A day away from the dwarven city / mine Anwen is unusually silent. Deep in thought.

Shule rides up next to her and waits, around midafternoon Anwen actually speaks, "I think I am being manipulated for some reason. I did not really look at it before, but Moradin would not just show up to a random group of adventurers and trade as he did, what he did without some motive. He is the god of creation, he can just Will a belt in to existence far better than the one I made for him. I think, in part that was a test. But to what end ? Why bother with us, or even me for that matter. Sure I know stuff from an alternate time line that may or may not happen in this time-line. But there has to be more going on. And why was The Gnome so interested in getting us to go to Babylon ? Mesopotamia of all places. It's mostly a desert, part of the Arabia's, has much different magics than the west. But what else is going on. It does not make sense."

Shule lets her ponder to her, "Well for one thing, I am from that part of the world and I am following you around. So maybe it's not all about you. Though I do see your point. The problem is we are missing too much information to make any reliable guesses. But I agree about Moradin. There was a reason they wanted you to have that knowledge, and I don't doubt for an instant that he already knew the answer to that riddle."

Nast'al looks back, "Maybe they wanted to keep you out of the greater circulation for a few months. If you really want to we can go back and check on that village. Make sure it was real and not just there for convenience sake."

She looks at him then pulls out the mirror, cast a cleansing spell of her own design on it (works really well at removing Others influences) It GLOWS brightly then the glow breaks apart and flows away. Everyone, Anwen included, looked at that with wide eyes, she mutters, "some spell just failed it's saving throw." One of many strange things they have gotten used to hearing from her, though it's meaning is pretty clear.

She then uses the cleansed mirror to scan back the way they came. There is a mine there, and people. But no dwarves, no dwarven town, and none of the items needed to make the equipment they needed to make all the things they did make.

She starts humming 'do do Do do do Do do DO" (twilight zone theme, or close to it)

Shule ask, "What's with the humming ?"

She looks at her, "Spooky music cause there is no dwarven settlement back there and I am willing to bet that the people back there never met us before either."

Sarah, "And once more the gods bring drama and mystery in to our lives for reasons we can't imagine." The others all nod.

Owen worriedly, "So should we continue toward Babylon or go someplace else ?" Henrik nods in agreement, "I am worried to boss. I remember what happened in Egypt and we were just on the side back then." Sarah hugs Anwen tighter, "I am scared. I hope they are not trying to start something using us as the bait." Anwen shrugs, "The White Lady put me here, with a special curse that I am Always the bait. One of the reasons I face disaster so blandly, I expect it to be coming but hope it will come later."

Nast'al smacks his lips and looks a touch feral, "Ok I think that cleansing spell worked on more than your mirror cause I am suddenly very hungry in a dangerous sort of way."

Shule places her hand over her stomach, "Me to. This is not good. I remember feeding back there … on a willing dwarf .. who was likely a spirit, shit we have been feeding on illusions for 2 months or more. You all are very lucky to be alive right now."

Anwen shakes her head, "Been working a calming spell actually, keeping your beast side in check as I don't want to have to hurt either of you or put you in a box to keep you from injuring yourselves."

Nast'al actually nods, "Thank you for that. I for one am glad you thought of it. I don't want to turn around and eat my boys. I like them the way they are, alive and helpful."

Shule reaches out and grips Anwens arm, "Find us some people to eat, teleport us if you have to. Even with the calming spell I am in dire need."

Anwen nods, letting the nervous horses lead them, as she uses her own inborn Clairvoyance to scan for 'food' for her companions. Moments later in a flash they are out of the mountains and next to a battle field on the edge of a great flat. space, scrub turning to grass to the north, rocks and sand to the south. It's still late afternoon, but there is a large scale battle going on between seasoned troops and what looks to be a marauder army. "From what I am picking up the troops are Hittites while the marauders are a mix of bandits and people of the sea come inland. I say aim at the marauders if you can."

