The group camps on the shore of the lake and does some fishing and lots of talking and some dragon watching as many are still about, most seem content to swoop and dive and do all kinds of aerial maneuvers, others are sunning themselves further afield or just fishing or playing in the water (hard to tell which).

Nast spends time killing a dead tree over and over. (knives, swords, poison darts, whips, lassos.)

Shule, coming from a walk along the bottom of the lake (bath), drops an old iron boot next to Anwen, "Find the strangest things in lakes." she states, Anwen nods, "Iron to. Though that is not unexpected as iron smithing started around here in the last 50 years oh so if I remember correctly." Anwen pulls a leg bone and foot bone out of it, "Someone pissed off the wrong people it looks like."

There is a sizeable pile of 'stuff' near Anwen. The dogs and Mew are searching over the caravans camp site looking for anything interesting. Course what interest them most does not interest anyone else.

There is another camp on the far side of the caravan site, full of people who did not run from the dragons. Mostly slaves and a few die hard guards. They are giving the party a wide berth as one girl was eaten by a dragon then blew it up from the inside. That is one dangerous girl and none feel like challenging a group with people like her in it. (most don't even remember Tiamaat being there)

Sarah went visiting the slaves with Owen to keep them from adding her to their number.

Henrik is fishing and having so so luck.

Anwen looks up at Shule, "Other than becoming Human again, cause I can't do that, what would you like to be able to do ?"

Shule takes a deep breath and sits, "Eat, anything I want when-ever I want without the nausea or cramps or well you know. I don't mind having to pee or poop as long as it does not feel like I am trying to pass my entire stomach and intestines in the process. "

Anwen has her black book in her lap, "hmm I can do that, not that hard a spell really, though you may feel queasy for the first day or so. But that is because your insides will be turning in to a Thralled state. Interesting that. Can't make you human but I can revive Parts of you. Hm, no making babies though, Tiamaat forbade that as it always goes wrong in the long run. Oh you'll still be a vampire, so will need blood, probably a little extra for a few days or so to compensate for keeping your organs working. Down side you may feel hungry from time to time but aren't really do to mixed signals between your blood lust and stomach. Don't see a way to fix that. Still be immune to alcohol unless mixed with blood as per normal." Shule actually sits and thinks on it, weighing the pros and cons of it. Then ask out of left field, "Can you make me a goddess ?" Without looking up from her book, "Yes and no. Technically as a member of the 3rd generation your already of god like power. I can add to that and grant you a few powers you don't presently have however."

Nast'al nods, "Good I will take teleportation and invisibility." his tone only mildly joking.

Anwen nods, "Doable" Nast misses his next throw in surprise. "Though" she continues "You actually already have a form of invisibility open to you. It's one of your vampire powers which you have used from time to time."

He slowly turns to her, "How powerful are you now ?"

She shrugs, "Still learning but top ability stops at around Intermediate level. That's just below the powers of like Ptah or Tiamaat. Right now, not much more than I was before, but the book now list spells I can cast and powers I have. It didn't have that before, I guess because Bast did such a hack job on me."

Nast'al comes over and looks at the book. It's still looks like moving dancing runes to him, "Nope still can't read that." he knows the answer but every now and then tries anyway. This time he sits in front of her, "So you can give me powers. Like you had when we met ?" She nods, "Mostly Some things you already have or the ability for them is locked in your blood. I do have a spell that would allow me to unlock those potentials, but you still start at the first level of it and have to practice with them like any other skill."

Shule and Nast'al just stare then suddenly Nast'al hugs her, "I love you right now" he tells her. Anwen just smiles. He lets go and sighs, "Ok I admit, there are things I would like to be able to do but don't because of how I am."

Anwen nods, "Sex" Nast'al nods, "Yep." Shule smiles, "I can, but really wish it did not use so much blood."

"Now that I can fix along with the eating thing, actually" reads her book and grins, "That may make it more doable, your insides would basically be thralled, your heart, muscles, brain and bones remain vampire, can't change those. What this means is food you eat runs certain other parts, like sex organs, and tear ducts. Hmm not sure but you may even float a little. Not sure if you could swim or not, but with this you would not sink as fast." Nast'al nods, "Makes sense. Ok say we do this, You know when we get the chance we will eat like there is no tomorrow."

"No you won't cause I won't let you. Otherwise you'll just throw up, too much food and blarg." hand sign for vomit.

Shule nods, "Yeah, I have seen starving people do that. It's hard not to over eat… can we get fat this way ?" looking in the book, "yes." she slumps, "Damn" Nast laughs, she slaps him several times.

"Look you just have to be conservative and have lots of sex." is Anwen's answer, Smiling at them.

Nast just laughs, "I will get back to you on that stuff." He takes off running, with a naked Shule running behind him trying to slap him again.

Mew Mew kit comes over, "I want to fly like you do." she states, Anwen answers, "You only want that so you can chase and kill birds." she looks at the cat who just stares, trying to keep that very idea out of her head. "I will think about it. How do you feel about being a Tressym ?" She looks blank, "What is that ?" "They are a magical species of cat that has bird like wings and can fly." she considers, "Have to think about that." Anwen nods.

Mew goes back to looking for things she thinks should be in a dragons horde (more dead animals and strange bits than anything else in her pile)

Romulus comes back with a lost boot, "This will go well with your miss-matched boot collection" she looks it over, "Sadly it's not magical." He sits, "What do I know of magical. I can't smell magic." She looks at him and he shakes his head, "Nope don't want it. Now that immortality stuff, especially the healing part, that sounds good to me. Being a warrior and all you know." she nods and thinks and searches her book, "Doable actually. Can give you a few other powers to, add to your ability in battle, increased speed, endurance, give you the ability to see in color. Color is how we humanoids see the world. " he slowly nods, "Those sound good boss. Not sure about color, but the rest works for me."

She nods, "How about Night Vision, like Mew has. Really it's low light vision if you want to be technical." he nods, "I can see that being useful. Especially when she steals our food at night." Anwen grins but keeps her comments to herself. He runs off to look for the other shoe, or maybe something that 'looks magical'.

Henrik comes back with a full bucket of fish, "Miss where is the skinning knife, I got to clean this fish if we are going to have them for supper." She gets up and gets him his knife. "Here you go. I surprised you caught so many with the dragons over there."

He nods, "Mostly small stuff, but I did alright. I been listening to what you saying about giving people powers and all. I would be careful with that stuff." She nods, "Only offering you all the gifts. But not too soon as I still have a lot to study before I try anything." he nods, "So it's more like what you called a wish list then ?" She nods, "At this point, except for a few small things yes. I can gift duplications of powers I already have, like telekinesis or teleportation, but everything else I need special spells for."

He nods, "Not sure how I feel about that stuff truthfully. I mean there is always a cost right."

"Yes and no, the cost is to me though more than you." She looks at him, "You know you would make a good priest or philosopher. You have the right kind of mind for it." he actually looks surprised to hear that. He cleans the fish and thinks about that. Does not see himself as a priest, but the philosopher, yeah he can see that.

An hour later Anwen takes a pouch of gold and (still naked) walks toward the slave camp, looking for human sacrifices for her vampire lover and friend. The new dragon part is whining about the gold, she internally points out her horde is Magic Items not gold or gems. Gold is for Buying stuff, like magic items or food for her friends. Owen intercepts her, "You know walking around naked is not smart. Someone might confuse you for an escaped slave." She grins showing a mouthful of Dragon Teeth, he nods, "Of course that may just make them think you’re a demon instead." she laughs, "Any good looking prospects for our immortal friends dinner ?"

He shrugs, "May have been, but as you told Sarah your officially a god now, well she is been preaching your praises to them and trying to convert them to worshiping you like she does." Anwen face palms, "What is it with her and trying to convert the slaves of the world ?"

"Well technically speaking and all, they are her people, sort of, ya know. She is a slave and proud of it and thinks you being a god for slaves is a good thing. Also they can't really walk away from her preaching either." she nods, "there is that, makes it hard though when I need human sacrifices to feed the hungry blood drinkers of the world." Owen smirks.

Catching Sarah being all Preachy and Fanatical is easy, shutting up not so much. Eventually she just throws her over her shoulder and apologize for her crazy friend. "I will be back after I tie her to a tree or something. I, SARAH SHUT UP NOW!" she finally shuts up, but smiling hugely, "I do wonder if any of the slaves are for sale ?" The guard shrugs, "I just guard them, have to wait for the boss to come back. If he comes back. That huge flight of dragons scared off most everyone. I been here my whole life, only saw something like that once. They did not stop, just flew over, like this time." she nods, "Yeah my research mentioned this may be the time they did that. It's why we came. To see it. Like you said it does not happen often."

