Chapter One: New Life, New Roads

Up the road to the ruined elven town come 5 beautiful and dangerous women, one of who is in a very bitchy mood, "I don't see why we have to check out these stupid Temples. Elven ones at that. It's not like they have been picked clean already." the short blond with the massive shield says to the others.

A tall slender blond in white robes sighs, "Because the Guild told us to and we are being Paid to do so as you know. Look we all know you trust the gods as far as you can through a mountain, you have made that clear. But something bad is going on. These raiders Only hit towns with temples in them and they focus on destroying those temples and ignore most of the rest of the towns, except to kill off any guards they find or wandering priest. The guild is furious for one and fears some outsider types are trying to weaken the hold on this world to make invasion easier." She explains for the 10th time this trip.

Tall busty warrior grins, "Hey I am good as long as we are actually paid for once. I am tired of getting shit pay cause we are an all-woman team. Besides did we or did we not find that bolt hole in the last one with the pouch of Electrum in it. Granted it's not much, but a few more like that and we could at least stay in a better inn and get some descent food next time."

Slender and lethal looking and very out of place Asian woman nods, "True. Also finding someone who knows something would be helpful. Heck I would be happy to find a priest with healing skills to drag around with us."

Short blond snarls, "I Told you why I quit doing that, so stop harping on it."

Asian, "I said Someone, I did not mention you at all. Heck I would settle for someone with a bunch of healing potions at this point. We are down to our last 2 and those things are expensive and hard to come by."

The ever silent red haired one speaks, "I smell smoke. Better I see a curl of it coming from the town up ahead. Looks like they did not run everyone off."

The mage looks up and nods, "I hope it's not like the last time. Old codger just would not leave his place. Stubborn and mean. Times I wish I had some transformative magics, he would have made a good mule." a few snickers and nods from the rest of her team, save for the red head, "He had every right to be there. It was his home after all."

A couple of the others give her a surprised look, "What ? " she says, "I am not a totally heartless monster, only a well-paid monster. Well till I hooked up with you lot." she amends.

They go quiet and spread out as the approach the remains of the town wall. A short search shows only one outbuilding has any sign of habitation.

The 'monster' sniffs, "Sausage, beef, cheese, melting, hmm no bread though. Someone is having breakfast it seems."

The building has only one door, all the windows are on the 2cd floor, but they know from experience that this place likely is only one floor. The waiting room for people to see the priest for various reasons. It would have an underground exit, likely blocked from the inside by both mundane and magical means. Not likely anything of value with in either. But the roof and chimney are sound as are the walls, so it's a good place to camp in if you’re a traveler.

They have moved back to the tree line, where they have a clear view of the place when they see a hooded figure in a bad fitting coat run out the door, around the corner, only to squat in some bushes.

The slender blond silently says to the Busty one 'pee break'.

While the figure is in the bushes, two of the team move in to the room and the other 3, more stealthy ones, move around to capture the person.

The Smell of of urine hits them hard and the Tall red head sneezes. In that moment the others rush the place only to find it empty, just a shallow wet hole to show the person was even there.

The blond swears and looks around and up. Up proved a good thing as something moves in the leaves, something large and fast and very agile as it leaps from one tree to the next, wearing a dark blue top and long slender legs peak out to stylish Blue boots with red piping. The figure leaps from the trees and on top of the roof in what had to been a magically enhanced jump.

"Possible mage" The mage says, pointing to the roof.

The busty brunet looks at her normally professional companion, "Really ?"

The professional shrugs, "The smell hit me before I could stop it. Happens to the best of us. But whoever they are, they are fast and good though I don't know where they can go from the roof."

Mage, moving toward the door, "Depends on if that jump was a spell or those boots. If those are boots of leaping, they can go a long ways. If it's a spell, it depends on what other tricks they know."

Once in the door, they make out a figure in the window and several bags, some odd clothing and a few bits of food flying around while the other two try to intercept things. The mage points at the figure and recites a spell. It squarely hits the figure which drops out of site, even as the flying things fall, "Quick out back, I think I got her with that hold spell." the blond mage tells the others. The Asian jogs behind her, "Her ?" Mage, "no man has legs like that one does. " she explains.

They get around to the back and find the figure, neck at a bad angle, laying beside the building. The Professional monster (as she calls herself) moves over and sets the figure on its back, pulls back the hood and turns the head around so they can see her face." The mage winces, "Damn but she was a pretty one. Too bad she had to be evil."

The short blond nearly slaps her, "Hey you don't know she was evil. From what we saw in there before you charged in, looks like a wanderer, maybe an adventurer. You can't just call someone evil cause you accidently killed them to make yourself feel better."

The Asian nods, "Melisanda has a point. We attacked her. She was just reacting the way any of us would who was alone and unarmed. She tried to escape. That is not evil, that is self-preservation."

The mage slowly nods, "Fine fine, well lets search the body and see what we can find out about her then." They turn back to the body, only to find it gone. Melisanda makes little whistling tune and starts to look carefully around while unhooking her twin balled flail, "Got foot prints here. Looks like she shook off your spell while we were arguing and " she slumps, "She went back for her stuff." They make it around the corner in time to see the girl running full tilt down the road, her head is still at an odd angle, but she is obviously not dead. Melisanda watches her go, "That has got to hurt, running like that."

The professional is hot on her trail but not gaining by much. She pulls out a lasso and tries to use that to shorten the distance, only to have it miss as the girl suddenly leaps over something in the road. The short blond "GET HER HEL" and takes off at a jog trying to keep them in sight.

