Alone, scared and lost. Three things you want to avoid in Dereth. The hallway I was in was dank and overgrown with a century of moss. How had I gotten here? Where was I headed? These thoughts lightly touched my mind and then flittered away like a couple of butterflies in the spring. Behind me was a loud pounding sound while ahead was the smell of death and decay. I strode forward, assuming dead things are safer than things that shake the earth as they move. As I rounded the corner, I realized that assumptions are deadlier than a mere noise. A swarm of animated skeletons advanced, surrounding me in seconds. They danced around me in a mindless and hypnotic pattern, as I desperately prepared a spell. Suddenly a voice whispers in my mind, like the sound of leaves gathering at the base of a tree by the wind. "You have the nerve to come back and steal my treasures. Not this time Sangre." Beyond the dancing bone piles, I saw her: The Lady of the Keep, in that robe that seemed to absorb all light. She spoke words of power that I knew would be the end of me, and I woke up in my dark little basement, covered in a sheen of sweat.

I went upstairs and dunked my head in the bucket of water from Ithaenc I kept in my storage chest. Blasted nightmare. I have faced the lady several times without incident. Why was she invading my dreams now? If we could only find a way to keep her from coming back. Besides, I had never succeeded in killing her, maybe she should go bother Awi'tch. I quickly forgot about the dream as I prepared for the days hunt.

My intention had been to travel to the island that had become the passion of my younger days, beautiful Marae Lassal. But first I had to stop off at Castle Anthrax to see my beloved. I could hear her humming a mindless tune as I delved deep into the clean, dry cellars of the castle.

"MMM, Ice cream" were the first words out of my lips.
Hands glanced at me with an annoyed expression, "Nice to see you too dear, now keep away from my cooking. You know I hate to be bothered while I work."

I gave her an affectionate peck on the cheek so I wouldn't interfere with her masterful mixing of honey with iced green tea. "I think you should learn how to make pizza, Dan's Tailor does a pretty decent job, but yours would be better."

"Sweet talk will get you nowhere, make your own pizza." She was angry at me as usual. I didn't spend enough time with her she claimed. My response was always quality before quantity.

"I have a surprise for you my sweet." I reached my hand into my pack and felt for something warm and smooth.
"Ha, last time you said that, you gave me enough aqua incanta to weigh down a lugian."

I pulled out an exquisite blue orb and extended it towards here. "Hmm, your getting better at sucking up" she smiled. She carefully took the Asteliary and put it in a pack lying at her feet. "Now if you would only take me out once in a while, I might make you some pizzas."

I grinned mischievously and gave her a kiss before I opened a portal to old Celdiseth's cabin. My packs were feeling kind of light, and although it was a nice break for my shoulders, I felt naked if they weren't bulging with plants, powders and potions. Last thing I needed was to run out of cobalt deep down in the slimy reservoir on Aerlinthe tonight.

As the saying goes, never do today, what you can put off until tomorrow. Or something like that. I never did make it to Marae Lassal being too busy chatting with everyone and their gromnies. The group was already gathering on the patio and it looked like it was going to be a fun night. Celestial Blade, Mila, Damosyth, Farakan, Random Nemesis, Kos, Kuma, and Suhl-Tan, were listening intently to Awi'tch as I arrived.

"I need to go pick up Shekn Itrch, so I will summon a portal to Sylsfear for you and meet you in the water." Awi'tch looked sternly and patiently at each member of the group. I think she needs a nice vacation down on the Vessayan Isles. The sun would do her good, and those drinks with the little Chrimson Silifi are quite soothing. It looked like I had some time to kill, so I went back to my cottage to pick up some extra protection. I wasn't going to be naked if I hit that damn debuff trap again. After sifting through my belongings and giving Cheshire, my pet golem a pat on the head, I recalled to the island and joined Awi'tch in the water just as the rest of the group was arriving.