This slave taps her leg, "Are you a god ?" Anwen looks down at him, "Elven mage actually. Crazy girl here, well she is a good worker and such but a little touched." she shrugs while Sarah try's to counter that. Finally Anwen flips her over and looks her in the eye, "Stop it. I do not want them as followers. So stop trying to convince every slave you see that I am some godly savior for them. I am not. I am not nice people and you know it. Now, go back to camp with Owen." she turns to Owen, "When you get to camp, tie her to a tree, and remember to gag her." he nods and drags her off. Anwen sighs, "I love the girl but she drives me insane sometimes. This is the 3rd time in the last few months where she has decided to try and be a priestess and praise me to the world." The guard smirks, "Seen a few like that. Decide their master is the next best thing then that the world should think so to. First one I have ever seen trying to make someone in to a god. " Different guard comes over, "Uh mam, why are you naked ?" She looks at him, "Cause my clothes are covered in dragon guts mostly."

1st guard, "She is the one that the dragon tried to eat and she blew him up from the inside." 2cd guard, "Oh. So you’re a mage eh. Hm I suppose you used some kind of spell then." She nods and holds up a ball of fire, "Interesting note, while the outside of dragons are pretty resistant to fire, the insides are not. " a couple slaves laugh but the guards just got that 'ah' expression and keep back.

Not being able to purchase any slaves and not wishing fend off anymore 'god' questions she heads back to camp. When she gets there Owen Started with the gag and is using some left over rope to tie her to the tree.

Shule is watching with an amused interest. "Hey" Shule looks around and nods, "She was trying to convert the masses again. I really am not ready for that. Not sure I ever will be truth be told." Shule nods, "She loves you and wants the world to do the same." Anwen nods, "One of the guards said much the same thing." Shule nods. "She is pretty to." Anwen smiles, "So are you, so am I, we all pretty girls here." Shule laughs.

Henrik, covered in fish guts and skins, "To bad you can't say the same about the men you travel with." Shule and Anwen laugh, Shule counters with, "Ah but you’re a big strong man and that makes up for a lot with some women." he nods, knowing there are those who look for strength over looks.

Nast'al walks by, "I at least am Hansom and Dashing, I make up for my minions short comings."

Shule grins, "well that may be a tiny bit true. You Dash away really well." Several grins and Anwen snickers. Nast'al puts his hands on his hips, "oh ha ha" he says sarcastically.

Anwen, "Oh come on Nast, you set yourself up for that one and you know it." He nods, "Mind readers are annoying." She grins, "I don't have my mind reading on, so that was just how well I know you." Shule smiles, "Takes real friends to pick on each other like this and not mean it. Right oh master of 'I have no friends'." Nast thinks about it, then sticks his tongue out at them and walks down to the shore to pout at being caught out.

Owen comes over from tying the mouthy one up, "Ok that was the last of the rope the dogs scrounged. If anyone else needs tying up we will need more rope." Shule smiles, "We have rope in the mules bags you know." he nods, looking at all the stuff that sat on top and then at her, "No offense but I don't particularly like trying to move all those barrels and all we came away with form that ghostly dwarven city." Anwen shrugs, "Just goes to show it was not all illusion. Reminds me I need to tan some leather and such just to keep in practice while we are here and to cover where our money is coming from."

Owen sighs, "Why are we just camped here anyway ?" Shule, "Cause our reason to go to Babylon came to us here and now we don't have any idea where to go from here. Also this is as good a place for Anwen to train in her new abilities as anywhere. Why ?"

Owen shrugs, "There is a temple / guild hall to Nast'al in a city about a day and a half south of here. I was hoping to check in."

Nast comes over having heard that, "There is a temple to me here ? Why does no one tell me these things."

Henrik comes past, heading for Anwen's spice bags, "Cause you’re a god and we thought you knew."

Anwen grins, "Minor god and he has been out of circulation for a good while. So he does not know much of anything that has been happening in the middle time of when he was last walking about and when I freed him. His area of awareness is only at best a couple miles of himself. Also he and Shule are not at full strength yet. They are getting there, but not just yet." The two immortals nod, Shule explains, "That burst of speed I did when we learned Anwen had not in fact been eaten, I used to be able to do that all the time. That was the first time since I awoke that I could do that and it's still not easy for me. Give us a few months to a year and we will likely be much closer to full power." The men slowly nod, eyes going large at just how powerful they are yet to become. They are scary Now and not even at full strength ? Yikes.

After the mortals and Anwen have dinner and clean-up is underway (Sarah's doing the dishes), Anwen sees some merchants coming back up the road, a few more guards and some heavy military looking troopers who are eyeing the dragons in the area but don't do anything else.

Owen explains, "I grew up in these parts. The lake is neutral ground for the people and dragons. They like to fish and swim in it. But large groups like this are almost unheard of. So people who are not used to them may panic. Me I just like watching them."

Anwen nods, "They like people watching to. Oof that’s going to get some getting used to. I can hear many of them mind talking to each other. Some of those thoughts are, well not so much alien as stupid assumptions based largely on ignorance."

Shule nods, "And they are Your people now to. May have a long road before you."

Anwen frowns, "I was ok with being a dragon shifter, I really did not want the god thing to. They sort of snuck that in there. I told them I did not want to be a god. The shifter part I was cool with though." she sighs, "Instead of being an elf that turns in to a dragon, I am a dragon which can turn in to pretty much anything I can imagine as long as it's within certain limitations. Can only become 3 times my 'true size' mind you that's Dragon Form, or as small as a Bumble Bee Bat. Which is pretty small but there are lots of things smaller."

Shule, "A What ?"

Anwen shrugs, "From my trivia information center, it's the world's smallest mammal, a bat whose body is about the same size as a bumble bee but its wings can extend up to 6." she creates an image of one.

The image floats in the air, "The hand is for reference." she explains. Sarah looking from her spot, "Wow it's cute. What's it eat ?" Anwen thinks, "Bugs mostly." Sarah nods. Shule scoots closer to the picture then shakes her head, "That is small. Especially given the size of these dragons." Anwen shrugs, "My size is somewhere between 110ft to 150ft, that's counting the tail mind you, 68 to 80ft just in body if I recall the scale properly. Dragons Never stop growing either, there are legends of ancient dragons so big they had to leave the world as they out grew it." Shule's eyes go wide. she makes a little 'eep' sound, behind them is the sound of a tin plate dropping. Sarah looks at her, "your too big for kinky fun time now."

Smiling wickedly at her, "Naw I just wrap you head to toe in leather and use you for a dildo." That image snapped Shule back an she laughed. Sarah seems to be thinking that over as a possibility.

Sarah seriously ask, "Would I go in head first or feet first ?" Anwen, grinning, "Depends on the mood I am in and whether I want you to lick my insides or not." Sarah holds still with that image, everyone can see her nipples get hard and the line of moisture rolling down her legs. Shule shakes her head, "Now you've done it, you gave her a whole new level of kink to daydream about."

Anwen shakes her head, "I truthfully am not the one who came up with that idea. Don't know who did, but have seen some drawings people came up with for Alternate Uses for Human Sacrifices. There are a bunch of people who think dragons live on nothing but virgin sacrifices."

Henrik, getting the clean dishes to put away, "Well you 3 are safe then." he states as he stores the dishes. Snarking back, Anwen says, "You're not." Henrik blushes and hurries away.

Shule laughs. Sarah looks after him, "He told me he is saving himself for someone special."

Anwen nods, "I was to. I found that person, but Bast took that away from me before I thought to act on it." Sarah looks sad, "Oh, who did you find ?" Shule looks at her, "Girl sometimes your very thick. She was speaking about You." Sarah opens her eyes wide, then smiles hugely, but does not stop working. "oh" is all she says, "Well that's ok, we are together now." Anwen finishes.

Shule lays back and stares at the sky, "You know, this thing with Tiamaat and gods has got me thinking. Other than being classy and pretty what have I got going for me. I have no childer, no 'clan identity' as Nast'al puts it. I was a dancer, but I did that to make a living. What am I about now, that is what I am going on about." Anwen nods, "Me to. You know before this god non-sense started I really thought I was going to be a vampire before I hit 200. Kind of wanted to be one to tell the truth."

Shule looks surprised, "Well I can still bite you if you want." Anwen shrugs, "May not be a good idea. You getting addicted to my superior blood and all." Shule grins, "Not likely to happen. Oh who am I kidding, I am already addicted to you. Your annoying, wishy-washy, all knowing of strange trivia, magical, and have the strangest luck of anyone I ever met. You attract the powerful and then try to befriend pretty much everyone, whom you are not trying to feed to us. You are an interesting mix of friendly and homicidal and amoral while at the same time you are innocent of so much and a cynic of everything else. You love magic, are annoyed with Elves, whom you have never really met either I might add, like to make fun of everyone and yourself along the way. You are almost as kinky as Sarah but you are also loyal and fun loving in an off-beat way and I am picking up so many of your words, phrases and styles of speech it's scary."

