After the battle of Ankor Mortis

Elane stands up and allows herself to be topped up by Lily. She walks around the campfire and then stays put. She takes a sip of port wine and looks at Ninska. By the sad look in the firedancers' eyes, the woman knows what is coming next.

Then she looks at Lily.

"It was several moons ago during the spring campaign that the Razash'Dai decided to help the Terrorblades (Den Schreckenklingen/ Klingen Cerenna's).

The Blades did not know Cerenna was helping the Undead. She was one of the first Aeris tribe, if I remember correctly. The Blades figured it out and understood that what they were doing as terrorblades, helping her and the Undead Flesh. It was an active decision because the Razash'Dai knew their Ahnmark was not stable and was about to explode or implode.

Besides Davion told them that sacrificing them and the Ahnmark could weaken Cerenna enough to kill her. I do not know where his knowledge came from but the Razash'Dai were glad that the death of their people would not be meaningless.

So the Blades made a plan with the Razash'Dai, that they would use their blades to kill them and to destroy the Ahnmark. The Ignispower drained from the Ahnmark and the Razash'Dai went all at once through the bond between the Blades and Cerenna, and it weakened her.

Before being killed, every Razash'Dai did his best to worhip Ignis in his own way.

Dshadir fought against Cerenna, Ashana danced with Laile and myself and Fereshta was laying in Tendals arms when the Blade pierced her heart.

Well, and Rynerra was holding the Ahnmark."

When she has spoken, Elane stares expressionless and silent into the fire.

Elane stands up and allows herself to be topped up by Lily. She walks around the campfire and then stays put. She takes a sip of port wine and looks at Ninska. By the sad look in the firedancers' eyes, the woman knows what is coming next.

Then she looks at Lily.

"It was several moons ago during the spring campaign that the Razash'Dai decided to help the Terrorblades (Den Schreckenklingen/ Klingen Cerenna's).

The Blades did not know Cerenna was helping the Undead. She was one of the first Aeris tribe, if I remember correctly. The Blades figured it out and understood that what they were doing as terrorblades, helping her and the Undead Flesh. It was an active decision because the Razash'Dai knew their Ahnmark was not stable and was about to explode or implode.

Besides Davion told them that sacrificing them and the Ahnmark could weaken Cerenna enough to kill her. I do not know where his knowledge came from but the Razash'Dai were glad that the death of their people would not be meaningless.

So the Blades made a plan with the Razash'Dai, that they would use their blades to kill them and to destroy the Ahnmark. The Ignispower drained from the Ahnmark and the Razash'Dai went all at once through the bond between the Blades and Cerenna, and it weakened her.

Before being killed, every Razash'Dai did his best to worhip Ignis in his own way.

Dshadir fought against Cerenna, Ashana danced with Laile and myself and Fereshta was laying in Tendals arms when the Blade pierced her heart.

Well, and Rynerra was holding the Ahnmark."

When she has spoken, Elane stares expressionless and silent into the fire.

Elane stands up and allows herself to be topped up by Lily. She walks around the campfire and then stays put. She takes a sip of port wine and looks at Ninska. By the sad look in the firedancers' eyes, the woman knows what is coming next.

Then she looks at Lily.

"It was several moons ago during the spring campaign that the Razash'Dai decided to help the Terrorblades (Den Schreckenklingen/ Klingen Cerenna's).

The Blades did not know Cerenna was helping the Undead. She was one of the first Aeris tribe, if I remember correctly. The Blades figured it out and understood that what they were doing as terrorblades, helping her and the Undead Flesh. It was an active decision because the Razash'Dai knew their Ahnmark was not stable and was about to explode or implode.

Besides Davion told them that sacrificing them and the Ahnmark could weaken Cerenna enough to kill her. I do not know where his knowledge came from but the Razash'Dai were glad that the death of their people would not be meaningless.

So the Blades made a plan with the Razash'Dai, that they would use their blades to kill them and to destroy the Ahnmark. The Ignispower drained from the Ahnmark and the Razash'Dai went all at once through the bond between the Blades and Cerenna, and it weakened her.

Before being killed, every Razash'Dai did his best to worhip Ignis in his own way.

Dshadir fought against Cerenna, Ashana danced with Laile and myself and Fereshta was laying in Tendals arms when the Blade pierced her heart.