Hel is a good distance runner, but chasing someone who is scared out of their mind is never easy. Fear gives feet wings as they say. Too bad it does not give them eyes to, she thinks as the girl tried to jump something else and fell in to the deep gully the elves line their roads with.

She catches up to find the girl tangled in a briar bush, crying and swearing in a language she has never heard.

As the others catch up there is a loud pop and yelp from the girl as her neck pops back in to place, seemingly on its own. Did not help with the briars but at least her head is on straight now.

Getting down in to the gully is easy, not getting caught in the briars at the bottom allot harder. The ones with the best armor got the job and they are not happy to have to not only pull the sobbing girl out but try and keep her from bolting the moment she is free. A short look around the group confirms no one knows the language she is blubbering in.

Suddenly the mage "Shit, her skin" pointing to the long gashes in her legs. As they watch they stop bleeding and slowly close up, leaving not so much as a faint scar to show they were ever there. The girl's clothing though is not so lucky. She keeps petting the different rents and tears in her to large coat and muttering sobbing words.

Melisanda grouses, "If she does not stop crying soon I am going to slap the shit out of her." The busty one, "Oh lay off. She is probably a refuge, look at this stuff. What clothing she has is way too large for her. It's all in bad repair even before it fell in to the bushes. Her only cloak is more patches than cloak any more. Nothing she has is new. Though some of it is strange. Look at the weird runes on those blue bags. Wonder what they mean."

The girl calming a little, in strangely accented common, "Walmart". The mage makes a face, "Well she can speak at least and now you know what the words say."

Hel shakes her head, "Walmart ? Is that a store or what ?"

The girl, wiping her eyes, "Huge store back home. They got outlets in almost every city. Carry everything from camping supplies to food to low end clothing. Pretty much everything is cheap there, but good quality. Well most of it, sometimes it's so so quality but if you are on a budget it's a good place to shop."

Asian, "and she is another lost foreigner, lovely."

Busty, "You are not one to talk, seeing as so are you."

Hel grins, "So girl, you got a name ?" she has a dagger out and is pointedly cleaning under her nails with it.

The girl nods, "Sure, doesn't everyone."

Busty snorts a laugh, "Good point. Not what she was asking though."

The girl shrugs, "Names FlameSinger, I am very very lost. NOT going back in to that temple again. Been there, nearly died, not going back." shaking her head stubbornly.

Hel smirks, "I tie you up you will go where I say."

Firesinger, now having more of herself pulled together holds up a hand and a ball of fire appears in it, "Not Going Back" the fire spreads over her form. They leap back.

Mage, "Hel, stop making things worse. Fire shield, damn it!"

Melisanda slaps Hel on the back of the head, "Some people you don't threaten. If you recall that is the sort of thing that got you lumped up with us. "

The mage is looking thoughtful, "She did not say or sing a spell, she just called it forth. I am thinking magic item."

Asian, "Da'Rune, you always think Magic, but you forget those Psionics we met a few months ago. One of them could do that to. So maybe not magic but mind power."

Da'Rune gives her a dirty look, "Psionics and Magic is the same thing, just different ways of going about it."

FlameSinger, "No their not. Magic comes from without, the Universe provides it. Or Through Gods to their priest. Psionics comes from within, from the connection of the mind, body and soul. Very different. And I have yet to find a psion that can toss a magic missile."

The Asian smiles, "she has you there and now we know she is educated."

Melisanda, getting as close as she can without getting burned, "The Gods are Fake. " she snarls. FlameSinger looks sadly at her, "If not for the gods I would literally not be here right now. I died back in that temple and the Goddess there in an act of mercy brought me back. You can be mad at them all you want. It does not make them fake or any less real."

The Asian nods, "Well that's a good reason not to want to go back. Facing the place you died is not an easy thing. But tell me how did you die ?"

FlameSinger sighs, thinks it over and then tells a somewhat abbreviated story, leaving out any mention of treasures or things like the magic computer. She tells about driving in her magic carriage to see some friends, how a portal opened and her carriage went through it and ran over someone who meant to desecrated the temple by way of a human sacrifice, as her carriage fell on him. It killed him instantly, she was not so lucky. She lingered till the girl escaped and the Goddess came and spoke to her at length. How she thought it was a dream brought on by the fact she was bleeding out. How she tried to joke with the goddess, asked for a magic light. Woke up and well new healthy body, MUCH better looking, and a magic light. Had she known she would have asked for a new set of clothes to. Cause she used to be Much larger around. As in the coat fit properly.

She salvaged what she could from the carriage and then left, spent the night and the next day in that building, trying to figure out what she could do. She was not from this world, Had very little money and knew no one here. She thought they were the raiders returning. So she tried to escape and they know the rest.

After her story, "So what is your name ? I got three of them so far but you and the Busty one I have not heard yet."

The Busty one looks down, jiggles them and nods, "I am Brani, though the Busty one fits to. Warrior, Rogue, all around fun person. The tall strange looking girl is Aysun. She is from a far-away place."

FlameSinger grins, "Asian by the look of her, from the armor style I would guess Japan."

Aysun looks surprised, "You know of Japan ?"

FlameSinger nods, "My grandparents lived there for a time. Had some nice things they brought back. My grandmother was a hero there. She did many great things and whenever they visit she gets a military escort and the government would even pay for all her expenses. My grandfather, not so much."

Aysun nods, "She must be a wonderful person."