Anwen just stares at her, "wow. That is how you see me ? Huh and I was going for Mysterious all this time." Shule giggles, "That to." she sighs and shakes her head, "I have fallen in love with you and Sarah and I don't know what to do with myself."

Sarah, now finished with the washing flops down next to her, "Well you can have me, all of me and I am not just talking Sex. I have given this allot of thought, what Anwen offered me and what you have and well I kind of want both and I figured out how to get it. Shule turns me, I get the lovely vampire stuff, then Anwen makes me a minor god under her 'house' as it were. Then we three get married and kill happily ever after." she states, then sticks her tongue out and giggles. "That sounded wrong at the end there. Killing Happily is not a good thing." The other two are now chuckleing at her run on words. But Anwen nods, "according to my book I can work it that way. Raising a mortal, or vampire to god hood is in my preview. Though I would have to name at least one of your areas of influence, your domain, as it were." Sarah grins, "I thought that was obvious, Kinky behavior and servitude. Both are strong suits with me." Shule, "not necessarily in that order either. Or combined as well." Sarah and Anwen both nod.

Anwen sighs, "So how many slaves should I get to feed to her ?" Anwen makes a face, "Oh I should warn you both I may talk to myself more, the lion was sneaky quiet, the dragon spirit wants to know why I don't horde all my gold, your gold and everyone else gold. And well any other sort of treasures. I been trying to explain commerce to it, it's a hard sell. Also been explaining to it that gold is used to buy things like luxury items, magic items, and food." Shule nods, "I have heard part of that argument a few times today. For the answer on food for a new vamp we need to ask Nast, he has made others before."

Before either of the immortals can move Sarah is up and running over to Nast, "NAST NAST! I got a question." Nast, without looking up from a map of the area Owen procured for him, "No I will not fuck you." She leans over him, "Not that silly. Anwen wants to know how many bodies are needed for turning a new Immortal." Nast looks up at her, "Over a hundred usually. It's not just the first feeding either, it’s the first week or so of blood madness." she nods, "Ok thank you. Shule agreed to turn me." She bounces away happily with her news. Owen looks at Nast, "Is that true ?" Nast shrugs, "It really differs from turn to turn really. Some take more some less. Only ever turned 5 people though, I would have done more but your grandfather turned me down. He fell in love. Which in the long run turned out to be a good thing. Cause you’re here now." Owen nods, "Yeah I actually knew him, he lived to be almost 300 years old. Something of a legend locally. He moved out here after you vanished. Vishal the Enforcer came with him looking back on it I think that's probably why he lived so long. Vishal went out on a job and never came back about 100 years before grandfather died. No one knows what happened to him. Well back then, I suspect it was the night fiends now." Nast nods, "More than likely. Though while Vishal was big, strong as an ox, and loyal to a fault he was not the most graceful of people. I could very easily see someone collecting his head. That and fire are the only ways to kill a minor immortal like him. Fire would do it for me. No head slows me down a bit, not being able to tell my body which way to run and all. Kitten and Mick, them I don't know if they had any weaknesses to speak of. Seems each generation is a touch weaker than the one before it. May have to ask Anwen if she knows why."

Henrik thinks, "So why tell her 100 then ?" Nast shrugs, "We don't have that kind of money just laying around." Owen, "I counted the money that Anwen got from those magi bandits, she pulled over 24,000 in just gold from that raid." Nast comes to a complete stop, eyes going huge, "oh shit, she could get a few thousand slaves with that much. " he turns and runs over to Shule, "Stop her, oh please don't let Anwen do the bargaining, she'll lose all our money."

Shule points to this very tall, gold flecked dragon, "That's Anwen, she has her money and is in a strange place right now. Her dragon side is greedier than you. It wants not only all our gold, but all their gold to. And she can read minds allot better than she used to. Seems most dragons are telepathic."

Nast wrings his hands, "But she can't haggle, she is terrible at it. You've seen her, you know how bad she is at it. And now she does not have beauty to aid, her, just brute force and that does not work with those kinds of people."

Nast with Shule trailing catch up in time to overhear Anwen happily saying, "Hi, We are in need of volunteers." Careful merchant, "Volunteers for what ?" Anwen Huge pointy yet sweet smile, "Human sacrifices. We are doing a religious ceremony and need them for part of it. Welcoming back a couple of old gods to the region." strangely enough no one wants to volunteer.

Older merchant, "Not going to get any volunteers for that, but I can sell you some slaves that you could use for that."

Anwen shakes her head, "No, not the same you see. The willing work so much better and the sick and insane your thinking of would really not work at all." He jolts, "How do you know what I am thinking ?" he demands, she sits back, "Magical item, lets me see in to peoples thoughts, very good for not getting cheated by shifty merchants such as yourself." One very large, heavily robed guard snickers at that. The old merchant glares at him, but the guard is not his to command as he is part of the military unit sent to protect the camp from 'monsters'.

The old merchant looks at him, "Well do your duty, make this monster go away." The fellow stands up, walks over to her and bows, "Greetings oh wondrous of Wyrms, I am requested as you heard to remove monsters. Unfortunately the monsters here seem to be the merchants and I am also commanded to protect them. You see my quandary ?" She nods and replies, "Indeed I do small stout and lovely wyrm-kin. It is something of a quandary indeed. I have an idea for a solution but it would mean you failed in your orders and that is not good for one's service record." Massive guard nods, "Which is it, killing him or ?" She smiles kindly at him, "The gods I mentioned are already Here. And one of them is not as particular about willing or unwilling sacrifices. " The guard slowly nods, "Whom is this god oh fairest of the Gold clan."

Nast is just there, "That would be me, Nast'al the Undying." wide toothy smile. The fat old merchant, knowing the name well, shrieks like a girl and lumbers away at a pathetic pace.

No one chases him, Shule watches, "You know I think his heart will give out if someone says boo to him right now. Not that he would make a good sacrifice, to fat." Nast'al nods, "Also I think, yes he is a client of one of my temples. Something about removing his competition, last 3 were." gives a list of names loudly enough that the fat one never makes it to the far side of the camp before several angry relatives and business partners remove him from this life. The guards do not interfere at all.

Anwen looks at the body sideways, "Wow lots of darkness in him" she mutters at something only she can see.

She looks down at the Massive Guard, "So oh well built one, did that count for or against you." He shrugs, "We are to protect them from monsters, nothing said about protecting them from each other. And no one liked him anyway. Even the Sultanate barely stood the man. He had a good eye for slaves, but was hard to be around." Anwen nodded, "The problem with allot of his slaves is they were free people he happened to see on the road and had taken. Including a missing princess he sold to someone in a town about a month's journey from here according to his last thoughts as his life fled his body…" Several guards are there quickly, "The Princess, you know where she is ?"

Anwen shakes her head and says the odd sounding word, "That is where he sold her and some of her people but that is all he knew of her fate."

The guards send a rider with the news to their Sultanate, "She was to marry a prince some months back but was stolen on her way there. Too bad he is dead, or they could torture him to get the information from him to whom he sold her to."

Anwen nods, "Oh it was to someone called The Black sand ? something like that." The big guard reaches under his hood, "Feckless dog! That was the prince she was supposed to marry so an alliance could be forged." Anwen shrugs, "Make the right sacrifices and maybe some god will bring him back for a proper execution." Nast held up his hands, "don't ask me, I am a death god. I don't bring people back, I put them in." Anwen gives him a look, "Well that's different, they work for me." She nods at his comment. He looks at the big guard, "Not good for even one such as I to argue with one such as her." The guard nods, "Agreed oh shadow of the sands."

Anwen looks at Shule, "I like how this one talks, mix of colorful phrases and careful information. I can't do that for very long."

Shule pats her leg, "Your young yet, it just takes practice oh jewel of the flaming sun." Shule looks at the guard, "She does allot of fire based magics." he nods, "Ah, that makes more sense then." Anwen nods, "breath weapon is nice and all but it doesn't have the range of a good fireball." she says with a hint of pyromaniac glee." The big guard makes a coughing sound of someone trying to hide a laugh.

Shule pats Anwens legs, "It's nice you wanted volunteers for the ceremony but let's face it, not many people are willing to die for some goddess they have never heard of. She is unknown in these lands after all. Besides we can just go about it the old way. Whole sale slaughter. It's more fun anyway."

Anwen looks down at her and she shrugs, "Well I am old and as you put it, not nice people. I have gotten to enjoy killing and such over the centuries. I am an Immortal after all, most of us go that way anyhow."

