Broken and Rebuilt

The Aclazar Harbor is just ahead. The ship is sturdy, and carries a lot of people on its shoulders. Sadly, I feel less the former than the latter. I don't entirely know why I even want to go there, I am afraid everyone will think me a crazy fool.
 
The end began on the 20th of April. We just returned to our dimension, having said an awkward yet longing goodbye to Lullaby and Bajid. We honestly didn't know if or when we would meet again, for the path ahead is difficult, for both us and them. The Black Sylph asked to join us, believing that she may find some answers as to what and who she is by talking to the Sylph from the Nine Tomes. We were happy to have her join us, and were making big plans to go to Ionolia in search of answers. We even planned to grab the bounties of the 2 cannibal chiefs from the Howling Woods, in order to further our financial situation. I was reluctant to take human life for profit, however, the needs of the party outweighed my hesitation, and we needed all the help we could get. Gold seems more and more to be one's best friend, wherever you are.
 
Gold opens many doors, and opportunities. As I walked through the streets of Aclazar, observing the busy life, the ships sailing away to their destinations, I contemplated about my own path, which I would most likely have to undertake alone. I don't really know if I can do this. I was helped so much by all of my friends, and they helped me see the world differently. Even Llyaria, who seemed to be the one who taught me the most about my hubris and showed me the mistakes I always make. If only I was stronger, more prepared... but again, power means nothing when your enemy is titanic in both might and cunning. My eyes landed on the door of a tavern, and for the first time in my life, I wanted a drink. I opened the door, and walked in.
 
We safely went through the portal, and when the blinding light subsided, our eyes feasted on a familiar sight: the Haunted Marshes. We decided to take the glyph left by Bajid to Yomen, where we would regroup and move forward. We passed through the glyph with hope for the best and a thirst for adventure. When I stepped off of the glyph, what appeared in front of my eyes was an unsettling view: a mountain range that surrounded us like a cauldron, with no apparent sights that would inform us of our whereabouts. I felt something wrong was afoot, and I was not wrong. The moment all of us exited the glyph, 3 individuals followed suit, and destroyed the glyph behind them, leaving us with no other choice but to fight them.
 
I immediately recognized the description of the Cloaks of Hell, the ones Cato reluctantly told us about. They immediately proceeded to bind us with shadows, draining our life force with every passing moment. Zarkuz didn't hesitate to use the staff again, and even though I pleaded him not to, he chose to ignore it. I had my reasons to ask him not to do it, but I could not fathom what would unfold next. The earth started shaking as the staff was sucked into the earth by an incredible force, and the mountains seems to tremble. Or what we believed to be mountains. While we dispatched of the powerless Cloaks, the mountains started rising.
 
While I was preparing to enjoy my first pint in proud loneliness, I noted two cloaked individuals in the back of the inn. One thing caught my eye, as his skin was quire literally on fire. I immediately thought of the Continent of the Elements, the fabled land I heard from Cato. That was the first thing in a while that peaked my inborn curiosity in a long while; I from my seat, grabbed three beers, and decided to introduce myself to get to know that person better. I rose from my seat, and walked towards them.
 
The mountain rose in a similar fashion. What we thought to be the peak proved to be a giant head, the surrounding peaks - two giant wings that darkened the sky with their shadow. I could not believe what I was seeing, as it seemed to be completely impossible. A dragon. But no ordinary house-sized dragon, it was the biggest one I have ever seen. Granted, that was the first beast of legend I have bore witness to, but that was completely beyond my wildest figments of imagination. For some reason, Damaschini and Llyaria bolted to the sky and to the dragon's head. I have followed suit by teleporting to the top, followed by Nerissa, and as soon as I got there, I saw them being held at bay by someone I immediately realized is the one named Xantinya. Her presence was overwhelming, and the display of power before me was equally as such.
 