Well, and Rynerra was holding the Ahnmark."

When she has spoken, Elane stares expressionless and silent into the fire.

Out of the shadows, stepped a man dressed in red and flames. Pandion had a slight smile on his lips, but something else seemed to be in his eyes.

He stepped past the others and went directly to the fire bowl. There he stood for a moment, motionless one might think. Then he stretched both hands into the flames. Those who had a seat opposite him could see for a brief moment the slightly pained face of the fire priest.

But his facial features relaxed again relatively quickly and became mild, almost gentle. Still with both hands in the flames, he knelt in front of the fire.

Slowly he closed his eyes, stretched his face to the sky, pulled his hands out of the flames, turned his palms to the sky to give the small flames in his hands a little more space.

"Oh high mistress Ignis, mistress of the fire that burned in all of us today, I want to thank you. Thank you for allowing each of our friends to return alive from the battlefields around the last bastion of the Undead. Thank you for watching over us in the battles we have fought. And last but not least, I would like to thank you for not letting Balor go up in smoke and ashes with your fire, but for allowing us, his closest friends and companions, to bring that fire into the lines of the Undead, returning their decaying bodies to the cycle once and for all..."

His face moved again towards the fire and then he also opened his eyes again. You could see the happiness he felt at that moment. The flames in his hands were extinguished in the meantime and he stood up again.

Then he turned to his friends.

"...And now, dragon people, let us pay tribute to ecstasy and community."

He said with a wide grin on his lips.

Out of the shadows, stepped a man dressed in red and flames. Pandion had a slight smile on his lips, but something else seemed to be in his eyes.

He stepped past the others and went directly to the fire bowl. There he stood for a moment, motionless one might think. Then he stretched both hands into the flames. Those who had a seat opposite him could see for a brief moment the slightly pained face of the fire priest.

But his facial features relaxed again relatively quickly and became mild, almost gentle. Still with both hands in the flames, he knelt in front of the fire.

Slowly he closed his eyes, stretched his face to the sky, pulled his hands out of the flames, turned his palms to the sky to give the small flames in his hands a little more space.

"Oh high mistress Ignis, mistress of the fire that burned in all of us today, I want to thank you. Thank you for allowing each of our friends to return alive from the battlefields around the last bastion of the Undead. Thank you for watching over us in the battles we have fought. And last but not least, I would like to thank you for not letting Balor go up in smoke and ashes with your fire, but for allowing us, his closest friends and companions, to bring that fire into the lines of the Undead, returning their decaying bodies to the cycle once and for all..."

His face moved again towards the fire and then he also opened his eyes again. You could see the happiness he felt at that moment. The flames in his hands were extinguished in the meantime and he stood up again.

Then he turned to his friends.

"...And now, dragon people, let us pay tribute to ecstasy and community."

He said with a wide grin on his lips.

Out of the shadows, stepped a man dressed in red and flames. Pandion had a slight smile on his lips, but something else seemed to be in his eyes.

He stepped past the others and went directly to the fire bowl. There he stood for a moment, motionless one might think. Then he stretched both hands into the flames. Those who had a seat opposite him could see for a brief moment the slightly pained face of the fire priest.

But his facial features relaxed again relatively quickly and became mild, almost gentle. Still with both hands in the flames, he knelt in front of the fire.

Slowly he closed his eyes, stretched his face to the sky, pulled his hands out of the flames, turned his palms to the sky to give the small flames in his hands a little more space.

"Oh high mistress Ignis, mistress of the fire that burned in all of us today, I want to thank you. Thank you for allowing each of our friends to return alive from the battlefields around the last bastion of the Undead. Thank you for watching over us in the battles we have fought. And last but not least, I would like to thank you for not letting Balor go up in smoke and ashes with your fire, but for allowing us, his closest friends and companions, to bring that fire into the lines of the Undead, returning their decaying bodies to the cycle once and for all..."

His face moved again towards the fire and then he also opened his eyes again. You could see the happiness he felt at that moment. The flames in his hands were extinguished in the meantime and he stood up again.

Then he turned to his friends.

"...And now, dragon people, let us pay tribute to ecstasy and community."

He said with a wide grin on his lips.