They were long gone before she even started telling them what she was sensing. She opened her eyes and noted their empty saddles, "They left before I could say anything didn't they ?" The thralls nod, "Oh yeah, They smelled all that blood and your spell control snapped." Henrik reports, "But at least we arrived behind the raiders."

Some of the raiders turn and see the group of riders and decide to go after the much easier pickings there. That proved to be a very bad idea in the short run. The riders saw them coming and just Sat there watching them come. Then a woman raised a stick, pointed it at them and fire enveloped them, ending most of the raiding party in that instance a few were either far enough back, or shielded by their mounts and live. The second ball of fire ended that however.

Anwen noted the raiders had wagons, so she started her horse in that direction. Any of the raiders that tried to stop them got blasted, usually with fire but also lightning and bolts of magical force and once, just for practice she pulled a rounded stone from the mountains, dropped it on a group then used her TK to roll the 800 lb. boulder all over everyone in the way. In very short order her little group captured the supply and loot wagons in which they found many women prisoners, a few children, mostly girls, and lots of odds and ends.

Seeing them Anwen just turned toward the battle field, noted where the vampires were, then aimed at a different section and let loose a massive whirl wind from the 'staff' to rip the marauders up and toss them aside like so many rag dolls. Using her cane she directed it back and forth, careful not to catch the Hittite soldiers and focus solely on those human monsters.

Between the Immortals and the vengeful Anwen it did not take much to utterly route the few remaining marauders.

The soldiers wisely decided to give the immortals a lot of room and worked their way over to the mage and her whirlwind, which was still chasing some of the few surviving marauders.

The captain, bloody, but able comes up to her, "Greetings and well timed mage. Thank you for your help against those .. those."

Sarah provides, "Beast in human skin ?"

The captain looks up at her and nods, "Yes, thank you."

Anwen growls, "Beast have some sense of right and wrong, those, those are less than beast. Their cargo here is mostly women and children and I believe some of these women have been raped. I don't do well with rapist." The screams of the fiends as the whirl wind tosses them from on high makes a good counter point to her words.

One of the soldiers looks in to a cage and lets out an anger filled roar. Anwen turns and watches with surreal calm, "Captain, these are Our women, that is my wife and daughter."

Anwen gets down from her horse and pushes past the soldier, "If you will move I can open these cages." she tells them. They let her through and she uses a blast of magic to destroy the locks, freeing all the prisoners.

It becomes evident that the marauders raided their city where these soldiers families were at while the main branch of them were away from home.

While the soldiers reunite with their families Anwen and company go to collect their Immortals.

Both are laying in pools of mud, blood and other less mentionable things, looking quite bloated by the time the others find them, "Well you look sated, and a mess to. If you can stand I can at least get you cleaned up." Anwen says with a small smirk.

Nast'al gets up and then helps Shule up and they move to a less disgusting piece of land, where Anwen does her cleaning spell. It removes all the dirt, excess blood and such from them and their clothes. Better than a shower and a dry cleaner Anwen thinks, but keeps the words to herself so as to not confuse them.

Looking about them, "So did we win ?" Nast'al ask in his dry humorous way.

Anwen nods, "I think so. I lost my temper back there and pulled out the big spells." Sarah is bouncing, "Big wind, sucked them up and WHOOOSH threw them out, splattered them all over the ground. It was a glorious bit of destruction!"

Anwen shakes her head and the others smirk or laugh at the girls antics. Owen takes it upon himself to tell the immortals what they found among the marauders booty and how the guards are now reuniting with their stolen families.

Anwen starts to move on, "Unless we want to get pulled in to more of this drama I suggest we move on. We came, we saved some people, killed a bunch more, time to leave before they start that Hero's stuff again. That never ends well for us." The others agree.

By the time the soldiers have reconciled with the remains of their families and turn to thank their saviors, the party of hero's is almost over the horizon.