After the usual lecture on survival tips for the island, (which if I didn't know any better, I could swear that she just played it back from some magical recording device), we cast some protective spells on our selves, and headed up the beach. The air was crisp and heavy with the salty air of the sea as we plodded through the sand and spray of the nearby surf. I could almost pretend that we were going for a morning jog on the beaches at Eastham, but the twisted landscape on our left shattered that image immediately. The stolid outline of the castle thingy, or Shimena Keep as it is more formerly known, grew in our view. I tried to imagine the bloody battle that took place so many years ago on the very ground we were now treading. The sea-nomads had been repelled, but their vengeful invasion of the port shortly after was a lot more successful to the dismay of the Emperor. I would have loved to see the coral golems ripping the keels off the invading ships. Of course, I haven't seen a ship since I arrived in Dereth.

We passed underneath the bridge to the keep and splashed through a shallow cove as we turned to the West. The hum of a swarm of white wasps kept everyone moving at a brisk pace.

"Help!", Mila's scream pierced the air. I looked over my shoulder and failed to spot her, so I stopped and headed back. I ignored the banderling spear that glanced off my magic, and saw Mila, bruised and bloody trailing far behind. My tumerok buadren was in my hands quickly, and I directed the flows of power at Mila just in time to keep her alive. I tried to send another healing spell at her but she had moved out of my range. So I started running west again and a moment later almost stumbled on Mila's crumpled form. No time for mourning, as the group had left me behind and I was surrounded by a pack of Shreths that were chasing me hungrily.

Poor Mila. To be sent back to the lifestone so early on her first trip must have been pretty disappointing. My thoughts were verified when she let us know she wouldn't be coming back. Well, I thought, better to suffer through the bad luck early. The rest of the trip should be smooth. Alas I was very much mistaken.

Somehow we managed to regroup after the chaos of Mila's demise. We found a quiet spot on the sand near the towering hills of Cunara and made sure our magic was sufficient for the coming battle. Confident that we were ready for anything, we left the beach behind and began our trek through the black, crumbly soil found on this volcanic island. We were approaching the foundry when the dreaded lag monster hit. Our tightly organized line became like pebbles strewn across the grass. Awi'tch tried to distract the monsters surrounding the entrance to the reservoir, and I tried to lead the group in, but the best laid plans of mice and men?..ah, I forget. No more clich? I promise.

After a brief disorientation, I found myself nowhere near the entrance, and the body of Suhl-Tan nearby. Awi'tch and Random Nemesis tried their best to clear the entrance so we could proceed in, and after feeling myself grow dizzy from blood loss, I stumbled into the reservoir portal and proceeded to patch myself up.

Although we were disheartened, we didn't have the luxury to mope. The entryway was soon filled with the ritualistic lights and sounds of our magical dance, punctuated by the occasional fizzle.

The reservoir was built to collect rainwater, but now all it collected was nasty bugs. The big kind, and there were hordes of them. Now, I've noticed one thing: Meat heads (my term of endearment for all who wield a stick) seem to take a perverse pleasure in smashing these bugs. Maybe it is out of revenge for the enslavement that we suffered, or just the satisfaction in stepping on a helpless insect. So there I was, standing behind a blur of steel and pincers, and wondering what the weather was like outside while I stepped around the messier piles of insect goo. At least I usually save some components early on.

This time however, the insects had a surprise for us. As we callously cut through the Olthoi with malicious intent and brutal indifference, the lag beast stepped out from around a corner and it seemed like time froze. The darkest beast of Dereth pointed at Random Nemesis with glaring intent.
"Nnnnooooooo!!!!!!!" came out of his mouth like a yawn. Blood hit me on my cheek as he was reduced to a lumpy mess.
With renewed fury, we hacked, slashed and fizzled. After what seemed like a heartbeat, the adrenaline wore off, we were standing at the repair golem, and then on our way back down to the beach.

I arrived at the beach with Celestial Blade and Kuma and surveyed the land around us. The fog that swirled in from the harbour seemed to whisper torturous threats around our heads. The air was charged with the hatred of countless restless spirits. We were near the Undead Town, but we weren't ready to go there yet. As soon as the rest of the group caught up with us, a thought struck me, "Awi'tch, shouldn't we have headed to the Foundry first?"

"Well I had made arrangements with Original Sin, so we could save time. Lets prepare for some intense heat. We are going to Tenkardum."

