Fanditheer intoned seriously " I tend to think our scouts are the best east of the Selendra Fortress and they have literally analyzed every stone on this trail. Whatever gang now carries our shard, they had broke in three directions and none know a hint of which is the primary route."

  Morray coughed hoarsely as she eyed the council with light suspicion
"Before we make any decisions on what trail to take, perhaps you could give us some more information." She took a quick breath glancing at the dwarves in particular.
" I have a few questions. First, how many starpoints are there? Are there any that have not been reported as missing? Second, why would someone wish to take them? Is there some kind of history behind them that creates this fear of evil now that they have been taken?"

Fanditheer paced the room eyeing the crew intently.
" Fine questions you pose young lady and I was to explain those histories onto you all before your departure. First, I'll say that there are '5' starpoints that have been in our lands for years upon memory. Each piece possesses a hidden power that can only be tapped by a precious few, if, at all. These starpoints were once, not separated, but as a conglomerate whole and was the artifact Ameythst Star; a divine beacon of light bestowed upon Lavenrae to drive out the terror in our world. A land once troubled by shadow demons who danced upon grounds of fire with the cares of the one master, who above all else, wished torture upon any and all beings of Talvenara."

The room grew still as the horrific history spun by Fanditheer grew intense.
" Ma-master??" stuttered the nervous elven emissary, Callena, who perched upon his stool of jade.
" Y-you-you mean...?"

" The BlackWitch!!!" finished Frost with succinct edge through clenched teeth. The room dropped a level into absolute quiet as most noblemen were afraid to even stir in their seats. None at the council really knew the accounts of this old evil. Only through traded tellings in sunlit hours had this myth lived on and the legendary tales of BlueArrow been glorified.

" I will not delve into the many evil tidings this thing brought forth into our world..." Frost continued boldly "...but Gailwind will relay how this devil was overthrown by the Star."

With the general assembly of eyes drifting to the lithe lorist, Frost sat and looked at Phantinius who brooded silently in troubled thought.

" In a furious battle near Dregis Eyne..." the sage of Awnhall began " ... the Blackwitch was thrust back into her Hall Of Irsadrunn by Rala Satin, a woman of commendable inner strength, able to harness the Star's will and flush the horrors from the lower lands. In a final assault, Nyrags, upon tongues of flame, burst from the lower vents in one final assault against the last legion of bronze elves and ice dwarves able to valiantly fight. Once backed into the upper ruins of Nyrglash, the Blackwitch thought to rip the shining Star from Rala's hands in a last desperate move. Upon clutching the Amethyst Star, the Blackwitch's armclaws disintegrated in an earthquaking explosion. A whining deathwail burst forth from this Archdevil and it shattered the mountainsides sending snows raining down upon the hall sealing it as a tomb. Rala went untouched in the megablast, climbed her way out somehow, but only after collecting up the starshards scattered in the battle."
Gailwind eased his nimble fingers through his thick hair.
" Fragments, unto this month, protected by the five kingdoms for centuries upon centuries. Yes, Morray..." the lorist looked up onto the girl "...every one of the Starpoints has been stolen. Bethlun, our very kingdom, suffered the last vanishing; even under scrutiny of locked vault and armed guards!"

The heroes stirred restlessly while Fanditheer thanked the sage for his insight.
" As to why they were snatched? I don't know that information, at least, not at this hour. But I do know that if it's not under our watchful eye, then it's under another. And if that, in all of its' guessings, poses a second return of the witch, we are all in much trouble without the Star's protection."

Splendor leaned forward in his leather chair " And do you think that this 'witch' can assemble these starpoints or do you think a plan for its desecration is in store?"

Treston answered plainly " We know not the plans for these stolen treasures. How could anybody know for certain? Perhaps tales of a growing evil are mere rumors and talented bandits are only to blame. This I know." he looked at the twelve heroes " This is why you have been summoned...to find out if what has been whispered among northern commonfolk is true!"

The council took pause from intimate discussion while servants of the castle came in through oak doors carrying trays laden with honey bread and brown sugar. Wineglasses filled with classic vintage {1120 ¥1} were passed among all. Cool water, for those who wished it, was also accepted with high esteem.

Leah leaned forth and grabbed an apple off a shining platter of mounted fruit. She stood and spoke at once to the munching crowd
" I would ask whether the forests and mountains through which these bandits might have passed have been consulted directly? We might learn a great deal from their silent witness." The druid polished her fruit with smooth palms as Frost answered
" No information was given by any inhabitants of those realms. I think that if they knew anyways, the information relayed would be received too late since you all would be on your chosen road already."

Phantinius reached for an oversized plum that topped a nearby platinum bowl and reflected " There is much chaos among the races stretching from Silverleaf Forest over to the Frimsick Darkwoods and north to the Caphorn Hills where the hobbits dwell. I would say this menace has all the warnings of the second coming. A black asp inching its' way back into the fertile vales of our society!"
The wizard bit hard into his fruit sending a juicy spray onto Romulus's forehead. The dwarf huffed abhorrently before realizing the brevity of the situation and then, with hearty chuckle, erupted the council in a brief chorus of relieving laughter.