to Elminster's tower.
As they got to the door it was opened by a short man with greying hair he smiled at them, "My name is Lhaeo scribe to Elminster, he as been waiting for you if you'll follow me I'll take you to him." He turned and led the way up the winding staircase after they had passed several doors they came to a small landing with a solid looking door. Buffy and the other Immortals were getting strange feelings almost like a quickening but different somehow! Coming from the other side of the door.
[Willow] (What is it?)
[Buffy] (I don't know it sort of feels like an Immortal but different somehow!)
(You have nothing to fear from me.)
[Buffy] (Who are you?)
Suddenly the door opened standing there was a very old looking man, tall and unbent by age he had a beard of white half way to his waist, "I am Elminster, we have been awaiting your arrival for many years now! We have much to speak of." He opened the door wide; "Please come in I had a light meal prepared for you," As they entered Elminster turned to Lhaeo, "Can you go to the tower and ask Lord Mourngrym if he can assemble the knights in the council chamber about two hours after sundown I need to talk to them."
"As you wish Elminster," smiled Lhaeo heading down the stairs.
Elminster turned back to his guests; "Please make yourself comfortable as I said we have much to talk about."
"Your scribe said you have been waiting for us," said Buffy.
"Yes for several years now!"
"Years. What do you mean years?" Put in Faith.
"Yes years. The effect the four of you have had on the north goes back centuries," He could see the confusion on their faces, "As I just said we have much to talk about."
"Maybe you should start telling us then," said Buffy not sure if she was going to like this.
"Very well but I feel that I should warn you some of the tale will upset you!" he sat in a overstuffed chair and waiting for his guests to find seats before beginning the tale. "The Elves and the Dwarves were the first of the 'good' races to settle the north, for centuries they lived relatively peaceful lives as the Elves preferred to live in the woods and on the plains, while the Dwarves preferred the hills and mountains."
He took a long puff of the pipe he had been lighting, "Then humans started moving into the north at first they lived in harmony with the Elves and Dwarves, mainly because they were nomadic. But as more and more appeared their way of life changed they began to settle the area that is now called Anauroch, the Great Desert that lays to the Northwest, first to be pushed out were the Elves who dwelt around the lake. Then as the human settlements grew they started putting pressure on the Dwarves that mined the mountains that surrounded their lands."
"After most of the Dwarf mines had been turned over to the humans they seemed to be content, they started building there great capital even hiring Dwarves as masons and Elven mages to teach them the magicks. For about a century all was peaceful the human mages rose to heights never before achieved and rarely reached in later years. Anyway the peace didn't last, a man rose to power among the humans, he stirred up the people with talk of conquest, there plan was quiet simple first attack the human settlements that had sprung up in the dales and what is now the kingdom of Cormyr. Then swing north to conquer the Elven Court before moving onto the Dwarven strongholds to the west of their lands." He stopped to take another puff of his pipe.
"All this is very interesting but what has it got to do with us?" Said Buffy starting to get bored.
"I'm getting to that young lady. Now just before the campaign was planned to start a strange device appeared in the palace via a dimensional portal. This artefact glowed like nothing seen before, it was taken to the mages for study who felt they could harness its power to use in the campaign, but something went wrong there was a large release of energy. It vaporized the entire capital as well as most of the force assembled for the campaign and did some strange things to the surrounding land, the desert sprung up almost overnight..."
"T-this device that came through the portal what did it look like?" Asked a very pale Willow.
Elminster turned very piercing eyes at her, "When you open dimensional portals unless you are very careful time can become a random factor."
"Are you saying we were responsible for the destruction?" Asked an equally pale Tara.
"Yes child," sighed Elminster.
"W-we didn't know... All those people," whispered Tara as she hugged Willow both were crying quietly.
"How do you know this," asked Buffy barely above the level of a whisper.
"First you should understand although your miscalculation caused a great deal of destruction if it had not happened far more people would have perished," he took yet another puff of the pipe.
"After the destruction very little information came out of the area it took seven years for the information to be pieced together through Divination etc. what they found frightened them more than the prospect of war and death at the hands of the humans that had been destroyed. A thing that has many names would come to the realms again and if it was allowed to remain it would plunge our world and many others into war and destruction on a scale never before seen."