The guard just put 2 and 2 together and is backing away slowly. Immortals of her type are known here abouts, but it is Day time, and that is very very bad. Night walkers are tough but killable, Day walkers though are believed to each have a different weakness and unless you know it they just keep coming. The fact that the really old ones are often worshipped as gods (cause they are) is not good either. Gods are even Harder to kill. Most are impossible to kill if you are not a god yourself.

Different guard, just coming up while craning around, "Hey Jaculz, have you noticed the number of dragons now surrounding the camp ? It's like they are gathering for something."

The big one, Jaculz looks around and then goes very still, "This is not good. Something big happened here and fools that we are we did not think to find out what and now it may be too late."

The new guy, "The merchants and such said monsters, but I don't see any."

Nearby merchant looks at the guards like they are insane, he points to Anwen then the dragons, "Are you crazy Those are the Monsters. Hundreds of them showed up and started terrorizing us. We barely escaped with our lives!"

New guy to Merchant, "What ? Oh I see your new around here. This place is a known Dragon holy site, there are Always lots of them around. We have a treaty with them. Unless someone does something stupid that breaks that treaty we are all fine."

Anwen nods, "The treaty was broken actually. From what they are saying this camp is harboring baby killers. Someone has been hunting the babies, skinning them and taking that skin to be sold. Dragon babies to be precise." Jaculz goes still, then his body language shows fury, "Someone is doing WHAT!" He turns and barks out orders to search the wagons, that some fools here have broken the treaty.

Meanwhile Anwen has gone over to a large blue dragon (with really pretty scales) and leans down to talk to the smaller dragon, "Hello" looking surprised at her, "Oh um hello serene one. What can this humble one do for you." Anwen smiles, "I do like how people around here talk. Ah, being new to the area and all." the blue nods, "I don't know about this treaty that the guard mentioned. can you tell me about it ?"

The Blue nods, "Oh yes, well it is basically a treaty of non-aggression. They don't try to hurt us or our young we don't raid their towns or herds. We are free to trade with them and vice versa, which has proven good for both our people. But recently someone has broken the treaty and we tracked them to a caravan. Well the smell of dead babies anyway, you understand. We don't know if these are the actual killers or just fools who bought the skins for some purpose most of us don't like to think about. So as your um, Tiamaat's chosen we are waiting on your judgement on this matter. No offense but you don't act like a Gold usually acts, they don't really Like the Immortal ones, yet you seem interested in feeding them."

Anwen shrugs, "They are my friends, we have been through allot together. Also I am completely amoral and neutral, or that's is what every god I have ever met has told me. Which is quite a few. Anyway the guards are now searching for the merchants and wagon that have the bad stuff. We will see from there."

The blue slowly nods, "So you don't have problems with someone eating humans or whatever."

"Well if it's necessary for their existence no. If they do it cause they can but don't need it. Then I have a problem. That does not apply to those who hunt us for sport or our bodies. You would not believe some of the stupid things some mages have made up about what can be done with dragon body parts." shaking her head. The blue nods, "I probably would actually. Met a few that wanted my nail clippings. Dragons don't clip our nails. Idiots." Anwen nods, "Not a good idea to give them any part of you anyway. I know a dozen binding spells that could affect even us if they have a part of you." The blue looks surprised. Anwen shrugs again, "I read allot. Mostly a book I got that has spell descriptions in it. Very informative that one." The blue nods, "I would think so."

"Ok, so find the merchants, learn from them who the hunters are, hunt down the hunters, dispense justice. That about it ?" The blue nods, "I have a question. Why did you pick me to talk to ?"

Anwen thinks, "Truthfully, I love your color, you are a lovely shade of blue and I just wanted to see you up close." she ends in an embarrassed whisper. The blue grins, "ah, thank you serene one. It is always nice to hear compliments." Anwen nods, "ok then, um thank you for the help."

Anwen returns to the others and squats down to the Big One as she is thinking of him, "Ok this is what I got, they are hoping the merchants can lead them to the hunters. They don't hold Everyone guilty of this right now, but some are getting a bit angry and really don't need dragons taking on a mob mentality." The big one looks blankly at her, "what ?"

She grimaces, "All thoughts come from mostly instinct level." He nods, "OH ok, yes that would be bad." He looks around, "They seem to be waiting for something more than that … why are so many of you here anyway ?"

She smiles, "Tiamaat manifested here this morning. New form, 5 heads of the Chromatic lines. Baphomet sort of appeared to. Just his head though, they were talking about something but I could not hear what. I was a bit occupied at the time."

He drops to his knees, "Tiamaart, Mother of all Dragons, was here ? She manifested here ?"

Anwen nods, "Yep, did some business, talked to some people, including Shule here. Then went north, something about terrorizing someone up north. But gave no other information." he nods, then sighs, "oh hell. The Sultanate will not be happy."

Shule, "All of Ishtar's priest were in pain and had to leave before she fully manifested."

Jaculz "I would imagine, they are not on good terms even before the split in power."

He looks up toward the sky, in prayer or what none would know for at that moment an Old and HUGE gold dragoness fly's over, looking for something, then before the crowds eyes she comes in low and changes in to a tall, curvy female humanoid and lands not too far from the smaller gold dragon.

She was dressed in white and gold and carried a staff with a flame like crystal at the end. The other dragons bowed to her as she moved past them but when she came to Anwen she bowed, "Greetings oh Serene one. I am Glaxlomax the Elder, High Priestess of the Golden Balance, Welcome to our world."

That clicks something in Anwens memory, "Oh so that's what she meant. Well Met Glaxlomax I am Anwen Cin'aed, well that's my common name anyway. Sorry I tend to ramble on sometimes."

Nast to the new beautiful woman, "All the time really, too much knowledge in too small a head in my opinion." The Dragon priestess gives him a condescending look "And whom are you ?"

Anwen answers, "That is Nast'al the Undying, minor death god and lord of assassination. He is an ally of mine actually. You get used to the snarkiness after a while. He only does it with people he likes. This other is Shule the Elegant, also a minor goddess and a dear friend of mine." The Priestess nods, she had been warned that the Serene one kept strange company and had some very different friends. She had also been warned that despite her apparent youth she was allot older than she appeared. The youth had to do with this worlds rules concerning living gods. The madness had to do with being so Very old and according to the opinion of the messenger to long spent in humanoid form. But she decided she would make her own opinion. Besides it's not good to argue with Gods, even young ones.

She digest the name, knows it's from a foreign land and probably has meaning but she can't think of what it could be. Anwen is watching her think, on many levels at once. "Name means Beauty Born of Fire." she tells Glaxlomax when she gets stumped, the priestess looks up surprised. Anwen just smiles.

Meanwhile Jaculz is making little mewing sounds to himself. The Serene one is the Ultimate Judge and Judicator in Dragon Laws. And is Always picked by the Gods and served by the Golden Balance. Beyond that he did not know, except she could pass laws and they would be accepted without question.

Anwen nods then thinks, "You do know about the present problem ?" The great golden one nods, "The hunters and those foolish enough to buy from them, yes I was informed as I came in. They await your command on that."

Anwen nods, "The local Sultans guards are even now searching for the wagons and the merchants here. They really do not want a breach in the treaty. From what I understand of it, that could be bad all around." Glaxlomax nods, "Yes mam it could."

Anwen nods, "I suspect foreigners who are unaware of the treaty more than stupid locals. Several of these merchants actually fit that from what I have seen. The unaware part that is.

From what the Great Mother told me, you’re here to act as an Adviser ?"

The woman nods, "Yes Serene one. As you are still new to the world and not in full knowledge of its nuances and history it falls to me to act as such and you have all the Golden Balance to call on if need be." Anwen nods, "Cool". Blank look from the Priestess, Shule volunteers, "she has done some plane traveling and picked up an interesting assortment of slang. She can't seem to break the habit of using those phrases and terms." Anwen shrugs, "Spend 50 years in a society that uses them in everyday conversation and it comes to be hard to stop." The high Priestess actually smiles at that and nods, "I do understand that at least. I spent a long time in human form centuries ago. Picked up a few bad habits then myself. Hard to break those." Anwen nods. "Um, question for your opinion ?" The Priestess stands in formal state, "Of Course."

"Do you think I should take my standard humanoid form or stay as I am right now ?"

She considers this carefully, "On a personal note, yes. Your form is suitably magnificent, but a bit hard on the neck." Anwen laughs, "Good point. ok, let's see how do I do this again, oh right. "

Anwen stands up, balanced on her tail, then a pillar of fire surrounds her, she shrinks down and when the fire clears she stands before them, in her studded black armor and high boots with cane in hand, "No idea why I always get the fire effect. Can't seem to turn that off." she mutters only loudly enough for those close to hear her. She looks at the Priestess now closer to eye level, "Hello again." Glaxlomax bows, "Hello again. Nice form by the way." slight curtsies, "Thank you, I like it. The White Lady helped me with the design." NOW the Dragon looks impressed, "THE White Lady ?" Anwen nods, "Yep, she is nice, well scary, but nice. Well as long as you are on her good side." The ancient gold nods, "Yes I would think being on her good side is preferable." Anwen nods, "Oh yeah, I have seen her loose her temper once, Rather piss off the Mother, not nearly as scary. Still scary but well you understand." Glaxlomax nods, "I have heard even the Mother treats her with respect, so yes."