I usually love heat, but not this type. The calderas of Tenkardum emanated an acidic heat that burned your skin in more ways than one. It was hard to keep a clear head there as the light from the surroundings twisted and danced through the rising super heated air. Fumeroles hissed and popped, and the ground seemed like a giant bonfire that had died down to the embers.

Plasma golems dotted the hills to either side of us when we finally arrived. A large magma golem in the center of the crater noticed us and proceeded to start weakening our defense against the fires. A red field surrounded me and I immediately began to really feel the intense heat of the calderas. I started to dodge a volley of fireballs that were spraying towards us, all the while weakening the behemoth's own defenses to our frigid attacks. After a pause to let the mages initiate the battle, our fearless warriors charged. I kept a close eye on them to see if my healing would be needed, but the battle was over in an instant. Kos put his foot up on the beast's oozing mass with the pride of victory on his sweating face. After our hearts had settled down, we filled the crater with ice balls and frosty weapons strokes until we had killed the Hellfire which would awaken the horror that lives in the undead town.

This time, we prepared to be pounded by hundreds of bony fists. The undead town was a swirling mass of relic bones, accented by a diamond golem here or there. I started by imperilling everything in sight, but a minute later, I was forced to start blasting the skeletons surrounding me. After we had killed about half of them, I made my way farther up the hill, in order to get closer to the watchman, but instead I found the lag beast laughing at me.

All the blood rushed out of my face as I fumbled for my healing kit and found nothing but lag induced air. As I started to lose consciousness, a red pattern of lights danced around me, and I found my strength returning to me. "Not this time vile beast", Awi'tch cried out with conviction and frustration in her voice. I was lucky to be alive thanks to her. Damosyth was not so lucky. Just as the portal to the keep appeared, Damosyth let out one last cry of pain, and slumped to the floor, trampled by the remaining bone men.

The one thing about Aerlinthe that I find the most difficult is leaving fallen comrades behind to be defiled by the loathsome creatures that reside there. We quickly ran into the portal and silently promised Damosyth that we would be back for him.

'[They named] the very island after me - Aerlinthe - "Stone of the Sky" in the Great Tongue!'. Thus wrote the Lady Aerfalle. Through devious methods, she empowered us outlanders to fight off her enemies, the shadows. But fighting evil does not make you good. We must fight this treacherous woman right in her own keep, until we can finally defeat her. At least our efforts serve to keep her off balance, if little else.

These thoughts rolled through my mind as I repeatedly summoned the energies around me to protect me against the final battle to come. We cowered in one corner preparing, as a couple of Diamond and Revenant guards patrolled the front gate. Our assault came upon them without warning, and I jumped over that deadly dispel trap with surprising success. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kuma surrounded by a fog of flaring cantrips that rendered him vulnerable to the milling monsters behind the second gate. I quickly turned to him and cast powerful protections on him which he quickly removed from himself by remaining on the dispel trap.

"Move forward, nose to the gate NOW!" I yelled emphatically, and began to cast the protections again. This time they remained, and we cleared the second gate. Hugging the left wall, we avoided more traps and made our way down a ramp on the far side.

"Down the ramp everyone, HURRY!", Awi'tch loves this part of the quest, I could always tell. I moved down the ramp, slightly ahead of everyone, having done this quest many times. I was immediately confronted by a slew of Relic bones and a couple of Diamond Golems. Behind me was Suhl-tan. In moments I realized my peril. I grabbed my healing kit hanging from my belt, and made a half hearted attempt to bandage my bruised and battered self, as the golems slammed me with wave after wave of bludgeoning force. Relic bones battered me down, and I experienced the excruciating pain caused by Asheron's "help" to us. Immortality by a blue spinning rock.

I wasn't alone long to contemplate my mistake. Suhl-tan quickly joined me.

My friends, I would very much like to describe to you the thrill of exploring deeper into the keep, the excitement of defeating the lag monster, and the pure chaos and adrenaline intoxicating experience of facing the Lady and her army. Alas, I was standing in Glenden Wood, babbling incoherently about my best friend "pookie", who had been the first to graciously bestow vitae on me in this life. The rest of this story comes second hand from our gracious leader Awi'tch. It is my pleasure to allow her to finish this woeful tale.