"This thing with many names you speak of what has it got to do with us?" Asked Tara, already suspecting the answer.
"To some it is called The Hand of Chaos others know it as The Mace of Destruction and many other names but you my young friend know it as the Sceptre of Zuël," answered Elminster almost in a whisper.
"You know about the Sceptre?" said Faith.
"Yes the Sceptre has existed throughout time and in all realities, no one not even the gods know of its origin. It moves from dimension to dimension, it is a thing of total chaos, in the hands of someone of good intentions it can aid them and many others. But in the hands of someone seeking power or glory it tends to twist those thoughts causing untold sorrow. The last time it was in the realms it caused the race wars that ended with most of the sentient races being split into what we call good and evil, Elf and dark elf, Dwarf and Duergar etc." He looked at each of the Immortals before finishing; "The Sceptre must not stay in the realms."
"We have been using it to try and get home," said Willow.
"It is doubtful that it would ever return you home as I said it is a thing of total chaos, it always moves to a random dimension regardless of whatever the user wishes and there are an infinite number of dimensions."
"So you are saying it will not take us home?" mused Willow.
"No I'm not it may well get you home it is just totally random. Now if I can continue my story."
At the four Immortals nods he continued, "When they found out that you would eventually arrive with the Sceptre plans were started to remove the threat and to get you home. Clerics of many gods through divination contacted the higher powers and then a great conference was held at Myth Drannor after several decades a plan was set out. It took almost another century to complete, the Dwarves built a special chamber in the city using only stone from the heart of mountains and the most powerful Elven and Human mages and clerics enchanted the devices that would be needed to return you home."
"But Myth Drannor was destroyed centuries ago how can we use this chamber?" asked Kyn.
"The chamber still exists, no creature of evil may even approach it. What is not generally known is that the city was destroyed by the demons in the hope of stopping the Sceptre leaving the realms. But the items required to return our young friends here were removed before the attack, each of the four mirrors were entrusted to the four most powerful mages while the Gem of Tears was to be sent to Evermeet." Elminster smiled at the collective gasps.
Elminster turned to Ty sadness in his eyes, "Your mother was part of the Tears escort, they travelled Southwest towards Mistydale when they were attacked by a large force out of Sembia. After a hard fight all the elves were killed except your mother who wandered the southern edge of the Court for days, she was never the same person after that, she felt guilt that she had survived when all the others had perished; she became obsessed with finding the Tear. Nothing or no one could deflect her from her course until about thirty years ago when she met a ranger who found her wounded after yet another foray into Sembia he took her back to his home and nursed her back to health over the weeks she fell in love with him and they had a child. This gave her something other than the Tear to focus on when you were about five your mother became restless again and nothing your father could say could change her mind. Then one night she slipped out of there house with you, this broke your father's heart he died a few years later after telling me all this," he sighed before going on. "It was only a couple of years ago that I learned what happened after your mother left your father. She took you to a priest of Corellon Larethian who she persuaded to place a powerful spell on you, that you would deliver the Tear to the queen of Evermeet if you found it. This spell would also force you to place a similar spell on any children you had. When she left the priest with you in her arms it was the last time anyone saw her alive."
All eyes in the room turned to look at Ty; "I survived on the streets of Ordulin until I came to the attention of the thieves guild who took me in, they trained me first as a pick pocket and later as a cat burglar. I don't remember anything before my life on the streets," she explained the tears running freely down her cheeks.
"These mirrors you talk of how do we get them?" Asked Faith.
"You don't they are keyed to the individuals that have them... Well three of them are anyway; those individuals are the only ones that can activate them. When the time is right they will appear in the chamber with them as will the others responsible for aiding you, Lady Harween who was to send a guide and Queen Arween of Evermeet who was to provide the Tear," explained Elminster.
"What about the fourth mirror?" Asked Gort.
"That is a problem the original holder made his home on the edge of Anauroch, about two hundred years ago the great wyrm of the desert was stirred up by the Cult of the Dragon and attacked and killed him. It now dwells within the ruins of the mage's home, you will have to try and retrieve it from the dragon's lair, I will aid you as I can but I'm afraid it will not be easy."