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Nast'al, "Ok I am going to admit this, Who is the White Lady ? I have heard the name mentioned many times in my long life but no one has ever told me who she is."

Glaxlomax looks to Anwen who nods at her to tell him. She takes a deep breath and the faces the evil one, "She is the Capital F, Goddess of Fate and Destiny. If you're in her favor you can have a good life. If she does not favor you, well she probably sends someone like you after you. Or worse. She is good at worse."

Anwen, "Actually she just sends him usually. He is creative when someone needs punishment." Glaxlomax looks at him then back to Anwen then back to him, then she takes an obvious step next to Anwen. "I see." Anwen giggles, "Oh no worries, he has a strong code of honor and sense of loyalty. Breaking your word is the worst thing you can do around him. It tends to get unpleasant after that."

Shule, "I always thought sending Mel would be worse than him. She is so…" Anwen finishes, "Childlike and evil ?" Shule nods, "Most never see it coming. She comes across so sweet and innocent, then right in for the most devastating kills imaginable." Anwen nods, "Yeah she is fun." Shule looks at Anwen, "One day your inner evil child and I will have to have a long talk." Anwen shrugs, "I tend to aim her at people whom harm children, she takes care of the rest." Shule nods, "There is that."

There is some commotion and the report reaches the group that the cart has been found. Anwen and company go to investigate it.

Anwen arrives, looks at it and frowns, then places a hand on the top skin and focuses. "Hmm these were moved here when the guards started their search. The ones who did it have the other skins and bones and, oo nasty nasty, they work for a cabal of mages who want this stuff for experimentation on legends they have heard about concerning dragons and their properties. Men in black robes using amulets to hide their identities, hm, well well, I recognize that symbol. Interesting. ok, pardon me a moment." she takes out the cane again, focuses on It, whispers something to it. A moment later 10 people are just There. Along with a freshly killed baby black dragon. The hunter is cleaning his knife when he realizes something is wrong and looks up then around at all the soldiers and the large number of adult dragons. Being an idiot he draws his sword and attacks, only to be frozen in place by Glaxlomaxes staff along with the others there. She waits for the command to kill, it does not come. Instead Anwen is happily striping items off of them and making a pile. Shule sighs, "She has this thing for magic items." Glaxlomax nods, she completely understands. Dragons have a hard time controlling themselves when faced with their favorite collectable. Even great old ones fall for it sometimes. Hers is for magic staves. Only the fact that the cane staff belongs to Anwen has kept her from trying to claim it so far. Anwen is making 3 piles though. The Priestess has to ask, "Oh Serene one, why 3 piles ?"

Anwen states as she removes a pesky amulet, "Cursed, useful, and needs to be destroyed soon." Shule looks surprised, "Wait you can destroy magic items ? Why ?"

Anwen looks around, "What is my primary thing ?" Shule thinks, "Balance usually. You hate things that throw the balance .. of .. the … OH!" she nods, "Those kind of items, yes." Anwen nods, "My purpose here is because this world is out of balance. Because of that. Those items promote or increase the destruction of this world if left unchecked. Well mostly, I want to double check them to make sure I got the right vibe. Otherwise I just drop them in to an Oblivion hole." Shule nods, but does not comment.

Glaxlomax looks most impressed. That is part of the job of the Golden Balance to, and why they get a God or Goddesses help every few millennia. It's an extremely hard job and more than a few were considered insane Before they got it. But given their natures it's understandable why many would think that. Keeping the Balance not only between good and evil, law and chaos, but creation, destruction and Balance, is a hard thing for any being. Those chosen to defend it are never truly understood even by those that serve them.

Once stripped down to the skin and even further in a couple cases (she carved tattoo's off a couple of them), then placed them in a circle she drew, "Ok you can release them now." One was a minor Prince and he immediately tries to cross the barrier, but was grabbed by a seasoned adventurer in time to keep the prince from having his foot burned off. Seeing that the Prince stops, for a moment the Demands, "You will release me Now! You have no Idea who I am."

Anwen looks at him, "You Prince Kazeem Al Hasan, you Know about the treaty and think it's stupid you are not allowed to profit by killing a few worthless dragons. Well this is Glaxlomax of the Golden Balance, and I am a Law Keeper. "Anwen glances at Glaxlomax who nods as it is an accepted title, "You broke the treaty, your position does not make you immune to reprisals. On the contrary it increases your responsibility. Murdering children has a high cost with me." He counters, "They are not children, just stupid beast."

Anwen sighs and turns to Glaxlomax, "What do you think ? Call his father in on this and the other leaders ?" She nods, "It is the wisest course of action."

Anwen nods, "So be it."

There is a pressure then a pop and 11 men and 3 women appear. They all look around in surprise. A heavy set very imperious looking one demands, "What is going on here ?"

Anwen walks over, "Sorry for interrupting your day but this is a serious event and I thought" he interrupts, "You Thought ? You Thought ? What sort of FOOL Thinks they can Order the Sultan of Haazgar Sultanate ?" With but a thought she turns him in to a peacock and turns to the others, "As I was saying, This is a serious event. This pompous little prince decided the treaty between the dragons and the local Sultanates did not apply to him. He sent hunters in to the Dragon lands and had many of our children killed for his own profit, selling their bodies to a group of enemy mages. The Thallan Mages to be precise."

The Sultan who is also the father of that Prince looks at his eldest son, "Are you Mad, dealing with enemies who have tried to take over our lands for centuries."

Anwen nods, "He does not believe that. He also does not believe any law of man or 'beast' as he insist on calling us, applies to him."

The Council of the Sultanate of the Northern Lands and the Sultan of Kallum in the East look at the leader of the Southern lands Who stares in shock and sadness at his son. He pulls off his turban and stares at it. "Oh fool who was once my son. You who meant the most to me, you have committed Treason against the people and forsaken the Treaty with the Dragons. I have no choice but to" tears streaming down his face, "To .. You are no longer my son, you are no longer a prince or a person. I leave you to the law of the Dragons."

One of the Council, "Why are we here ?" Glaxlomax, "Because what happens here affects you all. The treaty is in the balance. If you care not what happens to it. " she sadly shakes her head.

The ignorant one opens his mouth and two others slap him shut, "He is new, still learning the way of things. We do not wish a war with the Dragons." States an older senator.

Anwen looks at him, "He does, but only because he thinks you all would win. He has no idea what war is actually like. Stupid dreams of glory and parades and decorating hero's. He does not realize the amount of destruction and death there would be Nor does he care as long as it does not touch on his personal life."

Old woman looks at Glaxlomax, "Glax how is she doing that ?"

Glax nods to the old one, "Sheena, she is the new Serene one. One of her gifts is the ability to read the minds of those around her, to see in to them completely it seems. Very useful in a Justicar." Sheena nods, "Scary to in the wrong hands." Anwen sighs, "I did not ask for the power, but it came with the job. It's useful, but also annoying." Anwen looks at this 'Sheena' "Oh your That one. I like you, I have heard of some of your youthful adventures." Sheena looks surprised, "Ah, thank you, I think." Sheena moves over to Glaxlomax, "She is just a child, how does she know of me ?" the priestess sighs, "She is much older than she looks. She is of the Golden line but the keeper of supreme balance." Sheena thinks about that but before she can say it, Anwen speaks to her, "Yes and don't say it. I really don't want to let That out. It's more annoying than the mind reading." Sheena actually steps back and then nods, "Yeah I can see how it would be."

Anwen looks at the golden lady, "Glax ? For close friends I take it ?" She shrugs uncomfortably, "Sheena has been on the council for a long time. We served together and well, you know how it goes." Anwen smiles, "Yes I do. Nothing wrong with it either. But back to work."

She moves over to the sobbing Sultan, "I am sorry for your loss sir." she puts her hands on his shoulders. He cry's "I tried but he was always such a stubborn child. Always wanting his way." She nods, "Want me to send you home ?" He looks up at her and nods, "Yes please. I need to tell the family about this. I fear his mother will be quite distraught." She looks south, "She actually knows and is the one who wrote the introduction letters to the buyers. She is not good people. Your second wife is nice people though, much better pick." she shrugs, "Being the Serene one means getting allot of information shoved in to my head by the gods, allot of information." He nods, "Please … please don't kill him." She makes a face, "I was thinking of turning him in to a riding lizard or the like actually. For his personality that would be hell." The Sultan looks at her then nods, "ok that is worse than death for him, but better than he deserves. I am sorry for the loss of your peoples children." She nods, then sends him home.

