Aprion watched as a thousand soldiers marched onto the guard front. “Move with haste my friends and end this before it gets any worse”, he said to himself. “My Lord, the council wanted to have one more word with you”, said a soldier. Asprion nodded and followed him back to the council chamber. The blue sapphire city of Thradore and it gleaming towers. The central tower held the Council chamber and Aprions chamber was not too far from it. He was watching from his balcony as the soldiers left. The call was easily met and agreed upon once he and the other arrived back from their excursion to the Harbinger’s home. Though many in the council did not want Asprion leaving. They had to put up with enough of that as he left frequently to the Dark Fortress to meet with the Keeper, and fellow sentries of the kingdom.
“Council”, asked Asprion as he entered and took his seat at the head of the table. “Yes, my lord. We have received word from Allura while you were gone that they had need of you. Something deep in the Rune Wood has them concerned. Something that even the Harbinger might know about”, said one of the council members. “Interesting that they said the Harbinger would know about it. I will go, if and when the Harbinger gets done with is quest then maybe he can join us, if willing. Creedone, send someone to get a message to the Harbinger that he is needed in Allura as soon as his business in the Phantom Forest is done”, said Asprion, “Visreal, gather a company of fifty men. We leave as soon as they are ready to march. It will take us some time to get there and we are already behind. I’m going to send a message that me and a company are heading there way. It will take some eight days to get there.” Visreal left to complete the orders that had been bestowed on him. Asprion thanked the council and left to prepare for yet another journey. “Why would they have need of the Harbinger”, asked Asprion to himself?
It was just evening as Asprion and his company of fifty men started to march on to Allura. The weather was fair and cool in the fall season. With Trayon on his message, the duty of second to Asprion was now in the hands of Visreal. He was a strong soldier, very quiet and kept to himself. He was ready to do what was needed for Asprions at any call that was asked. Aprion lead the march with Visreal at his side and the company behind on horseback. The pace was at a trot to make the journey slightly faster. They would be traveling for only half a day as the night would be on them quickly so they wanted to gain as much ground as possible.
Dregons were used to carry messages to others throughout the kingdoms. They were in all essence pet size dragons. Though not as ferocious and untamed so to speak. They were very supplicated in manner and intelligent as well. Each kingdom had one. No one knew their exact numbers in the world, but they were rather remarkable creatures. They were endowed with magic, allowing them to create a, or rather send, a message from anywhere. They magically connected with someone if it so choose and once they did it was an unbreakable bond. The person had to be pure at heart and somewhat connected to magic. Visreal was such a person. Thradone had a few Dregon in its company, and Visreal was one of them. His Dregon was named Spout.
The company was now on the move toward Allura. Asprion lead the march with Visreal next to him. The company were all on horseback and on this first da they rode as a trout as to make as much ground as possible. The other days were going to call for walking, but this day was already half gone, and time was a matter of urgency. Asprion hoped to make it to half way to the Lake of Diamonds, but most likely with the night vast approaching they would only be a third of the way there.
Visreal stated a magic spell and Spout’s eyes started to glow orange. It looked at Asprion and then beams of light started to be directed at him on his face and shoulders. Asprion was holding on a minute as the light started to change to a blue white light.
Angelica Kareem was sitting at her throne in the great courtyard of Allura, when small grey cloud started to from in front of her. It sparked in white light getting larger till it was the size and shape like a round shield. It spun and the sparks of white light intensified till suddenly there was an image of Asprion.
“Lady Angelica, it’s good to see you”, said Asprion. “You as well, it nice to see you finally got my message. I was told you were out, having to take care of somethings at Darkwood”, said Angelica. “Indeed, but the Phantom Forest has returned there”, said Asprion. Angelica’s face changed for concern as she heard this. “You asked about the Harbinger in your last message, sorry to say he and two others are traveling deep within it to discover the source and hopefully burry it finally. I did send a message to them that I wish him to join us as soon as possible” said Asprion. “Thanks and good luck, what of the guard front”, she asked? “We sent in a thousand men to reestablish it, hopefully nothing comes of it”, he said, “We are now heading your way, judging by the day, we will be arriving half way into the eighth day.” “Good, we have something to show you, something I believe you can answer questions about here. We are unsure about it as we have never seen anything like it, or what might be causing it”, she said. “Do you believe it to be from the Gorge of Sorrows”, he asked? “No, to far north for that, this is deep in the Rune Wood. It is a fog that we have never seen before”, she said and Asprion’s eyes widen. “Angelica”, he said loudly, “Keep you people away from the fog. I know you have great power in magic, but this is a different creature. We will be there as soon as possible.” “Do you believe this to be the same fog, but how”, asked Angelica? “There is no telling with this creature, and yes it is a creature. It does things that can’t be explained. Have you any reports of strange monsters lurking about, or the forest changing at all”, he asked? “No not at this time, we are not entering the fog, its color is strange, and that is why I call to you. You all have been dealing with the Phantom Forest for years, but from what has been described to us about it, this seemed very similar”, she said. “It does indeed to me as well”, stay away from it. Post guards around it but do not enter. If this is the purple fog of the phantom forest then we will need to contain it as soon as possible before it can spread out”, he said. “We will prepare and start a perimeter. Good luck on your journey and see you when you arrive here”, said Angelica bowing to the image of Asprion. “You as well, good luck”, he said. The gray cloud flickered and sparked white then dissipated to nothing.