"This group has about as much cohesiveness as gromnie oil in water", Awi'tch mumbled. She could almost hear their translucent foes snicker as some of the less fortunate members of her party already began to fall. Momentarily distracted by this turn of events, she nearly hesitated. A deadly mistake in such a perilous circumstance. Ka-thwunk! Her toes were crushed under the weight of the clumsy foe's humongous feet. "OW!!" She screamed, and renewed her attacks with new found vigor. Soon, they stood in an uncharacteristic and uneasy moment of calm. Two of the team were stuck behind the grated door they had made their stand at... two more were dead. "And then there were four", she thought. "They mean to divide and conquer, and with this groups' inexperience, they just might succeed". "I'll have to teach them to stifle their zeal and learn to fight back to back if we make it out alive..." Quickly, she hit the lever that opened the gates, reuniting the group. "We need to move", she said, knowing that death for the lady's minions was only temporary, and they would return soon, angrier than ever.

They made their attack on the next room. "Come here NOW!" she shouted, as she saw the group running to and fro. "Into the hallway, on the ramp!" On the group fought, as waves and waves of ancient undead came at them, adeptly evading their blades and slashing away with their flaming swords. The group moved down the ramp, into the lady's prison where more of her minions freed themselves from their confines and came at them. Quickly, Awi'tch dove for the locked door which she knew from experience would give passage to a small room of some respite. "Come here!" she found herself calling again, ushering the weary team into a small, dank cell, along with several unwelcome undead guests.

"We rest and regenerate here", she said. "It will get no easier as we move on, prepare yourselves for a rough fight. If I die, your situation will be dire." "How dire, I do not think they appreciate", she muttered under her breath, "but it's better that way", she thought. They were about to move the fight to the area where she and Tantaro had fallen many moons before. It was the only time this dreaded place had beaten her, and she was not anxious for a repeat.

Once rested, the small group forged forward. Awi'tch made her break for the heavily guarded lever room. She was met by three undead soldiers intent on prohibiting her passage, and in getting past them, she inadvertantly stepped on one of the the lady's traps! Unprotected except for her heavily enchanted robes, she managed to pull the lever and return to the group. "Quickly!" she said. "Down here!" One by one the team assembled on the ramp, each time overshooting it and opening (or closing) the door behind which she hid anew, but they quickly were standing where she had instructed, a feat that larger more experienced groups never seemed to be able to do. "They listen well", she thought. "We might just make it through this yet." After informing them that she was without protective spells due to the lady's trap, she quickly respun the intricate web of defenses and empowerments necessary to bear her through the rest of the journey.

"Down", she said. "We fight the wisps here in the doorway, then we make a break for the lady's room." The team handily dispatched the wisps, and moved forth into the cavernous area which lead ultimately to the lady's favorite gathering hall. Tripping over the rats under her feet (for rats are a favorite pet of Lady Aerfalle's), she carelessly stumbled over the mana blight trap in the hallway, and had to stop and quaff a couple of Calliste's famous mana elixirs. "Thank goodness for Calli", she thought fleetingly, and ran straight into the swarm of minions the lady had gathered to protect her. She spied the unmistakable dark robes of Lady Aerfalle immediately, and began her attack. She knew that if she were to succeed in sending this apparition back to the grave, her minions would crawl back into the dank, obscure places from which they came as well. Meanwhile, her companions were struggling to stay alive, as the onslaught of spells cast by undead mages was relentless. Kos fell, adding his name to the list of victims this exceptionally unforgiving trip had claimed. Battered and exhausted, Awi'tch used what tiny bit of magic she had left in her. She watched in horror, as the lady dispelled spells cast to weaken her. "Zojak Qua--, Zojak Qua--, Zojak Quaguz!!!!" she managed to utter as the life and energy drained out of her.

Suddenly, there was silence. Awi'tch stood stunned and shaking for a moment, then cast her eyes on the two surviving members of her team. Somehow, they'd done it... the lady lay dead in the corner of the room. Young Celestial Blade, and Farakan, who had not been himself lately, but whose fighting skills were evidenced by his survival to be in fine order, were the only ones left standing beside her. "They'll probably never know how close that was", she smiled to herself, and off they went on the bittersweet task of collecting items from the dead, both hero and foe.