She turns back to the crowd, "Ok let's see. Hm" is still for a few minutes then, " Thallan is no longer a problem." Nast face palms, "You dropped a mountain on them didn't you ?" Anwen looks at him, "No that would cause to much damage world-wide. I teleported a dozen of the larger tunnel worms in to their capital and let them go. Ok I did drop one right on top of their archmage, he made a lovely splat pattern. That is helping with the destruction." Shule is just shaking her head, "You spend too much time with Nast'al." she sighs. Nast'al is nodding thoughtfully, "Not a bad attack actually. Tunnel Worms do lots of damage, more if they are hungry." Anwen turns to the other leaders, "I just wanted you all here to have the story straight and it's the correct thing to do under the rules of the treaty." The Eastern Sultan, politely, "Pardon, but are you going to turn him back ?" Pointing to the Sultan of the West, "Maybe, he is much nicer as a peacock. Quieter to." Several of the Northern Council snicker at that and nod. Glax gives her a look, "Really, ok your call." The Loud one is back, looking about and a bit in shock, "What happened ?" Sheena, "You ticked off a Dragon Arch Mage, she turned you in to a peacock. Glax talked her in to turning you back." He looks disappointed, "Oh. Oh well. I was rather enjoying that actually. It was kind of nice." Anwen shrugs, "Sorry for startling you earlier." he nods, "I heard everything and sorry for yelling, I know I can be quiet the annoying guest at times, my temper gets the better of me." He walks over to the prisoners, "As most of the others can tell you. I am a self-absorbed tyrant of a Sultan, but even I am not fool enough to break the Treaty with the Dragons. Killing their children is a death sentence at the least, worse if the Golden Balance gets in to the judgment. Which they have. So sorry none of you are going to live long. Or maybe longer than you wish when they are done with you."

Anwen walks past the newly dead baby, looks at it, kneels down and listens to something. Then takes her ankh and puts it around its neck. Then continues on around the prisoners, "Well we have judgement from the West and the South. North, East you get a say to." North, in typical committee fashion tries to pass the buck. East looks long at the West Sultan, very surprised at his changed attitude, tentively "Are you alright my friend ?" The western sultan looks at him, "Hm oh yes. Just well, being a bird gave me something of a change of perspective and I realized a few things about myself. One I will never eat another Peacock. Also, I do tend to strut about like an overly self-impressed peacock. I can see why few people tolerate me. I know it was only for a few minutes. Well also I can see allot of myself in that Prince. If I were a bit more foolish I could have been him. I think this event has given me a chance to do some soul searching. I need to calm down a bit. Maybe take a vacation. My own second wife has been wanting to go visit her relatives. They have a nice small kingdom on the North-Western border of my kingdom. May be nice to do that." The Eastern Sultan nods, "I make a point to take a few days off a year just for myself. Helps with the stress of running a country. Maybe sometime you can come over to my country for a week. We can see the sights, chat that sort of thing, you know like normal people. No politics or that stuff." The Western Sultan smiles, "I would like that actually. You may have to remind me to stop acting a fool though, I am not sure how long this is going to last." East nods, then to Anwen, "I to concur, the Treaty is too important to lose to some fools." The north is being difficult But Anwen walks over to the 3 women, "Ok as you’re the only ones with a brain in your group, what say you ?" The youngest coughs a laugh, "I am with you. The murder of children of any intelligent species is just wrong." The middle one looks more concerned, "The treaty is important, but I don't hold with inhumane punishments. What are you planning." Anwen nods, "Transformation for the prince, death to the hunters, type still under discussion, the merchants, undecided just yet, depends on how much they were involved and how much trouble they are likely to be. At the very least all their goods are forfeit, and I am not talking just the remains of the children." The woman nods, "Ok then, that sounds fair." Sheena shrugs, "String them up and use them for fish bait is my vote. I don't hold with anyone killing dragons, half dragons or anything like that." Anwen nods. "Ok, Your vote is noted and accepted. I will send you all back now."

And like that the North Sultanate is gone. East and West are having a long talk off to the side so she leaves them be for now.

Meanwhile Glax is talking to Shule, "Out of curiosity, before she got this post what was she ?"

Shule nods, "Goddess but Knowledge, Magic, Fire, and Adventure. The last is cause it comes looking for her if she sits still long enough." Glax nods and actually laughs a little, "Sounds like me in my youth actually. The Adventure bit." Shule nods, "I am from here actually. But there was no treaty when I was here. I was known as The Dancer back then." Glax now looks surprised, "You’re the Dancer, oh my. I heard you were killed by some evil dark things." Shule shakes her head, "Imprisoned in a volcano along with all my cousins because 1 elder immortal made a deal with the dark and tried to take over the world. Anwen destroyed him utterly. He pissed her off cause he hurt a friend of hers. Then she found us and let us out. Dropped us right in the middle of a pirate base. Letting our rage spend itself in destroying them. Then she gathered us and we ended up in Egypt for a little while. Learning to be people again. Had some problems with the local gods and had to move on. Nast'al and I decided to go with Anwen, as did some mortals. Sarah is Anwen's slave. Anwen has tried to set the girl free on a dozen occasions, the girl refuses. She Likes being a servant. Likes belonging to someone to. I admit I like her to. She is strange but can be a sweet person. If your around us long enough you will meet her, just so your warned. She is very kinky." Glax looks thoughtful ,"What is 'kinky'" Shule looks surprised, "Um, Sexually adventurous, she enjoys things like being tied up, beaten, sex with pretty much anything. Anwen made a suggestion as a joke about tying her up and using her as a living dildo while she, Anwen that is, was in dragon form. Sarah thinks that sounds like fun." Glax nods, "Ah. I see why you think she is strange." and drops it as the last of the votes are in.

Anwen approaches Glaxlomax and then glances at her in surprise before the older dragon can order her thoughts. Anwen grins and mutters "later." The louder, "Ok all the Sultans and the Sultanate have spoken. They leave judgement and such to us. But the Sultan of the Southern region request we don't kill his ex-relation. I suggested turning him in to a service animal of some kind" The prince looked smug for about 2 seconds, now all the colors drained out of him, "Some kind of pack animal maybe. The others, the hunters are open for possible execution or similar. The Merchants, I am still looking in to, depending on how involved they are in this will depend on the level of punishment. Though loss of goods is the least end of it." Glaxlomax nods, looking more officious now. Telepathically to Glaxlomax, "So never done this before, suggestions, recommendations etc ?" She walks around them, "Traditionally execution for murder of a dragon by a dragon is very, painful, being torn apart by a group selected to execute the convicted. Have not had an incident like this since the treaty was passed over 300 years ago. Well the revised treaty, little war among the locals, had to make revisions with the winners, you understand" she says, speaking to the dragons more than the others. "Now the leader of this little ring has been caught and the Sultans of the surrounding Sultanates have agreed to allow us to pass judgement. The only request was that the Prince who broke the pact not be killed." Several dragons grumble at that, Glaxlomax waits for them to settle before continuing, "The Serene one apon hearing this decided he should be transformed in to some form of Service or Pack animal for the rest of his days as retribution for his selfish and uncaring betrayal of our people. The merchants, depending on level of involvement, which will be determined by a soul search by the Serene One, will face a minimum of all their goods seized, to higher penalties as this court levies." the dragons all nod, none asking what will be done with the goods. "Those who actually committed the crimes the punishment is death, but the means of that death has yet to be determined. I for one am for slow torture. But it is the Serene one's choice on how and what shall be done to them. Do make note she has made some allies with some the the Humanoid Immortal Gods, including Nast'al the Undying, lord of Death and Assassination, who is well known for his creative and fatal punishments for oath breakers." That actually gets some nods and mutters of Nast'al being too good for them. Many want something that will last a while. Days or weeks or longer. Most of this comes from the families of those killed. Anwen looks around and says allowed, "Can I ask a question of the audience ?" Glaxlomax nods as do many of the dragons present, "On this point of execution, anyone have a problem with my friends using them in a human sacrifice ritual ? Trust me, what is needed will likely take a good long time for them to die, completely." There is much discussion about it, some questions (Anwen states part has to do with summoning a lesser goddess under her preview fully in to this world) . They talk and finally the crowd agrees with that sentence. Not really caring to know the details, only that they will die as horribly if not more so than what they did to the children.