The Sargent looks to his captain, "Some people just don't care for praise or thanks I guess."

Private, "Or maybe they need to somewhere soon and could not afford further delay." The captain just nodded and left some men to search the bodies for any useable loot.

Further up the trail, getting close to evening and they are looking for a place to set up camp, Shule comments, "Where are we anyway ?"

Anwen, "Northern Turkey, um if you go east from here you hit the Black sea, west is the edge of the Mediterranean sea, we are somewhere in the spar that separate's those two sea's heading toward Turkey, or whatever the Hittites call their land."

Shule is looking surprised, "So we just skipped about 3 months or more worth of travel so you could find us a battle in which to feed ? You know a village would have done it."

Anwen shrugs, "Marauders need killing, you needed to eat, I saw it as a win win situation. Besides I wanted to put some distance between the dwarven mountains and us. Mountains behind us, several months closer to our goal, also win win."

Sarah, being curious. "How far can you move us if you put your mind to it ?"

Anwen looks back at her, "Love I moved us from the middle of Egypt to the middle of Romania the first time. That is several thousand miles. I have to admit I was happy to note I did not leave anyone behind with this jaunt. Got you, the horses, the boys and Mew to. Was not sure I could to that to tell the truth and was all ready to go back and get anyone I left behind if needed."

Sarah nods then says allowed, "Maybe you really are a god now. Only Gods are supposed to be able to do stuff like that you know. And well Nast'al's a god, just like Isis and Osiris and stinky snake man."

Shule in a light joking tone, "Maybe we should form our own Pantheon, Nast'al's is Death, and snarkiness. I am Beauty and Elegance, and Anwen is knowledge, fire, and kinkiness."

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Sarah frowns, "Then what are me and the men ?" Nast'al without missing a beat, "Worshippers."

Anwen shakes her head, "I don't agree about Nast, sure he has the whole death cult going for him, but he is also loyal to a fault and a true friend once you get him to admit to that. Snarkiness is just part of his personality and shows he cares. He is not snarky with anyone he does not like."

Shule makes a face, "Ok I agree with that." Nast just nods as do his boys, "But what about the rest of it."

Anwen thinks, "Well You are the Dancer, the dark beauty, and the Elegant Lady to be sure, and a bit of a romantic as well. So I could see you as a goddess of beauty and skill and culture." Shule smiles.

Anwen continues, "If Sarah was an immortal, given her proclivities and all, Kink and sex, sort of the darker aspects of Shule's elegance. Where Shule is grace and such, Sarah is the party girl. Owen is the hand in the dark, the um, what is the male version of a hand maiden ?"

Owen, "Lieutenant ?" Nast'al, "A handmaiden is a servant my dear. Sarah is your Handmaiden."

Anwen looks surprised, "OH, ok well that clears up some confusing information I had. Hum, sorry I was mixing up things. See in the old story I got that from Lillith, the mother of all vampires, was the handmaiden to Ishtar, who is a Mesopotamian goddess of fertility, love, war, sex, and power, and whose counter-part in the Sumerian side is Inanna the Goddess of love, beauty, sexual desire, fertility, knowledge, wisdom, war, and combat. Both very high placed goddesses in their respective countries. I digressed again didn't I ?"

Everyone nods or agrees. "Sorry. I read about them at the same time and well I am not perfect and I get stuff confused at times. Anyway Ishtar's love was often fatal, or at least saw to beings being enslaved or destroyed or made lesser. For some reason, later scholars confused her with the Goddess of the Night, who had owl wings and feet and looked Nothing like any of Ishtar's images. Inanna came before Ishtar and their cults seem to have merged somewhere along the line. Which is why I mentioned both."

Sarah pokes her, "Ok so what ?"

Anwen shrugs, "Tiamat is from the time of Inanna or the other way around and we were headed that way to see about getting an answer about Tiamat."

Sarah pokes harder, "No I mean the handmaiden bit."