FlameSinger nods and sighs, "She was. She died when I was a child. But I remember the stories. See there had been a great war. Japan was in bad way, my country sent people to help rebuild them. Grandfather was an officer in our army, grandmother. Ok little backstory. See my grandmother when she was very young got very sick. Most people who got the disease died, she lived but was deaf for the rest of her life. That's the first remarkable thing. She learned Japanese by Lip Reading. Next she started doing allot of aid things, orchestrated an exchange of tree's between the two countries. A Cherry Tree from Japan and a Dogwood tree from my lands. She taught cooking and gardening and all kinds of things that people needed to rebuild lives and hope. Before she died they even had a park in Kyoto in her name."

Aysun sits there and sighs, missing her home, "She sounded like a wonderful person."

Nodding, "She was. She was a chef to, taught me some about cooking but I never got anywhere near her skill level in that. I still miss her sometimes to. Miss all the people who died before me."

She says, looking ready to start bawling again at any moment.

The ex-priest looks ready to slap her, save for the fire shield. Aysun nods in understanding, "So if you could do this fire shield, why did you not do it before ?" FlameSinger actually blushes slightly, "It's a new talent and I am not total comfortable with it just yet. Also I have to stand still to use it. At least at this time." Aysun nods, "Your surrounded, so you use it now to keep us from getting to close in case we are thieves here to take all you own." she nods, FS Nods, "Well your busty one did state she is a rogue, so it's a safe assumption that one or more of you are as well."

Hel grins, "Some of us are, some aren't and that shield would not protect you from thrown or shot weapons." she points out. FS thinks about that then nods, "Point. But that is not its point. It's point is to keep you at bay while I catch my breath. Bye Bye now." she suddenly expands it outward, causing all of them to jump back while she mutters something in her strange language ("Gods I hope this trick works") Then leaps upwards only to vanish at as her feet reach about waist height.

They are all confused, Hel leaps at where she was only to almost land in the briar patch. Da'Rune mutters a spell, looking to find her, while the others regroup.

Aysun smiles, "Sneaky. Good thinking in a short amount of time. Wonder how many items she has to use hidden under that cloak. Next time we catch her we will have to strip her down before we talk with her." Brani nods, "I would not mind just stripping her down to see what she looks like without all the bulky clothing. "

Hel, pulling herself up from the ditch, "Do you ever think about anything but sex ?"

Brani nods, "Food, beer, and money are in the mix to. After that maybe shelter and getting a better weapon."

Da'Rune is swearing up a storm as her spell failed, "I lost her, but the last moment she was just going straight up. Who fly's straight up ?"

Hel, "Invisibility and flight, fire shield, fire ball, Self-Healing, we see her use any other powers or magics."

Aysun, "Telekinesis when she tried to get her stuff back the first time. Nothing else I am aware of. Still a potent mix of tricks."

Brani, looking thoughtful, "What gets me is everything she has shown is distraction or defense, she runs instead of attacks. Not how your average person acts when they have access to such things. And that fire ball was more like a light ball, not one of the more devastating kind. Everything she has shown is to get away or hide. Not a particularly brave person."

Hel shakes her head, "5 to one odds, I would run to. She may have taken out one or two of us, but the rest would have gotten her. No running is the logical course of action. The problem is where she will run. she is right in she has no reason to trust us. Did she leave anything back at that building ?"

Melisanda nods, "Just a few pieces of food, why ?"

Hel nods and starts jogging that way, "You're on the road. No weapons, no real gear, you never leave food behind if you can help it. I am wagering she went back for it. Besides we still need to check out that temple even if we lost her."

The others agree and follow Hel back. They get to the temple wall just in time to spot the girl running out of the building, but this time toward the town itself.

Da'Rune sighs, "We can track her later, I want to check out that temple before it gets dark."

Once inside the temple the smells hit them first. An acrid smell covers most everything, the next unpleasant smell is that of death, but it's hard to tell how fresh it is with the other scents.

In the main temple, before the alter is a strange sliver and glass object on 4 thick black wheels. The front of it is crushed in to the wall, there is a body, almost cut in half between the wall and the strange cart.

Aysun, holding her nose, "That must be the remains of the girls magical carriage. From the looks of it I would say at least that much of her story is true."

Brani is looking through a window in the back, "It sure was a nice ride, look at the blond leather seats and carpeted floors. Pouches behind the front seats for stuff to. Looks like she stripped it of most things but I see a couple of nice looking cups in the back. Wonder why she left them."

Hel looking through to other window, "Maybe damaged or she had not the room to take them. Ah, I see, lots of blood and torn clothing in the front. It looks like this wheel here is where she sat. Probably died there given how the front is crushed down on where the legs must have gone."

Da'Rune is looking at the black clad body at the front, "One of the raider anti-priest alright. Someone help me get him out from there. We need to see if he had anything we could use to track those raiders."

Melisanda, "You got a reduction or lightening spell on you ? Cause otherwise I don't think we can get to him without hurting ourselves."

Brani swears suddenly and falls, "This thing is leaking liquids like mad, and they stink to. And now I am covered in this stuff, yetch." She pulls herself up, making a face at the oily stuff now coating her back and sides. Hel leans in and takes a closer look, "Stay away from fire. That is oil it smells like some kind of lamp fuel, maybe something else to. Glad we are using magical lights now though. One spark and Whoosh, no more us."

From up high, near the windows, "Now there is a thought."

There is a bright light and then a 20ft tall elven woman is standing there, looking at FlameSinger, "YOU WILL NOT MAKE A FUNERAL PYRE IN MY TEMPLE!" Her decree is followed by the girl yelping as she falls out of the window. She returns a moment later, "Ok ok, I just said it was a thought, not that I would do it. Sheesh calm down."

The goddess stares hard at her for a moment, "These adventurers are on the side of good. They are part of a group investigating the desecrations of our temples." The goddess then turns to the team, "This person is not from here, you heard her story, it is true. Please don't kill her, it took allot to bring her back." And it a flurry of lights she is gone.