Anwen nods and goes over to the last child the hunters were killing when they were apprehended. She leans down, has a slightly heated argument with the child but gets her medallion back. "Ok Good news, this one will be ok. Out of the woods as a human healer I knew used to say. Not perfect but he should live." A medium sized black female drops down, scoops up the baby, and holds him, crying acidic tears. Anwen reads this is the child's aunt and she cares about him very much. Anwen smiles at her, "You have good mothering instincts" she tells the female, who smiles at the Serene one. "He is my nephew, but he showed much promise and I was terrified they had killed him. Thank you for saving him." Anwen nods, "your welcome. Children are the future. " They aunt takes her nephew and moves to the outer ring.

Evil human hunter, "Your kind needs to be destroyed and one day they will be removed from this world." Anwen shakes her head, "Not by your little order. I already took care of their demise." she tells him sweetly, "My shifter friends tell me they were delicious." Pure happy smile as she tells him this.' He screams and throws himself at the barrier, only to vanish in a flash of white hot flames.

Away from the condemned and most the others a few minutes later, Glaxlomax comes to Anwen, "Did you mean what you said to him about his friends being eaten by shifters ?" Anwen looks around, "Nope, just said that because shifters is the thing he hated the 2cd to Dragons. I really don't know any shifters. Well other than a couple of Gods and I am not speaking to their scuzballed twisted." small patch of ground burst in to flames and Glaxlomax nods. Whatever happened there hurt her deeply and she is not going to pry. Yet.

Anwen looks at the small burning place then builds a caricature of fire, then claws the hell out of it before letting it go out. She frowns as that was not very satisfying.

Turning back to Glaxlomax, "That was a little psychological torture to add to what is coming for him. He has some serious problems with anything he views that is more powerful than a human and therefore more powerful than he could ever become. All his hate is because he feels inferior to well pretty much everything. Unfortunately that is not an uncommon problem for many species." Glaxlomax, "Jealousy and fear are two strong motivators in hate it seems." Anwen nods and sighs, "True." Looks at the lovely form, "Your mind keeps wandering in to kinky fun land, interesting as she is not here yet."

Glaxlomax pauses, "Who is not here yet ?" Anwen smiles, "Goddess of Deviant kinky sex and servitude." Pauses, thinks that over then, "Hm wonder if that should be Deviant Or or Deviant And kinky. Need a dictionary." Anwen looks in to the nowhere and then spouts " adjective: kinky; comparative adjective: kinkier; superlative adjective: kinkiest, informal, involving or given to unusual sexual behavior. synonyms: perverse, abnormal, deviant, unconventional, unnatural, degenerate, depraved, perverted; informal pervy" She considers that then nods, "Yep most of those fit her, so I guess it's just Kinky and Servitude." Glaxlomax stares, "What was that ?" Anwen shrugs, "The White Lady put random information in my mind, usually trivia but sometimes if I focus on a word I get stuff like that. Seems to be part of my built in translator. See I only speak one language with any skill and have trouble learning more, so to help me with my little problem she put in a form of permanent Tongues ability, basically everyone hears me in their native language and I hear them in mine, though if I concentrate a little I can hear the language they answer me in to."

Glaxlomax, having used tongue spells, knows how they work, but never met anyone who was able to access the spell to the point of being able to pull up all the trivial information contained in it before. She walks toward Anwen's camp, shaking her head. They are going to set up the 'cage' for the scarifies and Glaxlomax suspects she will meet the human part of this party. She ask as they walk, "So what really happened to the one who attacked back there ?" Anwen smiles, "We built a latrine for ourselves at our camp, it’s a little over 10ft deep pit with wooden slats over it and wooden bench with a hole in it to defecate in. He is at the bottom of that hole. Sort of a preview punishment." Glaxlomax shakes her head. Almost evil, but very satisfying to.

The camp is nothing spectacular, not what she expected for a goddess let alone 3 gods. A single tent barely large enough for 8 people, a camp fire and stove and some work areas that look like a small forge and leather working areas, 6 horses, nice ones to be sure and a mule that looks like it's ready to die of fright and has been tied to 2 tree's to keep it from bolting. There is a line of laundry and things hanging from a cord or rope going between 2 tree's. She sees a pretty and very naked human girl doing the wash and a small, slender man, in leather armor hanging the wet clothing and cloth items from the line. Another larger man in matching leather armor is standing on a little rise watching them walk over from the merchants, then he scans around to make sure no one is approaching from any other directions.

Anwen grins at her, "Underwhelming isn't it. But we travel allot so this works."

She stares around, "How do you keep your horde this way ?" Anwen smiles, 'Portable Holes actually." Glaxlomax slowly nods, "Ah. I suppose that works …" Anwen smiles, "Well yes as they fold up in to what looks like small cloth sheets and unless you know what to look for .." The older dragon slows to a stop as the concept of being able to carry large chunks of your horde around in what is basically a hole in another dimension hit's her. "Um, how large a hole do they make ?" She ask at length. Anwen smiling, "Usually about 10ft cubed. That's to a side down and across, like a well cube or box. with one end open. They look like stone on the inside. Near as I can figure the 'hole' is in solid rock somewhere and the cloth is a special gate that opens only to that hole. " Glaxlomax comes to a complete stop, eyes far away, "Where did you get them ?" she finally ask.

"Well mine came from a raid on some magical thieves layer. Cleared out the whole of the place and took everything I could find in there. Had Lots of magical storage devices. The group apparently was quite large at one time but by the time we encountered them only 4 remained. One still lives. He is being used as reusable food for my Immortals. He has a badly broken leg we refuse to set properly so he can't run away and Shule broke his jaw so he can't cast spells. We encountered them on that land spur between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean sea. Coming down the mountains from the north." she nods, "I know of the area but have not been over that way in a long time. That really does not answer my questions."

Anwen shrugs, "You asked where I got mine. That is the answer, now had you asked where other people get them. Some mages can make them. Enchantment type magic is used. I don't know much more than that as I have not gotten that far along in my studies. But I do know it uses magic similar to a deep pockets spell and you don't know that spell ?" Glaxlomax shakes her head, "Ok bring me some parchment and good scroll ink and I will get you a copy of that spell, ok ?" She nods, then smiles. New magic, yea! "I have no trouble sharing what I call common spells. I have a list of some 200 plus spells that fall in to that category. That is one of them. Mind you my studies, I am only beginning to understand the workings of the 5th rank of spells, oh and I don't count Cantrips as a spell rank. Those I see as being for anyone with even a tiny spark of magic in them and as such you don't have to be a mage to use them. Ergo level 0 spell. I have to go over that with so many humans …" Glaxlomax just nods. She is a priestess but has studied magic like all dragons do. But no dragon, who is not a dedicated mage, has all that many spells or really shares them easily. Finding someone willing to share even 'common' spells is different and nice and makes her a little suspicious, well it would normally, but she is dealing with a goddess and they do strange things sometimes. Which prompts her to ask, "Why share spells ?" Anwen answers, "To promote people in to learning more about magic and fellowship. Build trust between different peoples and make the world a better place over all."

Glax looks sideways at Anwen, "But don't you think feeding humans to Immortals works against that ?"

Anwen shakes her head, "I have seen worlds where the humans dominated the planet, it is never good. They usually destroy the planet from over use in about 10,000 to 20,000 years after they crawl out of their caves and figure out how to make fire. Provided there are not others in place to keep them in check. Immortals are one of the things I promote to keep things, like population in check."

Glax nods, There, that is the Balance part at work. Dragons are pretty good at keeping their numbers in check, mostly because of limited resources and them killing each other every now and again. She knows they are a strange species. Well maybe no stranger than the humans she guesses. Humans get bent out of shape when something other than them kills their own to. But then they get that way when one of their own does it. With dragons it’s a combination of politics and power and who is craftier than whom and as long as the rules are followed in the death of a fellow dragon it is an accepted thing. Dragons are big on Rules. Don't have many but the ones they did have could only be changed by a large vote of the council or by The Serene one or a greater power. The greater powers usually left such things alone though, that is why they made Serene ones every now and then. The thing the High Priestess kept to themselves that they alone know is Serene ones are sometimes made from Gods from other pantheons or 'rogue gods' who for one reason or another don't have a pantheon. They do not all start as dragons, but they are all people who were at least dragon friends before their elevation to Dragon God. And their experiences from before that time often allow them to see things Dragons would miss. Serene ones who survive with their minds intact often went on to serve in other places at the end of their tenure. Some few choose to retire, find a nice cave or castle and live a time as a somewhat normal dragon. A few move beyond their knowledge to.

Standing at the edge of the camp, away from everyone Glax chances to ask a delicate question, "I know you were not born a dragon. Few Serene ones ever are truthfully. I was wondering what your connection to us was."