Anwen scootches away from the poking, as best she can while sitting on a horse, "Oh that. I did not equate handmaiden and servant is all."

"Inanna sign was an 8 pointed star or rosette and lions. She was often depicted as standing atop a pair of lions. Also for some reason a doorpost, which I know what the scholars say, but I don't see how a door post equates with being a fertility goddess."

Shule hears that and looks confused, "me either. That is strange. When I was a child the Doorpost was used in weddings to show welcome in to the home of the husband, it had nothing to do with fertility. Now the grain shafts used to make the doorpost did. They were to encourage many babies and health in the home."

Anwen slowly nods, "That's right, I forgot your from that part of the world."

Shule just grins at her. Nast'al shakes his head.

Henrik who has been quiet all this time speaks up, "Going by Lord Nast'al's name and his doctrine would he not actually be the god of death and rebirth ? As his name does mean Reincarnation right ?"

Anwen, "Resurrection, but close and is pretty close to his name the undying since resurrection is dying then rising from the dead. Which pretty much covers most vampires perceived creation process. Reincarnation is dying then returning in a new form. Same soul, different body and life."

Henrik nods, "oh ok"

Nast'al pats him on the shoulder, "Good try there Henrik, well thought out to." Henrik smiles sheepishly.

Owen, "Ok that's well and good, but what were you saying about me in your little Pantheon building idea ?"

Anwen cracks up, "Well your Nast servant, he is death you’re his dagger. Henrik is more like the slower death. Never see it coming till it falls on you. Usually with sharp weapons and in a fight."

Sarah, "And Anwen is like Inanna instead of Ishtar, sexual desire, sex, beauty, knowledge, um, let's see what else, oh Power, and MAGIC!" the last said with a Huge smile.

Shule, "So what does that make Sarah again ?"

Anwen, "Willing submissive plaything usually. Or the perfect slave."

Sarah nods to that, "True. I like to work, I love pleasing my mistress and I have no inhibitions." Everyone there is agreement on that.

That evening they find a nice shallow cave and with the tent they use as a secondary cover it's a cozy spot. The only down side is for Sarah, who can't get her sex on because Anwen won't do it with so many people around. Anwen did give her permission to have 'fun' with the boys but she only did it once and was acutely aware of how uncomfortable it made Anwen, even though she never said anything. The immortals though could have cared less cause when they go to sleep, they are pretty much dead to the world.

Sarah sits down next to Shule, who is making herself comfortable with several skins and blankets, for her rest period, "Shule, why is it you never join us for sex ?"

Shule stops and looks at her, "Anwen is my sister, in spirit at least, and unlike you, I won't sleep with my relatives. Besides she has little interest in me that way."

Anwen, getting the pillows from her bag of holding out, over hears that, "Whatever gave you that idea ?"

Shule looks up at her, "Huh, well I mean back in Egypt you were with Kitten and Althea and you never did it with them. Kitten told me while you Like us as friends you had no interest in us That way."

"I had no interest in Kitten that way cause I did not know her. I don't normally just jump in to bed with anyone. Not even Sarah here. We flirted a bit for about a month before I eventually bedded her."

Sarah nods, "Well flirted and she tied me up allot, which I really enjoyed. But no actual sex happened."

Both Nast and Shule kind of stop and think that over. Nast ask, "So you and me Anwen ?"

She looks at him, "No. Nothing against you but I prefer women." he nods, "Thought so, but figured it could not hurt to ask."

She nods, "I have not asked Shule cause I did not think her interested in such. I was under the impression you were asexual. Meaning you don't care for sex, but still enjoyed romance."

She shrugs, "No my dear, that is pure self-control. Well I do like romances that is true. But well, I just never did because, like you, I have a need for trust in a relationship and two I like girls to. The only times I like boys is friendships or as food."

Sarah scoots up closer, all excited, "Does that mean we can ?"