FS comes further in the window, "That is my car. The smell is gasoline, I guess a line is leaking. The stuff is highly flammable, so no fire's. I can move the car if you really want to get to that body."

Hel looks thoughtful then shrugs, "ok so come down here and move it."

FS shakes her head, "Don't have to do that." she holds out her hand, then makes a lifting motion. The car raises about a foot up. Then she gestures slowly, drawing backwards. The car follows steadily. She moves it so the back is a few feet from the rear wall. Leaving the front of the temple free of the hulk, only the pools of different liquids showing where it sat. The body shifted then fell off the wall once the car was far enough from it. It looks like it was nearly split in half.

Da'Rune is quick enough to keep most of it from falling in the nasty liquids and pulls it off to the side.

Hel watches the car settle, adding that to her list of what this girl can do. Her own internal self is now pretty happy FS did not go on the offensive back there. She is pretty sure none of them would have survived it if she had now. That vehicle weighed more than the 5 of them together could have moved. All it would take would her to have dropped something heavy on them, end of story.

Not sure if the girl is a pacifist or just cautious. She is hoping for cautious, as she has little sympathy for pacifist.

Melisanda looks up at the strange girl, "Are you afraid to fight ?" She calls out, FS looks at her, "I only fight when there are no other options. If fighting is your go to in any situation then you are not a very bright individual in my opinion."

Hel snickers to herself, she has never thought Mel was to bright either. She followed a war god that did not grant healing spells, then got pissed at her god when she could not heal her friend. Left his service and bitches almost non-stop about how the gods are fake because of that one instance. Though the girl is always looking for a fight. Not sure if it's anger or a death-wish. Hel has no illusions about the gods. Some heal, some don't. Some are proactive, like the one who manifested here, others are subtle and you never see their actions, at least unless you know what to look for. Most fall in the middle somewhere. She is called Hel, like the Norse goddess because she is an assassin. But unlike most of her kind she is not evil, does not worship death or the like. For her it is a business, unpleasant sure, but just business. She usually works for kings, high priest and similar. But one mistake, a bad idea and foolhardy gamble and now she has to work with these 4 till the mission is complete or she is dead, whichever comes first. At first she did not like them. Very different people. Da'Rune the mage and self- appointed leader of the group. Good in a fight but too quick to blame magic on things or enemies as evil. Jumps to conclusions based on little evidence to. But a good mage and not bad at your back in a fight. Brani, good fighter, half way decent thief to, oversexed, loves to talk, and flirts with every pretty face she finds. Hel finds herself often wondering why the girl never joined with one of the party gods, she has the right mentality, even if she is a little loose with the morals of other peoples belongings.

Aysun is something of a mystery to her. They rescued her from some mage who pulled her from that far away land of Japan. He wanted a sex slave but was too cheap to just buy one. So he pulled her to their lands. Ended up getting his throat cut by his new plaything. When they found her she was still chained to the wall where he died. Seems she killed him using her feet. Hel has not been able to learn How she did that. She will not talk about it. Still very good fighter and good tactical thinker. Smart to, took her just a couple weeks to figure out their language and a month to learn to read and write in it, even if she does write backwards more often than not.

Mel looks ready to blow, "Well your opinion means squat in this world I just think you’re a coward." she spouts off.

FS, sitting her the window 15ft overhead shrugs, "You are entitled to your opinion, no matter how wrong it is." Aysun says something in her language and grins, FS looks at her then shrugs, "My Japanese is limited to a few words and phrases. But I know the word for Idiot." Aysun bites her lips but still grins.

Da'Rune, used to how Mel is, just ignores her taunting, Brani is just trying to get the nasty oils off, "Anyone got a rag ?" she ask the group. FS pulls her bags around and looks for a moment before tossing a stained rag to her, "Here, more stains won't hurt this." Brani nods a thanks to her and works on getting as much of the oil off as she can. While she wipes down, "So why are you still here anyway ?" She ask FS.

FS shrugs, "Nowhere else to go. Literally everything I own is right here in this world."

Brani looks at the destroyed carriage, "Good point. Shame about your carriage it looks like it was a nice one."

FS nods, "Older model, I got it second hand, but it was a luxury model and still worked well. The company that made them were called Buick. They Only made the luxury type cars. Still for a 17 year old model it did well, got me where I needed to be, maintenance was not too bad. Still missing it though. Hate losing a car to accidents like that. Happened once before. My mom died in that one. Head injury." Brani looks up and for once looks sad and nods, "Yeah I can see that happening."

FS shrugs and lets it go.

Mel is about to start again when Aysun speaks, "Let it go Mel. She will not fight you and I don't think it's all that smart of you to keep trying. You have no idea what she is capable of."

Mel glares, "I bet without using her magic she would be easy to beat."

The girl drops inside and walks over, "Tell you what, hand to hand, no weapons, no magic. I will even let you keep your armor." FlameSinger pulls off her cloak, the blue coat and shows that underneath she is only wearing a red dress held in place by two belts and the boots with some kind of short stockings. She fluffs out her long red hair and moves to an open place with no oil on the floor. Arms at her side and a sideways stance, waiting.

Mel shrugs, puts down her weapons and shield. Rolls her neck and moves in to a wrestlers pose, waiting. FS changes her pose, puts her fist in to an open palm and bows. Aysun suddenly sits up and whistle's in a low tone. This really gets everyone else's attention.