Angelica stood and her second Brita walked up next to her. “We need to gather a company and travel to the zone of the fog, encircle it and prepare to close it in. It will be eight day till they arrive, but we need to be prepared to stop it if it is this sick fog of the Phantom Forest. This is our forest and we will protect it”, said Angelica. Brita walked away going to prepare. Angelica sat back down and was puzzled by this creation that was in her woods.
Aprion watched as the eye of Spout deemed and then were black to the being his normal green. “How is it the Phantom Forest’s fog is in the Rune Wood”, asked Asprion to himself? “My lord”, asked Visreal? Asprion acknowledged him, “Should we contact Thrane and Dwelldor, two locations are now reporting the sightings of the Phantom Forest fog, this sick fog might be in or around their areas as well”, said Visreal. “Could be but we don’t know for sure if this is the so called sick fog. Maybe something totally different, but if Angelica doesn’t know what it is, then I fear it might be just that”, said Asprion. Vireal agreed as they marched on talking about it for a bit. The march was however quiet for the most part. The night was soon going to be on them and their camp was soon needed to be made.
The six days did not pertain too much but marching and the resting ever so often, but finally the great Rune Forest was in sight, at the border Asprion and his company were met by guards of Allura. They had been sent out to await for them. They filled them in on the current situation then guiding them onward towards Allura. The situation was not that different from six days past, but now if you enter the sick fog the environment seemed to change. Asprion was furious that anyone had even ventured into the fog. The Mystics had never dealt with the Phantom Forest except for just a simple few. Their experience in handling the creatures and nightmare that is the sick fog was out of their realm, and Angelica knew it.
Asprion and his company were off their horses now as they were walking them slowly through the thickness that was the Rune Forest. It was one of the reason the Rune Forest was never over ran by the Dark One’s forces. They could not organize well enough to break the front. Then came the Gorge of Sorrows. That was the tipping point for the Dark One. It allowed for a massive force to enter the forest and nearly break it, but the forces stood and won the day. However, they had to always keep an eye out for whenever and if ever the gorge ever opened up again and poured out the terror that was deep in it. This fear was now on the mind of Angelica and Asprion as they were now dealing with another threat that was just as, or even more dangerous, if left unchecked. Asprion feared that the situation was going to get more out of hand that it was most likely already.
The forest was starting to part and then there was the walls of Allura. The gates opened and the company started to move in. Angelica was there awaiting for Asprion to enter. They embraced and exchanged pleasantries happy to once again see each other outside the Dark Fortress. “It would seem we are going to have to be at it one more”, said Asprion. “Let the sentries unite”, said Angelica. The company was shown a location to make camp and bed their horses. Asprion let Visreal take his mount and go about the business that needed to be done, as he and Angelica were going to have a meeting with the council. They would strike out at first light and see to it that it did not spread any further. The council would be there to help with figuring out the course in which all would need to know in case the situation went south. Their meeting would be late in the night going, before everything was figured out and put to an end. As they walked Asprion talked to Angelica, “Why is it I hear that people went into the fog, are you mad to send in anyone. I told you not to enter and to stay out.” “This sick fog is in my forest and the forest is screaming that there is an enemy here, I have to do something”, said Angelica. “I agree but we must first understand what is happening. We have never seen the sick fog manifest anywhere but the Phantom Forest. For it to appear here means that someone or creature is here as well”, said Asprion. “But how, we would have seen it if it was here, as evil cannot enter here unseen”, said Angelica. “The Sick Fog is unknown in almost every regard we have. We only know the outcome of its wrath. That is all we know and I fear that is all that we will get here as well”, said Asprion. “Then let’s see what we can do here to help us figure out this creature and destroy it finally”, said Angelica and Asprion agreed.