Lily followed Elané with her eyes as she walked around the fire. She understood how difficult this must be to speak of, how she would need to walk to continue. As Elané told her story, Lily leaned forward in her seat. She felt the warmth of the fire on her face more intensely. Her furrowed brows showed concern. Not once did she take her eyes off Elané when she spoke.
When Elané paused, she noticed her emotionless expression. Strange, how sorrow can tame a flame of emotion. Rid it of it's 'life', of it's very definition she thought to herself.

Moments later, her trail of thought was interrupted by the preach of Pandion. In silence and amazement she watched his service, and when he had spoken, she raised her glass and with an awkward smile replied "Yes, let us pay tribute." She sipped her port and gestured for him to find a seat. "Elané was just telling the story of the Razash' Dai. Perhaps you also have some words on this?"

Lily followed Elané with her eyes as she walked around the fire. She understood how difficult this must be to speak of, how she would need to walk to continue. As Elané told her story, Lily leaned forward in her seat. She felt the warmth of the fire on her face more intensely. Her furrowed brows showed concern. Not once did she take her eyes off Elané when she spoke.
When Elané paused, she noticed her emotionless expression. Strange, how sorrow can tame a flame of emotion. Rid it of it's 'life', of it's very definition she thought to herself.

Moments later, her trail of thought was interrupted by the preach of Pandion. In silence and amazement she watched his service, and when he had spoken, she raised her glass and with an awkward smile replied "Yes, let us pay tribute." She sipped her port and gestured for him to find a seat. "Elané was just telling the story of the Razash' Dai. Perhaps you also have some words on this?"

Lily followed Elané with her eyes as she walked around the fire. She understood how difficult this must be to speak of, how she would need to walk to continue. As Elané told her story, Lily leaned forward in her seat. She felt the warmth of the fire on her face more intensely. Her furrowed brows showed concern. Not once did she take her eyes off Elané when she spoke.
When Elané paused, she noticed her emotionless expression. Strange, how sorrow can tame a flame of emotion. Rid it of it's 'life', of it's very definition she thought to herself.

Moments later, her trail of thought was interrupted by the preach of Pandion. In silence and amazement she watched his service, and when he had spoken, she raised her glass and with an awkward smile replied "Yes, let us pay tribute." She sipped her port and gestured for him to find a seat. "Elané was just telling the story of the Razash' Dai. Perhaps you also have some words on this?"

Elane raises her glass to Lily. She has told the story of the Razash'Dai and is relieved that it is done. But she also knows that there will be many more times that she needs to tell this story.

Then she looks at Pandion, hears his words and can only nod in agreement. She sighs deeply and enjoys his smile. He is right, this evening around the campfire of friendship is an evening to pay tribute to ecstasy and community.

Elane raises her glass to Lily. She has told the story of the Razash'Dai and is relieved that it is done. But she also knows that there will be many more times that she needs to tell this story.

Then she looks at Pandion, hears his words and can only nod in agreement. She sighs deeply and enjoys his smile. He is right, this evening around the campfire of friendship is an evening to pay tribute to ecstasy and community.

Elane raises her glass to Lily. She has told the story of the Razash'Dai and is relieved that it is done. But she also knows that there will be many more times that she needs to tell this story.

Then she looks at Pandion, hears his words and can only nod in agreement. She sighs deeply and enjoys his smile. He is right, this evening around the campfire of friendship is an evening to pay tribute to ecstasy and community.

Ninska had known what Èlane would say. She herself had been present at the forging of the Razash Dai and the Dread Blades. Even then she had understood, but it didn't make it any easier. After Pandion's words, she raised her glass.

"I drink to Mistress Ignis. To the community and friendship."

I would like to drink to the Razash Dai. Especially to the Mistress of the Fire Mark. To Medina and to Khatir,who was one of the fifty Razash Dai who stood by her on her last journey. "Briefly her voice trembled but regained its strength.

"Without them,all this would not have been possible. Without the sacrifice of all the Razash Dai, we could not have reached this far, nor could we have found Barnabas. "

She toasted the others and gave a sip into the fire.

Then she drank.