Anwen thinks, nods to herself then answers, "Well for several lifetimes I had a spirit mentor who is a dragon, prism type. Mind you, lifetimes is plural as I was different people and even races over the course of my souls development. I actually reached a point that I was not only aware of having had past lives I learned how to see some of them, learned some things I forgot between lifetimes and such. While I was in that state in the lifetime before this one I met an astral projection of Tiamaat. Turns out my soul had met her sometime in its beginning and she is the one who suggested that spirit guide for me. That life time I was physically very weak, but had a strong mind and was able to Finally reach a point my people then called the library of all knowledge in the very center of the Astral Plane. It's sort of the over mind for entire universes, or a universal unconsciousness. From what I understand, every Prime Plane has one. It's a huge step forward in a souls development to not only find it but Learn from it. All kinds of traps and test surround it to. Lots of people get lost in those test. The whole of that plane really amounts to lots of test and lessons cause that is the point of life. To learn, to become better than when we were born. And advanced souls are supposed to help those not as advanced learn more to. Not all of us are good at it though and well we do get caught up in our own lives. " She shrugs.

Glaxlomax, whom thought herself a fairly advanced soul looks at what was said, and how far she has come in her lifetime and then realizes that this young goddess is so far beyond her spiritually that she may as well be a new initiate. Anwen, picking up on Glax's thoughts, "Oh you are not That far behind. Your further along than your giving yourself credit for. Just my last lifetime I was a Mystic, spent my whole life studying that stuff. When I died though instead of going to a normal after life I ended up in the realm of the White Lady. She decided I was ready for this life." Glax slowly nods, "So how's that working for you ?"

"Rotten, well it started out ok, but I was Supposed to come out some 2000 years further in the future, then a miss-worded wish on one of her special cards happened and my file got sent to the wrong department and well things went south from there."

"What is south, why is that bad ?"

"The north and south points on a globe are Frozen Wastelands with almost no life to them. The Southern one, especially in the last world I was in was also known to be one of the most hazardous lands in the world do to all the storms. So going 'south' became a euphemism of going to hell or such other bad things."

Glax nods then smiles, "Ah, I see. Ok, so this lifetime got a huge hit of Primal Chaos right off the bat." Anwen nods. "Oh yes. Started in this world in a Prison with the vague mission of 'help the wisher out with a mission' Pretty girl, loyal to her mistress unto death and probably beyond. Was in an Assurane prison, I not only got them out but all the prisoners still able to walk as well. Thankfully because in my starting gear the White Lady gave me were a few choice magic items including one that can function as a portable gate if you know the right trick with it. I know the trick. Sent all the others to a neutral country. My New Mistress and her boss had to get back to Egypt because they actually worked for Ramsey's, Pharaoh of Egypt. Him I like, he was always nice to me and upfront that he wanted me for my skills to help with his country. It's the gods there I have problems with. Anyway. I got them out, closed the portal. Teleported outside where I found they had actually built the prison on an island inside the edge of a dormant volcano. My second order from my new boss was, if I could, destroy the prison. So with a little ingenuity, some luck and a touch of my personal insanity, I figured out how to awaken the volcano and in a direction that buried the prison in molten lava and hot rocks. The bonus irony was the first boulder took out their most powerful mage, fool thought it was an illusion or something, tried to protect himself with a spell shield. Made a most satisfying Squish. Arrogant evil little pile of feces. After that I tried to leave only to have the White Lady show up. She was rather upset I was there, but explained the problem, I theorized something and told her how some items I was Supposed to get were either missing or in one case, blank. The blank was my spell book. She flew in to a rage and froze me to that spot while she went and dealt with the 'problems'. I really don't know how long I was in that state before she came back, gave me a really nice spell tome. It has no actual spells in it, but it does give the description and hints on how to do things. Including all my special powers. So when Tiamaat upgraded me to my present state it upgraded to with a list of things I can and can't do and spell list now open to me in my present form." Glax eyes go wide, "What the ?" Anwen nods, "Oh she fixed that book so only I can read it. Or a greater power, but no one else. Also it and my starting magical items are all soul bound to me so they can't be stolen or used against me. Which is nice. Means you can't steal my staff like you been thinking about. Yes I understand, you collect staves. Just not getting mine. It's an artifact at any rate. If it does not like you, poof no more You." Glax slowly nods, she had heard stories of such magics. Usually made by gods for their followers and anyone else that tried usually did not live to try again. A few did, but were not so stupid as to do so.

"Oh this one won't Kill you. It was made by a Gnome God. So it would likely be much worse fate than Death." Glax thinks of what she knows of gnomes and their gods and then shivers. Nope not touching that staff, wants to remain a dragon, thank you very much.

There is a long high pitched scream, "Ah they got the prince and are dragging him to his new hitching post." Anwen smirks, "So what sort of animal do you think would be good for him. I was thinking one of those riding lizards I have seen around here. Given how cold blooded he is. Don't want to do a camel, they bite and spit too much for my taste. He is already an Ass, so that would not really work either." Glax is now grinning, "A wingless lizard would work. They are actually a subspecies of dragon, just something went wrong and they did not get the intelligence most of our folk did."

Anwen shakes her head, "Oh their plenty smart and most Like serving as mounts or carrying things cause a good master takes good care of them. Not having to hunt for their food all the time is a perk in their thinking. They just can't speak dragon or common and most have slow thought processes so it makes it hard to talk to them telepathically. They actually use a kind of scent language mixed with sounds and body language. It's interesting. "

Glax is back to staring at her with wide eyes again. She has learned so much today she fears her brain may explode at any moment. Anwen smiles at her, "Oh your young yet, no worries about that happening." Right, ok mind reading is getting old fast, and she knows that Anwen can't help it. Still annoying.

Anwen sighs, "How do you think I feel. I am hearing not only you but everyone in the region, from those sand fleas by that rock to the birds up in the sky as well as the people. All of them. It's like being in a very crowded room where everyone is talking."

Glax looks surprised again, then sympathetic and nods, "Ok. sorry for the, well I can't say much for what random thoughts I have, but I am sorry your in this state."

Anwen nods, "Got in it once before, but from a badly designed mind reading magic item, They forgot to make a way to Remove it. Almost drove me insane. The White Lady had to step in cause it was her peoples fault it was done that way. That was just a little before she completely lost it and reduced her work force, violently. I have seen it, it was not pretty, I am still trying to forget some of it. What the Immortals are capable of is NOTHING in comparison and I did not know celestial beings could bleed before that." Glax makes a note to herself, if she ever meets the White Lady, don't anger her. Though she is getting a picture of why Anwen is so jaded about violence. You can't go through things like that without it affecting you.

She herself as always been something of a Lawful goody goody, sure she not a nice being anymore, centuries in maintaining the Laws and Treaties and such take their toll. But now she has been assigned to work with a god who most likely can torture people and not bat an eye at how evil that is. Not really feel anything about it. She wonders just what the Great Mother was thinking.

Anwen stops and looks at her, "Oh I feel things, and I don't enjoy torture, unless the person I am torturing enjoys it to, and yes there are people out there that enjoy that sort of thing. The naked girl doing the laundry is one of them. She helps me deal with allot of my frustrations with the world and loves me for using her to do it. Ironically I love her to and want her to have a good life. I do tend to force her to make decisions for herself and she does not always make what I think are good ones, but they are hers and I will not try to talk her out of them. It's all about self-responsibility. You make a decision and you have to live with it and all that comes with it. I will support her in that to. That's what you do when you love someone. Though I do have long talks with her about why she chooses somethings and sometimes I understand it. Still don't agree, but I will help her achieve them when I can."

Several things suddenly click in her mind. The need for 'human scarifies'. Immortals use some kind of blood magic to make more of their kind and the new ones are always very hungry, they tend to kill indiscriminately for a time. Anwen is trying to limit the destruction because her crazy little lover wants to be one of them.

Anwen looks back at her, "You got it. And I did offer alternatives to. I can easily make her immortal, but well, she knows what they are, what they do to survive, no illusions about any of it and she decided she wants to go that route. So I will stand by her and I will do what I can to protect who I can from what she is about to become. My first choice were those who were perhaps suicidal, next I was hoping for criminal which we got and which I am going to have to be creative to keep alive long enough for her to return to sanity, or what passes for sanity at any rate. Fortune though has helped, I found a couple items that regenerate people, even can bring them back to life if enough of the body is left. That's how I saved that baby dragon today. I used one on the little guy. Had to argue with him to get it back though. Still with a little luck, some-time and a whole lot of patients, I will get my strange and wonderful girlfriend back. You understand ?"

Glax slowly nods, "You are not quite as far gone as I originally thought, still a little crazy but when love is in the picture many are." Anwen nods, "I told her I would make her the goddess of kinky sex and servitude to. I probably will, demi status though. Don't really think I want to give her much more power than that. I may be crazy but I am Far from stupid and I know my girl."