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Mel nods, then charges. No one except maybe Hel and Aysun can say what happened next for sure. The initial charges from Mel, FS either dodged with little effort or blocked and turned away. Mel just got madder and madder and finally started to throw punches, which FS just blocked and turned away with a scary amount of ease. Finally FS went on the offensive and in 3 moves Mel was on her back, some 8ft away, stunned.

FS looked at her, "Your style is sloppy, all anger, rage and no real technique. I am no expert but I can tell you really just want to die cause no warrior I know of fights that way otherwise."

Hel scoots over to Aysun, "What the hell is that fighting style ?"

Aysun is quiet, "Mix styles actually, defensive style is simply not being where your opponent thinks you are going to be or deflecting the attacks. The offensive style, very simple block, grapple and throw maneuver. The opening bow however is called the Open Fist technique. Someone who has mastered that fighting style is not someone you want against you. It's a Monks fighting technique."

Hel, having seen some battle monks in action, nods. They are rare, but not people you want working against you in a fight. Very formidable.

With Mel down for the moment Aysun takes the chance, "What style is that you used ?"

FS thinks, "Well back home it was a hobby in my youth. It's just called Mixed Martial Arts. A little Shaolin monk crane and dragon style, some basic Kung Fu, karate, judo, tad of ninjitsu and Zen." Aysun considers this then walks over and pulls off her armor and puts down her weapon.

"Ok, just sparing here ok ?" FS smiles, "In straight technique your probably better than me, I never studied any of them exclusively." Aysun nods, "I figured that, but new forms often come from those who study many forms."

FS thinks on that then nods, "Ok, good point." Hel ask, "What weapons are you trained in FlameSinger ?"

Waiting for Aysun to finish with her armor, "Staff, Dagger, thrown weapons of all sorts, swords, I know enough about shooting a bow to hit the target, though not usually where I am aiming, standard round targets, I can hit it, the actual bullseye though is more luck than skill." Hel nods. She thought maybe staff, it's a common weapon, knives and daggers to. Swords takes more skill. Throwing weapons with any accuracy is allot harder but still a good one to master.

FS looks at Aysun, noting the dragon tattoo's along the woman's arms, "Ok so anything to avoid in this match ?" Aysun nods, "Nothing lethal."

By the time Mel has gotten up Aysun and FS are circling each other, their legs moving in slow X patterns but neither is attacking.

Mel easies over to Hel, "What happened to me, one moment I am punching her in the jaw the next I wake up over there." Hel, without taking her eyes off the combatants, "She kicked your but with so much ease it was scary. Now Aysun has challenged her to a sparring match. Never seen Aysun spar before, this should be interesting."

Mel watches the slow dance, "So why are they not hitting each other ?"

Hel, "My guess, looking for openings and gaging each-others abilities." Mel blows a raspberry, "That is not how you fight."

Hel, "No that is not how You fight, but we put you back together allot. So be quiet and watch you may learn something."

A few more minutes of the circling and Aysun makes a feint punch, it is too far out to hit and FS does not even react to it. From what Hel can see FS's eyes are glazed over, she is not really conscious of what is going on around her. Not a good thing to do in a fight. Aysun seems to think so to and suddenly changes her stance and throws a kick utilizing her deceptively long legs. The kick looks like it should hit with ease, only FS is not there anymore, she suddenly dropped and countered with a kick to Aysun's standing leg, completely throwing the tall woman off balance. As Aysun rolls to regain her balance FS strikes lightning quick with hands that for a moment looked to be stiff fingers, but she switched to open palms, Hitting Aysun in the middle and knocking the breath from the woman. Then FS backs off, wary but still with her eyes out of focus and waits for her opponent to recover.

Aysun backs up and watches, noting not to try that again. The glazed eyes are a trick. One she has heard of but never seen before. Zen Mastery. They don't See with their physical eyes, but the spirit. Very dangerous opponents capable of amazing things. She noted the punch to, the last second change of the hands. If they were not just sparing she is pretty sure she would be bleeding internally right now.

Hel is very impressed. She has never seen anyone fight like this. The dancing about and the the slow to quick moves. Punching and kicking sure, but nothing like these two.

It takes a few more feints from Aysun before she finds a weak point and strikes at it, only to realize she has been had when her strike is intercepted and she ends up several feet away on her back.

After a minute FS comes in to her field of vision, "That enough ?"

Aysun smiles and nods, "Yeah, should have done this outside, stone floor is not as soft as grass." FS smiles and helps the woman up, "That was good, almost had me with that last move truth be told. I reacted more in fear of being hit than any of my training." Aysun laughs at that, "Sometimes instinct works better than skill." FS nods, "Want to know something a little scary ?" Aysun shrugs then nods, FS confesses, "I have not used any of these skills in almost 20 years."

Aysun pauses, thinking out of practice she is then shivers. "Who did you learn from ?"

"Oh no one really I am all self-taught." FS tells her. Aysun considers this and decides if this is what passes for an amateur where this girl is from, they are scary people. FS goes on, "Though I got pointers from people. My step father was a Disciple of the 3rd best Kung Fu master in my homeland. And I learned things from other teachers but I never had the money or time to really dedicate myself to it." Aysun nods and gets dressed, sighing in pain from her bruises. "I am out of practice myself. You’re the first I have seen who knows anything about how they fight back home." FS nods, "Yeah my Karate came from a friend of my grandparents and all he really showed me was how to stand and what Not to do. The Zen though, that is from my mother. She was a priestess and used the mediation techniques allot. She was a lay priest though, no spells or the like. Though an excellent astrologer. People came from all over for her to do readings for them. Her blind spot though was her own family. I suspect her emotions over road her abilities there."

Aysun nods, "I learned much from my parents to. But that is the way of things back home. Extended families all teaching skills and such to the next generation."