She thought of the days of the glow in the last run of the sun. How they, together with Pandion and Khatir, had questioned the young thief Torge. When one of Torge's remarks had upset Khatir and Ninska had laid her hand on Khatir's. How Pandion had seen it. As Pandion had seen it and grinned. She took another sip of port wine to help swallow the burgeoning memory. She really didn't want it right now, and she didn't want to think about the letter either.

Ninska had known what Èlane would say. She herself had been present at the forging of the Razash Dai and the Dread Blades. Even then she had understood, but it didn't make it any easier. After Pandion's words, she raised her glass.

"I drink to Mistress Ignis. To the community and friendship."

I would like to drink to the Razash Dai. Especially to the Mistress of the Fire Mark. To Medina and to Khatir,who was one of the fifty Razash Dai who stood by her on her last journey. "Briefly her voice trembled but regained its strength.

"Without them,all this would not have been possible. Without the sacrifice of all the Razash Dai, we could not have reached this far, nor could we have found Barnabas. "

She toasted the others and gave a sip into the fire.

Then she drank.

She thought of the days of the glow in the last run of the sun. How they, together with Pandion and Khatir, had questioned the young thief Torge. When one of Torge's remarks had upset Khatir and Ninska had laid her hand on Khatir's. How Pandion had seen it. As Pandion had seen it and grinned. She took another sip of port wine to help swallow the burgeoning memory. She really didn't want it right now, and she didn't want to think about the letter either.

Ninska had known what Èlane would say. She herself had been present at the forging of the Razash Dai and the Dread Blades. Even then she had understood, but it didn't make it any easier. After Pandion's words, she raised her glass.

"I drink to Mistress Ignis. To the community and friendship."

I would like to drink to the Razash Dai. Especially to the Mistress of the Fire Mark. To Medina and to Khatir,who was one of the fifty Razash Dai who stood by her on her last journey. "Briefly her voice trembled but regained its strength.

"Without them,all this would not have been possible. Without the sacrifice of all the Razash Dai, we could not have reached this far, nor could we have found Barnabas. "

She toasted the others and gave a sip into the fire.

Then she drank.

She thought of the days of the glow in the last run of the sun. How they, together with Pandion and Khatir, had questioned the young thief Torge. When one of Torge's remarks had upset Khatir and Ninska had laid her hand on Khatir's. How Pandion had seen it. As Pandion had seen it and grinned. She took another sip of port wine to help swallow the burgeoning memory. She really didn't want it right now, and she didn't want to think about the letter either.

Pandion nodded to all present and had Tarin hand him a drinking bowl of sake. Then he looked for a place among his friends and sat down.

"The sacrifice of the Razash'Dai was great, but so they had the opportunity to determine their own death and burn one last time, in full splendor and glow. For us settlers it was and is a great loss either way. And for us in Zweiwasser an even greater one. But I think they would want us to remember and enjoy the bright moments of their history. So let's not shed any tears."

He raises his bowl and toasts the round.

"To the Razash'Dai! Here's to them celebrating forever, with the red jade masters and Ignis herself.

Pandion nodded to all present and had Tarin hand him a drinking bowl of sake. Then he looked for a place among his friends and sat down.

"The sacrifice of the Razash'Dai was great, but so they had the opportunity to determine their own death and burn one last time, in full splendor and glow. For us settlers it was and is a great loss either way. And for us in Zweiwasser an even greater one. But I think they would want us to remember and enjoy the bright moments of their history. So let's not shed any tears."

He raises his bowl and toasts the round.

"To the Razash'Dai! Here's to them celebrating forever, with the red jade masters and Ignis herself.

Pandion nodded to all present and had Tarin hand him a drinking bowl of sake. Then he looked for a place among his friends and sat down.

"The sacrifice of the Razash'Dai was great, but so they had the opportunity to determine their own death and burn one last time, in full splendor and glow. For us settlers it was and is a great loss either way. And for us in Zweiwasser an even greater one. But I think they would want us to remember and enjoy the bright moments of their history. So let's not shed any tears."

He raises his bowl and toasts the round.

"To the Razash'Dai! Here's to them celebrating forever, with the red jade masters and Ignis herself.

All Elane can do is raise her glass and join in the toast with Pandion. Then she looks thoughtfully in the direction of Ninska.

All Elane can do is raise her glass and join in the toast with Pandion. Then she looks thoughtfully in the direction of Ninska.