High up in the Grey Mountains a pair of adventurers climb toward their destination. For many days they have journeyed, climbing higher, ever higher. Now well above the treeline the young woman and her dog traverse an alpine meadow in full summer bloom. Alpenrose groves have given way to patches of edelweiss, moss campion and gentian. A magnificent Grey Mountain glacier peak hangs in the distance. It is a perfect late summer day for a hike in the mountains but these are no average adventurers.
A closer look at the travelling companions reveals that the young woman wears the green robes of the Order of Emerald Wizardry, and her canine companion is a familiar one, given that she is clad in the battle armour of the mighty army of the Empire. Mage Saturin Waechter she must be, and her magical associate is Mage Elana Evergreen, formerly acolyte Elana.
On the hilltop ahead lays their destination, the Greyhenge home of Bearclaw Irontooth, the patriarchal head of the Order of Sapphire Wizardry. Large stone blocks are scattered about the mountain top and Bearclaw patiently waits for their arrival in his brown bear form. There are other animal forms amid the ancient stone blocks. A bison, a lynx, a fox, a wolf, a moose and a wolverine all mingle respectfully with one another in the alpine meadow. This is an unlikely scene indeed.
Bearclaw greets the arrival of Elana and Saturin, then gestures with his powerful claws to the assembled beasts, bidding them to gather in the central clearing. Elana and Saturin also take their places within the circle. This accomplished, they are further joined by the arrival of a swooping bird of prey which alights onto a stone perch. The giant golden eagle stands stoically on the sandstone block. The animals look at one another and then peer towards the gargantuan brown bear.
Elana is amazed by the sight of these powerful animals. Saturin did her best to prepare the Emerald mage, but confronted by the reality of this assemblage, Elana is overwhelmed. Then, one by one, the animal forms fade and are replaced by the human forms of Sapphire Wizards. The golden eagle is the last to transform. Most of the mages appear uncomfortable and irritable. Only Saturin retains her animal form.
“Yes, yes, I am quite aware of the reluctance of many of you to assume your human forms!” addressed the brown robed Wizard who had replaced the brown bear. “I would not have asked you all to gather here if not for the most urgent of matters!”
Each of the assembled magic users are dressed in robes and hats of earth tone hues. All have yellow gemstones incorporated into their clothing as well as small skulls, bones and pelts from various animals. Many have carved ivory ornaments and all bear some sort of decorated staff made of bone or ivory. All members of the group appear weathered, physically powerful and represent a mixed group of ages. Two of the wizards are women, one having initially presented as the lynx, and the other formerly being the golden eagle.
“Mage Saturin and her Emerald companion have requested an audience with the Sapphire Council regarding grave information that they have learned in the course of their duties in the Colleges of Badendorf”, continued Mage Irontooth. “This information requires our most urgent attention.” Bearclaw Irontooth gestures towards Elana and her Saint Luther companion. Grumbles emanate from the assembled representatives. Bearclaw waves a hand towards the Grey Mountain dog of war, with an insistent look on his face. He pauses expectantly.
Mage Elana turns to look at her sitting companion who pants, scratches her ear and finally stands to attention. Her image shimmers in the afternoon sun and a beautiful young blond woman appears in place of Saint Luther’s hound. She bears no staff.
“All right, all right, all right,” says the woman, clad in yellow robes and a shirt of tanned sable fur. “I get the message, and you can understand me now.”
Elana laughed inwardly and recalled the number of times that she had witnessed the transformation of a Sapphire mage. They always complained, and were always happy to resume their animal existence, no matter what the price paid. Shortened life spans, raw meat diets, sleeping outside in the snow. Regardless of the level of discomfort in the animal lives, they seemed to prefer life in the wild to anything domesticated. Except for Saturin of course. She preferred canine existence to be sure, but her favourite environment involved curling up on a bearskin rug in front of a warm fireplace in the College of Astronomical Wizardry’s recreation room.
“Lord Irontooth has asked me to address you all today about a recently divined prognostication from the Astronomical Councillors. For some time the soothsayers have been seeing visions of Chaotic scheming in the Norgeland, but it is only recently, with the appearance of the planet Jupiter in the constellation of the Great Crab, that those concerns have coalesced into a fully developed foretelling. The Astronomical Council is convinced that Chaotic attention is focused upon the Fire Dragons of Islandia. It is their belief that Demons even now seek to capture and control a Fire Dragon for their evil purposes!”
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“Has Lord Wyrmrider been consulted on this matter Sir Irontooth?” asked the Wizard who had arrived at the council meeting as a gray wolf.
“No, Lord Canis, the Fire Dragons have slept for more than a decade and Lord Wyrmrider is loath to leave his sacred isle undefended. We will have to travel to Islandia ourselves in order to address the situation. However there are rumors that a female has recently awoken and may have successfully produced a fertile egg. If true, it is possible that Chaotic agents may have some interest in this egg,” responded Bearclaw.