FS nods, "I enjoyed that, been so long since I had an opponent that knew what they were doing." Glances at Mel when she says that, Mel glares and is about to retort when Da'Rune speaks, "Ok I think I got a few things worked out. The enemy uses clothing designed to neutralize magic, priest magic more than mage magics but still potent. The amulet does nothing magical as far as I can tell. Just a symbol, though an odd one to be sure." She holds it up so they can see each side. A swastika on one side and a cross on the other. FS jumps and hurries over to her, "May I see that ?" Da'Rune shrugs and hands it to her. FS stares at it, "Holy Shit"

Hel starts, "Hey none of that we are in a Temple here."

FS looks up, "I know what these are, the swastika is symbol of Racial Purity, used by a certain race of Humans who in my worlds past have tried to conquer and 'purify' the world so Only their race survives. The other Symbol is from a faith that Says they are from a god of Love and Hope, but they call all other faiths Evil and teach their followers to live in a state of guilt for the sins of some twisted version of the Jews creation myth. It's actually a twisted version of the Hebrew faith really. The combination of this is an religion of Pure Evil. Their priest have no magic cause to them All magic comes from the Evil Ones. In my world they pretty much run a third of the world. In Asia though they only make up about 5% of the population and have no real power there. In Europe, they are pretty much all powerful. When you add in the Purist, you get very dangerous fanatics bent on world conquest. From what you all have said, and things the Goddess mentioned. What you got here is a group worshipping a God who HAS NO NAME, they just call Him the Lord or the Lord God, God the Father and similar. The trick though, when you just use God as a call word you can get Any Entity that thinks of itself as a god or being of power. Most of the ones who answer have shown by what they inspire people to do, well evil. The Darkness Loves people like this, so easily controlled and manipulated. They will commit murder, atrocities' and even genocide and say it is their lords will. That it is in the name of the Greater Good and never see just how Evil they are being."

Everyone, even the angry Mel looks pale at this news. FS is reading the back, well trying to, it's in German. Da'Rune, "What do these people call themselves ?" FS holds the amulet up to the light and slowly groans, "Oh gods and little fishes. 'Christos to Come, We who Prepare the Way.' Roughly translated. I have heard of this sect. Time travelers who go to other worlds Before their 'savior' is born to make the world ready for him. Breaking the other Gods hold on the world is a common tactic. They use their lies to convince others to join them. Most come from people like Mel there, mad or unsatisfied with their gods and looking for Hope or something beyond themselves to believe in."

The room vibrates with elven swearing. Multiple voices, male and female. The amulet glows and then seems to melt off its chain. FS mutters "shades of Indiana jones" in her own language.

Snapping out of it, "Oh they also collect religious artifacts from other faiths, to twist their powers for their own use. The melting of the amulet triggered that memory of them trying to steal the Arc Of The Covenant. The arc did not like them trying to take it and actually melted the bastards who tried to use it the first time. It even burned the symbols off the crate the enemy put it in when they were trying to transfer it to their home base. The Arc is a Jewish holy relic."

The others nod, Mel swears, allot.

FS gathers her things, "Ok I hope that helps, I am now going to find a nice far-away place and hide for a while."

Da'Rune, "That's it. Your just going to run away and hide ?"

FS nods, "I am now half elven, they Kill people like me, either in fire or slow torture. So I plan to run the other way. The Goddess asked if I had a chance to learn anything to do so. I did, you know enough, I am going to maybe Asia. Don't speak the language but it's better than being here now. I grew up with these people, I don't want to face any more fanatics."

Hel nods, "Makes sense to me. But we need to report this to our guild. Why not come with us as far as there first. Give you some idea about this land and how things work here at the very least. As you said you’re a stranger here."

FS stops, puts on her cloak and looks up at the hood, "Any thoughts Vag ?" The cloak is quiet for a long moment, "Well I know allot of deep caves you could hide in if that is what you really want to do. But you have been given great power, and that seems a waste to just hide from them when you could help the world against them."

Brani, "Who are you talking to ?" she ask as she lifts FS's hood. FS points to the stitched eyes, "Vag, god of travels, hermits, and wanderers among others, This cloak is a holy item of his." The cloak itself moves in a sort of half bow, the women all jump.

A winged elf comes out of the hall at the far side of the temple complex, "Ah I thought that looked familiar. How is the Hermit ? Still hiding from the world ?"

FS looks at her then nods, "Split in to your individual selves I see." The winged one nods, "Yes more hands to do more work this way. With your news, well now we know what we are up against we are on the move. You were far more help than we thought you would be Cin'aed. Thank you for that at least and having faced these monsters in other worlds I can understand why you want to go hide. We tried that a couple times, it never works well. They tend to find you in the end. Anyway, any help you can give would be nice. Any clues ?"

FS pulls up a ball of fire in one hand and a ball of ice in the other and stares at them, "They will try and Found Rome in the valley near the 7 sisters mountains in Rome. Use them to conquer a good part of the world, destabilizing things and making it easier for their Savior to find followers when he comes, born between 5 and 10 years after the year 0. They are counting down to that year now. Anwen Cin'aed, queen of the dragons probably knows allot about them to if you ask her."

The winged goddess looks at her fingers, "We are not on speaking terms with her, but will put out word to the other races. Looks like it's time to join forces for once. Disturbing as that feels. But working alone has always failed against these foes."

Cin'aed FlameSinger nods and waits. Goddess don't show up without a reason, not even in this universe. The Goddess turns to Mel, "You really are stupid. You prayed to a god of war and violence and KNEW he did not grant healing to anyone. But instead of seeking aid or such you tried to convince a heartless being to bend to your will and when he didn't you get all pissy about it. I really don't know how you continue to live with yourself."