"Who has the other three mirrors?" Asked Buffy.
"I have the Mirror of Fire which I received from my master Arkhon the old. The Mirror of Air is in the hands of The Simbul who received it from her sister Sylune who received it from her master Eflin the great. The Mirror of Water is held by Khelben Blackstaff in Waterdeep."
"What about the fourth mirror if it is not keyed to anyone will it still work?" Asked Tara tears still running down her cheeks.
"When the time comes someone will have to activate it, Lady Harween will probably do that but it will not add to the portal as it was intended."
"What do you mean?" asked a worried Willow.
"To open the portal we need the Tear and all four mirrors but because one mirror is not keyed to its activator the energy will be unfocused so to some extent the dimensional part of the spell will become random. It only has a 3 in 4 chance of sending you home but that is still your best chance of getting to where you should be," Elminster explained.
"Ok it seems we have no choice, so what know?" Said Buffy.
"Well the four of you as well as Kyn should stay here for a week or so before you go and try and retrieve the fourth mirror. I will have a couple of my former pupils teach you Willow and you Tara how the magick works in the realms it will help you later."
"What about the rest of us?" Asked Ty.
"It would be best Ty if you stayed here, you cannot give up the Tear to anyone but Queen Arween, there is going to be enough risk without risking the Tear as well," pointed out Elminster.
"I want to go everyone here has only ever tried to help me," she turned and smiled at them, "Even when I was only mean to them."
"Elminster I know what you're saying but I'm thinkin' it would be better for her piece of mind to let her go I'll not be letting anythin' happen to her," said Gort.
"Very well. What about you sir knight?" Asked Elminster.
"Mighty Tyr told me I would find my path through Ty, therefore I will go with her I have also pledged my life to protect her and the Tear."
"Very well then, I have arranged for rooms to be held for you at the old skull inn for tonight, tomorrow I will take you to see Mourngrym at the tower. Now is there anything else you want to know?"
"Yes two things who are the knights? And when we arrived we sensed something almost like a quickening what was it?" Asked Buffy.
The Knights are a group of adventurers and former adventurers that use Shadowdale as a base, Lord Mourngrym is the leader of the group, they patrol the area around Myth Drannor keeping the foolish away. As for the quickening it has to do with the magicks," this last was said out loud for the others benefit. (I am Immortal but in a different way to you some of the more powerful mages were taken by Ao who created many of the gods of this and many other dimensions. He changed us, giving us guardianship of this world, we are to guide people in the right direction but not to get too involved. No one must know this the only ones that know our secret, are the other 'guides' not even the gods know please keep the secret.)
[Buffy] (Very well we'll keep your secret.)
"Well if that is all I'll show you to the old skull," smiled Elminster opening the door and leading the way down the stairs.
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Later while lying in the arms of their respective partners the four Immortals were having a discussion about Elminster and all he had told them. Their mindspeak conversation was on the personal level, which only someone with a great deal of training could hope to eavesdrop on.
[Faith] (Will, Tara you shouldn't blame yourselves about what happened with Adam's power source.)
[Willow] (That's easy for you to say you were still out of it Tara and I were the ones that came up with the idea to get rid of it via a dimensional portal.)
[Buffy] (But what choice did we have? If it had stayed it could have caused just as much damage on Milo's world maybe more if the Centre had gotten their hands on it.)
[Faith] (Yeah and you two should remember that those people were trying to use it to help them attack innocent people.)
[Tara] (I suppose but what about our vow to the Immortal council not to kill humans.)
[Buffy] (You and Willow did not kill them if they had not tried to use it and it had killed them anyway you could feel guilty but they did so you don't have too.)
[Willow] (Okay okay... So what are we going to do tomorrow?)
[Faith] (Well I thought B and me would take Kyn and Ty, Whitetip as well if he wants and explore the area.)
[Willow] (What about Tara and me.)
[Faith] (Your forgetting you two have some magick to learn I suspect you two will be busy for the next week or so.)
[Willow] (You're so horrid sis.)
[Faith] (Yeah but you still love me right.)
[Willow] (Of course, night sis.)
[Faith] (Goodnight.)
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