“This would represent a considerable challenge to our order Lord Irontooth,” interjected the female mage who had transformed from a lynx. “How do you propose that we send assistance to Lord Canis? And what form of assistance do you imagine that we would be capable of providing?”
“Indeed Lord Wildcat. This is the reason that I have invited you all. We must make a decision and a plan of attack. Projecting our influence into the middle of the Great Ocean is difficult, although Lord Cetacean may be expected to provide tangible assistance during the journey. I myself will head the expedition and Mage Waechter has already volunteered her company. I have also come to understand that mage Elana of the Emerald College is also willing to accompany us. Is that so, Dame Elana?”
“This is so, respected members of the Sapphire order,” responded Elana. She continued, “I am close friends with mage Saturin and I strongly wish to join her in this expedition. I also have great curiosity about the flora of Islandia. The environment of that island is unique in the world and my order wishes me to investigate the plant life of Islandia. Additionally, my skills of healing may prove to be of some value.”
“I also believe that a healer will be an invaluable asset during such a dangerous quest, mage Elana,” responded Lord Irontooth, and then he added, “I am told that you have an idea for a vessel to transport us to the island kingdom.”
“Yes Sir!” replied Elana. “The Dwarf vessel ‘Hammer of Thor’ is available for our use. A close friend, Dwarf Blarneysson, is willing to captain this ship which is a family owned vessel of some regard. We can board this vessel in Badendorf, if our quest is approved by the Council”.
“Badendorf!” responded the group, adding a series of complaints and negative comments to the discussion. Elana immediately understood just how poorly regarded large cities were by the Lords of Animalia. Clearly, these Wizards were meant to live in the wild.
“Yes, yes, I understand the low regard with which you all hold our esteemed capital city,” interrupted Lord Irontooth. “I am not asking you to visit the place, only to approve my own passage through Badendorf on the way to Islandia. Once we have completed our business here you can resume your totemic forms and return to the caves and roosts you so treasure.”
The Council nodded in agreement and many sighed with relief.
“I think that you will find that the Council supports you fully in this endeavor, Lord Irontooth. We understand the importance of the continued loyalty of the Fire Dragons. Fire Dragons in the hands of Chaos masters would be an unspeakable assault on the Earth. This must be prevented. If it is your judgement that the members of your proposed quest are sufficient for purpose you will receive our approval,” explained Lord Canis.
“There is just one more matter to discuss,” said Bearclaw. “Dame Elana, if you would be so kind,” said Bearclaw Irontooth as he extended his powerful arm towards the Emerald Mage.
“The members of our group seek your assistance regarding the addition of one final participant. A year ago this hero provided fundamental assistance critical to achieving the success of a mission led by the Patriarch of my order of magic, Sir Oakleaf Gilderwood. We request your assistance in bringing this young man to our land, in order to assist our endeavours.”
“Who is this young hero, and why must we assist in his recruitment?” asked Lord Alces, the Wizard who had arrived as a moose.
“His name is Lord James Blair, and he is not of this Earth,” explained Elana. “I believe that the combined magical power of all of the members of this council will be sufficient to return James to our world, if you exert your powers through myself.”
“Oh my,” responded Lord Wildcat. “You do understand the dangers of such an intervention.”
“Yes, my Lord,” answered Elana.
“You are certain that you know how to locate this man?” added Lord Canis.
“I am, my Lord,” answered Elana.
The Council approved all of the proposed measures and Elana took her place at the center of the circle. The snow capped mountains provided a perfect backdrop to this, the most challenging of all magical procedures.
The individual Wizards began chanting and motioning with their hands. Some used amulets, others cast powders or liquids towards Elana. All members of the council employed their staffs.
Saturin remained outside of the circle and did little more than observe the spectacle. Whirls of power formed in front of each spellcaster, then one by one flowed towards the center of the circle where Elana stood in a trance.
Presently her body began to slowly rotate and raise slightly from the ground. Her entire body began to glow, especially from any area of bare skin. Her eyes shone brightly. The energy of the circle grew and grew until yellow lightning crackled around the young mages body. Just when it seemed to be that the intensity of power had grown to an unsustainable level, a large CRACK! sounded and echoed down the valley like a thunderclap. Elana disappeared into a rift in the magical vortex which surrounded her!
Several of the Lords stepped back at the instant of Elana’s disappearance and some seemed to lose concentration for a moment. The vortex diminished somewhat. “Keep up your concentration, Lords!” shouted Bearclaw Irontooth. “We must keep the portal open!”
Saturin Waechter’s adrenaline surged as she feared for the life of her dear friend Elana. But control of the vortex was restored as the exhausted Lords stepped back towards their places in the circle of power. Concentration and determination was returned and the vortex stabilized, with the rift remaining open.
Sweat poured off of the foreheads of the straining Wizards. Saturin stared into the rift, praying for her friend to re-emerge. A hint of green, a glimpse of green robe! Elana stepped out of the vortex! And she held the hand of the young man she sought, as he too stepped back into this world……