Hel speaks up, "Trying to die in combat seems to be her goal, but we keep putting her back together anyway." The Goddess looks at her and nods, "Yes I have seen that. You are a special kind of monster, you know that already, but at least your honest about it. Refreshing that. "

Next she looks at Brani who is still trying to get the oil out of her shirt. The goddess waves her hand and the oil and gas vanish, not just from Brani's clothing but the whole room. The car fades away to. "There, the smell of your vehicles fuel was quite irritating. Not to worry, just moved your car to a store house. I know it's pretty much junk now, but as you say, it was your junk. Um, if we need to use it, as a bargaining chip, may we ?"

Cin'aed thinks, "For trying to convince the Gnomes to help your group ?" The goddess smiles a little, "Yes that was one of the things. Even in the shape it is in it could help them come up with even more lethal semi useful tools." Cin'aed shrugs, "Sure. Few things I had no real use for in the trunk to. " she digs around in a blue bag, walks over and hands over the keys, taking a couple small items off the ring to keep. "Doubt I will need any of these keys anymore. Keeping my old house keys though, just in case you know. But the ones with the bob are for that car. The long silver one opens the locks." The goddess nods. "Thank you, that will help to."

The goddess hms and haws for a minute then pulls out a large pack, "Here. Henchman's pack. To help you on your journey. I was for giving you this from the start but my other sides did not want to. Not sure why." Cin'aed takes it then whispers to her, "Probably to encourage me to search the temple better. Vags' cloak was in a hidden room near that other one. Going by the cobwebs it was in there a long time." The goddess looks very surprised at this news. "Show me this room" Shrugging CFS takes the goddess back to where her statue Used to be. She looks at the spot then back at the goddess, "Ok now why …" she looks at the balls in her hands then suddenly tosses them at the Goddess, who shrieks and explodes.

Hel and the others all run up, Hel Yelling, "What are you doing ?"

FS shrugs, "That was not a god, that was an animated statue that I think was reading our minds to react properly. That statue Used to be right here. As we saw earlier the gods don't Need such tricks to manifest in their own temples. Also she did not know about a hidden room, in a temple supposedly belonging to her. So I suspect my car is in the enemy hands now." FS searches the rubble and retrieves her keys and another small amulet with the evil signs on it. "And this is how they controlled things here. lovely." she mutters at the end.

She goes back to the main temple and looks around for something, then swearing lightly, "Ok priestess, pull up your big girl pants. We need to resanctify this place and fast. The gods did not melt that amulet." she points down to a very nasty pool on the floor, "Time bomb of some kind. Probably activated when removed from that bodies neck." Aysun, swearing gets out a spare short sword and digs the vile thing up from the floor and tosses it on the rag Brani was using. Then runs it outside, across the town and puts it on a stone pillar there, then comes back.

When she returns Mel is being stubborn.

Finally FS turns to the cloak, "Vag I hate to ask this, but can you help here ?"

He is quiet for a long time it seems, "Well yes, but I am not sure you are going to like my answer."

FS sits, "Need a priest ?"

Vag, "Yes. And you’re the only one who believes in me enough to qualify there. I know from reading you, and your past experiences with religions you don't believe you are the best choice, but little thing about me. I like people who ask questions. Who probe the edges of the worlds. and you got a good heart. All I usually ask of my priest is to help people. Whether it's random acts of kindness or moving in to a leper colony. All the same to me. Don't even have problems with you amassing large amounts of wealth, as long as you use some of it to help the needy. Got a few very wealthy types in the faith. "

She grins, "Misers ?" The cloak shrugs, "sometimes, and hoarders to. But they well those kinds are not priest, but they do pray to me on occasion. I don't really use holy symbols either, well the cloaks, but usually they are not magical. A well patched cloak is my symbol, well that and a lantern in the dark. You know like on my Tarot card."

"That hermit is about Spiritual Improvement, Introspection and the like." she can Feel his smile, "Yep. Large part of my faith really when you get down to it. Like I said, I like people who question things. You can't learn and evolve otherwise. Most of the other gods either leave me in peace or send people needing my help my way. The other part sort of developed over time and well I like being helpful. It feels good."

"Do you grant spells to ?" laughter rings out from the cloak, making the others jump, "Yes I do. Healing, divination, purification, defense and such. And adding what I grant to your already very improved soul should be interesting."

she mutters, in english, "This has something to do with that Paladin aura I woke here with doesn't it ?" Vag smiles, "Partly. That will add oomph to your healing spells and undead turning stuff really. Your own healing power though works differently, more like the psionic one than the magical one. Interestingly those powers will work even in a magic dead area or through someone wearing items that deaden magic, like this enemy."

Slumping to the floor, "anyone feel like gaining a new class ?" she half jokes.

The others are standing back from her now. Hel ask, "What is happening ?" FS sighs, "Vag can Only help if I agree to become a priestess to him. The problem is I don't Like organized religions, about as bad as Mel and gods."

Vag sighs, "You don't have to. I won't force it either. Just told you what limits I have in helping in this instance. Sorry about that. It will take time for the elves to get a priest out there to help. I have told them though what I have seen through my cloak. I was surprised they knew of me till you pointed out the mind reading part. Not many remember me unless they need something from me. Sorry about your car."