Our attempts to talk to her proved pointless, our attempts to put a dent into her were met with unrelenting defense and swift retaliation. We thought we were the unstoppable force, however, at that moment, we truly met someone who embodied the definition of an immovable object. She talked to the Great Wyrm (I decided to call him that until I find out more about it) in some unknown to me language, and then left, while we remained to lick our wounds. The moment we thought she left, she returned, and started talking to Miyun in Stenian, and then some other language; all I could gather was that she was talking her into joining her side. Llyaria tried her best to talk Miyun from leaving, and I helplessly watched, knowing that due to my standing with her, any of my words would ruin all of Llyaria's attempts to turn her back to the light.
 
When Miyun seemed to display some doubts about joining Xantinya, she leaned to her ear and whispered something which triggered a transformation in Miyun. She became more Circeks like, and for the first time, Miyun's eyes turned to Llyaria with a desire to destroy her. She stepped on the red dragon Xantinya was riding, and they took off. Llyaria tried her best to stop them, and seemingly entered the state she refers to as the Banana Power. The next moment, the Great Wyrm started moving, and I saw Damaschini and Nerissa plumetting to the ground. I quickly teleported to Nerissa, and directed her into the chest on Damaschini's back, and then pushed him into it as well. As I turned back, I saw Llyaria being blown by the wind like sand. She killed her. Xantinya killed her, even though all she wanted was to save a little girl from a lot of pain. What can men do against such reckless hate?
 
I approached the hooded figures, and discovered that both of them were women, and the other one was an elf. They seemed reluctant at the thought to be approached by a total stranger, but they accepted the beers. A good start. The moment I approached them, another dude approached us and asked if I was giving them any trouble; the fiery person said all I gave them was beer. I like her sense of humour; it reminded me of the old days, the banter, the jokes. We were soon approached by a rather short individual with a lyre. He presented himself as Bart the bard, a play on words I found funny. I seem to have met some entertaining people. The dude calls himself Heron, and the elf who travelled with Verfi was a seemingly shy elf by the name of Nixi. We decided to stay together for the evening and exchange stories of our exploits. Having some company for a change was also something I longed for, and I was curious about whether the fabled Continent was real; so I decided to tell them of one of my adventures in Alomir.
 
They told me that they indeed come from the Continent, and that is south of Worania. They talked about a great war that ravaged their lands, and then they said the name. Xantinya. They told that she was a horse-like creature, a xant. Is that another play on names? Alas, they never knew her to have the form of a woman, and they started wondering how the war in their homeland ended. For better or worse, we have decided to stick together, and make our way to the Continent, each for our own reasons: Bart was looking for the next big ballad to birth into the world, Nixi and Verfi wanted to go home, and Heron was just looking for an opportunity to get stronger. I was looking to find out more about Xantinya, and the Continent looked promising as the first place she let herself known to the world.
 
We decided to go to Ionolia first, so that I may ask for guidance from my father, and try to get a hearing with the Council of Archmages to warn them of the dangers that come from the west; hopefully, they will heed my words, but chances are slim. We may also find a place to earn an honest living, so that we may procure a boat large enough to carry us through the southern seas.
 
Looking back on the things that happened at the Great Wyrm, the way Damaschini was distraught by the loss of Llyaria and Miyun, the tears shed by Nerissa for her best friend, all seemed lost. We were broken, all of us. I watched helplessly as my trusted comrades left one by one, each to their own devices, going to mostly unknown destinations. Just like the ships in Aclazar, each one went on their own path, leaving me with the least likely ally, Zarkuz. The path back was very difficult, and we have looked death in the eyes more times than I would have liked; eventually, Zarkuz left me too during a storm that threatened to end both of our lives. I felt so afraid for such a long time, abandoned, alone.
 
But life has a funny things to bring people together as well. I met some new people, and they kept me company even after my outrageous stories and bizarre way of speaking; I cannot share with them the knowledge I have, as they are just good people who do not deserve to be plunged into chaos so soon. However, I fear that this meeting has sealed their fate, as the girls have already met Xantinya before, and if I am to tell them of the danger this world is in, they will inevitably have to become the defenders of this dimension; maybe even more. We may have failed to work together in my previous party, and they may have left me alone in my journey, but I do not blame them, it is a tough enterprise. I will do my best, and if my new acquaintances will decide to join me, I will make sure to right the things that didn't work, and create something stronger.
 
May the Almighty guide me on the right path.