Shule puts a hand on her shoulder and pushes, "Down girl, your still a slave remember." Anwen grins, "I don't mind if you two play together."

Shule grins at Anwen, "I know you don't, I just don't trust myself with her."

Sarah looks confused, "Why not ?"

Shule looks at her, "I like you. I really do, but your mortal and well, I don't want to hurt you in a permanent fashion. Like accidently turning you in to something like me."

Sarah nods, "I would not really mind that actually. Means I get to be with you and Anwen forever. Ok not eating Anwens good foods would be sad, but worth it just to be with you all forever."

Shule nods, "We can eat, it is just not a pleasant experience for us. Well the taste is much the same, it is what happens afterwards."

Anwen nods, "Either nausea or constipation."

Shule nods, "Exactly and how did you know that ?"

Nast, "Observation is my guess. She did live with a bunch of us for several weeks if you recall." Anwen nods in agreement.

Shule looks at Anwen, "You want this to ?"

Anwen shrugs, "As far as I am concerned this is between the two of you. I love you both regardless."

Shule considers, "Really need to see if you would mind one of us as a lover. There are physical differences after all."

Anwen shrugs, leans over the smaller woman and lets her hair create a tent over their faces, "So kiss to see if there is something there, or if it's just wishful thinking ?"

Shule gulps but nods. The smell of Anwen not to mention the heat that comes off of her is intense and exotic. Shifters run hotter than humans, this she already knew and with Anwen being part Fire, she is hotter still, but it’s the warm heat of comfort, of a well-tended hearth, that is until they kiss, then that warmth invades her fills her, excites her in ways she can't explain, only experience. This is just the first touching of lips, the barest taste of a kiss, as Anwen deepens the kiss the feeling of being taken in and consumed intensifies but she does not draw back, cannot draw back, something in her desires this warmth, Needs it badly. Her arms reach out and draw the woman closer, even as Anwens arms wrap around her, pulling her in as well. With no conscious thought their bodies intertwine, they stroke and caress each other without even bothering to remove clothing. Just kissing and caressing and Feeling the other for now is enough.

From Anwen's point of view, she is nervous and a little excited. Kitten was sexy sure, but Shule is more than just that. There is more to this woman than sex appeal and good taste. Then she taste her, and feels the coolness of her form and the soft feel of her face. The coolness in her quiets the raging heat that has become part of Anwen and draws her ever more closer to the older woman, that coolness brings relief and pleasure to the fire soul of the younger immortal. She finds herself falling in to the embrace unable and unwilling to pull back. A sort of feeling of comforting oneness envelopes them both.

Sarah watches it happen, something she kind of hoped for but watching them merge that way sparks a little jealousy. Not that she lets that bother her. She kind of knew they would be compatible when they let themselves get close and really it makes her happy. It means Shule is one step closer to being family and family is very important to this girl. Family is safety and love and kinky behavior, all rolled up in one happy place.

The kiss ends when Anwen has to come up for air, breathing a little heavy the two look at the other with a combination of surprise and desire, Shule breaths, "Ok, that was different and very nice, how about you ?"

Anwen nods, "Oh yeah. Something more than just kissing happened there. It was like .. well the coolness of your form melded with the heat from mine and made a pleasant welcoming feeling."

Shule nods, "Well put and oh yes. If you did not have to come up for air there I would have been happy just kissing you for a few days." Anwen grins, "Same here. Then we would have to break for food and, well potty break for me." Shule smiles, "True." they laugh.

Nast comments, "I don't know about what you were feeling but we all were enjoying the show."

Anwen looks at him, then telekinetically pulls a sheet between the two sides.

Sarah giggles, "Should have kept quiet, might have gotten more of a show."

Henrik, "When she is right she is right."

For the rest of the evening, not wanting to take things to fast, they settle for cuddling and kissing, and even pull in Sarah for some to. When they finally sleep it's with Sarah sandwiched happily between them.