FS, "Don't suppose you got a magic motorcycle in your collection ? Maybe replace a horse with one sometime." Vag snickers, "Tried that in one universe, they got a Vespa moped when what they really needed was a Harley Davidson." FS grins, "That may work here, faster than running, slower than a horse, but can run longer." Vag thinks, "True. Have to think about it. I do try not to drop TO much advanced tech in to low tech worlds but ah, the Fireball and Snowball are tech weapons. Most don't understand them but I imagine you can work out the instructions on them. Anwen convinced me of the need for that as they get around anti-magic effects so very nicely." FS nods, "Ah good to know. On the priest thing, I will need more time to consider it. As far as Godly types go I like you. Being a Mystic and all you know." Feels Vag smile.

Switching back to Common, "Well Vag said he sent word to what is happening here to the elven gods and told them about the self-destructing amulets and how they desecrate temples and such. They will have to get a priest out here to fix the place."

The others nod, Da'Rune ask, "That laugh earlier ?" FS blushes, "I asked Vag if he granted spells, he was not expecting that question and that is why he laughed. Hm, I just remembered something … Vag is Sanskrit for Hermit I believe. Interesting."

Vag is giggling in the background, "Oh very good. Most never make the connection."

Back to english, "I remember looking up information on the hermit tarot card and it was mentioned somewhere. I know lots of little things about lots of stuff that is mostly useless but works for stories I make up for entertainment purposes."

He snickers, "You should be a bard - Oh Don't take anything in that pack the fake goddess gave you, every piece of it has tracking spells on it, even the food."

Looking over at Brani, "Leave that bag alone, Vag says ALL of it is cursed and has tracking spells on it, even the food." She quickly empties out everything she was taking. "Damn, I was hoping for more foods." Hel looks at the pile, "I am pretty sure most of what you cook is not etable."

Brani just looks up at Hel with a 'really' face. FS grins, "The coin you slipped in to your belt to would be good to put back." Frowning she looks around Hel, pulls a copper out and drops it. FS "I meant the cursed Gold one." Aysun is snickering as Brani finally pulls it out, looks at it longingly then drops it on the pile. "Satisfied ?"

FS stares her eyes lose focus, "Nope, something with the curse vibe still radiates from your belt."

Aysun comes at her from one side, Hel from the other. Takes a little doing but they remove a small dagger and 6 gold coins off Brani.

FS looks at the knife, "This was not in the pack, but it has the tracking curse on it. Where did you get it ?" Brani shrugs, "Some punk in the last town. What about it ?"

"It's Cursed. This will draw them TO you. It allows the enemy to know where you are AT ALL TIMES. Getting a picture here." Brani is squirming. "Ok I get it. Just get off." Hel sighs, "You really got to work on this problem of just taking things that catch your eye." Brani shrugs and looks forlornly at the gold just floating away … she looks up and sees FS taking the pack back down the corridor to the stash hole behind the statue. She stuffs the whole of it in to the small room, then closes the hidden door.

"There, now at least they can't spy on us so easily either." FS sighs.

Da'Rune in the main room was walking around casting some kind of spell. Then she packs her things without a word and leaves. FS and shortly the others all follow to. Once well away from the town she pulls something out, says a word and there is a bright flash of light and a sudden pressure then release. She looks around and nods, "That will throw them off for the moment. FlameSinger was right, they were spying on us, probably from the moment that amulet self-destructed. Sneaky using that stone Golem to imitate the goddess and good call catching that. You would make a good mage FlameSinger."

FS shrugs, "That's because I AM a mage. Just lost my spell books in the accident."

Hel and Aysun are snickering, Mel looks at her incredulously and Brani just nods, "So that's how you knew about the cursed stuff. Ok less impressed now."

Mel, "So Warrior Mage then ?"

Small grin, "Mage Rogue actually." then she lightly skips down the road, leaving them all staring in surprise. Aysun recovers first, laughing she runs to catch up. Skipping along, "So Rogue huh, what type ?" Grinning at her, "If you went by what I know most would think Bard. But really my training was in Catching thieves for the most part. Mindset is it Takes a Thief to catch a Thief, so security people back home are trained to be thieves so we can better protect against them." Aysun nods, seeing the logic in it. "Of course sometimes that backfires when someone goes bad and uses their training to try and make a little extra on the side. Problem is they are rarely as good as the teachers and tend to get caught. Not always but enough to keep the numbers low." Aysun nods, "I know how that goes. My family is related to Yakuza family by marriage, we get allot of people who think we are all that way But the main family is in business and having those kinds of relations actually protects the family from theft more often than normal." FlameSinger nods, "Same principle. Though truthfully, going by your fighting style I thought you may have Ninja training." Dutifully Aysun replies, "There is no such thing as Ninja" FlameSinger nods, "No such things as a Talking Monkey, but how else do you explain Mel ?" Aysun laughs, FlameSinger continues, "Besides I have some Ninjitsu training, so don't try and tell me they don't exist. Grandmother had some interesting friends." Aysun stopped for a moment, then recalled she mentioned it in her list of martial skills, she catches up again, "Ok point, I forgot you mentioned it before. Not supposed to tell people about that." FlameSinger shrugs, "I was old and retired when the event dropped me here. Lived a long life, not a good one, but long. Then I get this second chance at it. A chance to use all those youthful skills for something other than amusement and entertaining others. Most of my most impressive skills are not called for anymore back home. But here, here they can make a difference."

Aysun looks at her, "What were those skills ?" Strutting a little, "By your understanding of things. I am a Master Armorer, Weapon smith and Leather Worker. I know things that few do and I am from a much more advanced world, technologically speaking. I am not really smarter than anyone here either, just better educated and a touch paranoid." Aysun nods, "Paranoia is a useful trait in any life I have found. Keeps you on your toes. Provided it does not dominate your life, then it gets in the way." FlameSinger nods.