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       Sabik leads Gwydeon to a room where several large mirrors line the walls. Sabik calls for a Mistress Alnitak, who appears shortly. Within seconds he can tell the two would very much like to be at each other's throats. After delivering Nushaba's instructions, Sabik is practically thrown out by Mistress Alnitak. The Mistress happens to be an attractive middle aged woman dressed in simple brown robes. Setting him down with his back to a mirror she pulls out several boxes of strange looking dyes. After several minutes of smearing, painting and artistically touching up, she then works on his hair. Finally she tells him to wait and returns with some clothing and new shoes.

       She sets them down and asks him to change into them. She gives him a final warning, "If you get itchy don't rub, otherwise the makeup will smear. Just wait till it dries and no one will be the wiser." She leaves the room and he changes clothes.

       Looking in the mirror Gwydeon don't even recognize himself as he sees a rather large battle hardened human soldier with a pair of jagged scars chasing themselves down the left side of his sun-dark end face. He realizes the shoes must have uneven heels as he is taller but he walks with a strange gait.

       When Gwydeon approaches Magnus, Magnus is shocked to learn who the stranger is. The three of them leave Nushaba's home and head back down towards the market center in town. The first thing they notice is that the frequency of the guards has increased nearly everywhere. Another thing that has increased is the number of people walking around in white robes with a giant rose painted on it.

       The guards stop nearly all the men, except those in the robes whom they merely sneer at and toss insults and threats. Those threats seem bold until one of those with a robe turns and faces the soldiers. Even when faced with a near child in those robes, the soldiers inevitably find they are needed elsewhere in town and quickly leave the area.

       Once in town, several inquires take them to the chandler, but they find that his shop has been closed and no one has seen him for several days. The last time anyone saw him was in the company of the elf that the soldiers are looking for.

       After wasting most of the morning, Magnus visits several tailors looking for better clothing. The search is abandoned as midday approaches and they make their way up to the Fanciful Tale. They spot Strongarm and Jassal sitting at a table to one side and as they approach, Jassal eyes Gwydeon curiously and glances at Magnus before turning to the stage. On the stage is a storyteller that they recognize instantly as Albian, he is telling a story.

       "And thus the stalwart warrior was taken from us by the weapon of the gods. The mighty force of heroes charged out of the woods and into the clearing chasing after their missing companion, unwilling to admit his loss. But fate had planted a rather spectacular surprise for our heroes as they entered the clearing before them loomed an ominous temple that in the shape of a man. The man stood on two feet as you or I, but his body was made strange spongy orange material. And his feet were made of the blackest rock. But his head reared up toward the sky towering over the tallest of the tall trees. Another surprise awaited our stalwart group of heroes as they spotted their brave companion attacking the leg of this giant man, carving out a stairway of sorts with his mighty hammer." The storyteller goes on to tell a story that is quite familiar to Magnus and Gwydeon. As they know it is a telling of their last mission for the Warlord.

       They eat their meal and listen to the retelling of the story that seems to have been touched up very little and the final battle makes them all seem more heroic. When the storyteller is done, he looks around and sees the group. He smiles and moves over toward them.

       "Magnus Kane!", he says, "It is I Albian! We traveled together during that exciting crusade I just retold. I hope you approve." Magnus stands up and greets Albian. The mage extends his hand and claps Albian on the back, smiling as he begins saying, "Albian old companion please join us for a drink." He whispers in his ear "Please, not so loud with my name. The walls have ears and I'd rather not attract undue attention." He turns and introduces his companions to the storyteller, "This is Jassal, Strongarm, Demic, and Gideon, an old friend." Magnus and Gwydeon lock eyes for a moment and 'Gideon' sits quietly, "And everyone this is Albian, of the tale you have just listened to."

       Jassal's eyebrows, raise. "Are you telling me this storyteller actually lives these adventures...and you know him...no wonder trouble follows you so closely. It must seem as natural as breathing. If even half of what he says is true, then you seem to be a magnet for trouble."

       Magnus sits down and gets the attention of one of the serving girls. After ordering a round of drinks he says, "So friend Albian what have you been doing since our last adventure and do you have any news on the others?"

       Albian's eyes brighten and he says, "Ah, lets see now. When we last met was at the outside of Harvest Moon. So long ago and so far away that time was when the stalwart group of heroes broke up and each went their own way. But a young lady, Tasha was her name had a quest for an object of fame. The harmony scrolls was what she was after the scrolls that brought us peace, joy and laughter."

       Shifting in his seat, Albian begins to get into the tale. "It was a bright day it was, when the young priestess and her companions left in search something that could not be found. To guide her on this dangerous quest were many young stalwarts. One Hunter, quick, and silent and deadly to be sure, then quiet Zraxin, whom rivaled Hunter in all respects, but stayed aloof till this very day. Then Gwydeon the young brash elf, with heart of a lion and eyes only for Tasha he vowed to help her win her quest. Then Mordred, the self assured tower of might, who was a companion to young Gwydeon. The speaker, a mysterious person, if ever there was one. After traveling with him we still never found out what his true name was. Or for that matter any name. And finally a poor bard to tell the tale, yours truly. I would say that the quest was heralded by trumpets from the heavens, but such an omen was not to come instead mere hours after we began, a fierce storm enveloped us....."

       Albian goes on to tell the story of how the group managed to get past wolves, rocs, giant snakes, and ogres who threatened to destroy them. In the end he tells of how they were ambushed just outside the city by the soldiers that seem to be everywhere now. He tells of how poor Tasha seemed to be punished when Tara refused to answer her prayers during that battle. Upon entering the city the group split up as Tasha entered the Universal Harmony Church and has not come out since.

       As he finishes he story, tears fill his eyes ,"I shall wait for her to regain favor with gracious Tara and then we shall again set out on our quest for the scrolls. Sniffles come from some of the nearby serving girls and the entire inn seems unusually quiet. The silence is broken as the innkeeper says, "Here , here, that was another fine story."

**Editors Note: for Albian complete tale read Harmony: The Search for the scrolls.**

     This seems to break the spell everyone was under as many begin speaking at once. Another man speaks louder than the others, "Now we know a little more about that fellow who attacked the soldiers...A real hero! It has to be this Gwydeon fellow. None of the others in the group had magic and few people in this town are strong enough to oppose them alone."

       His speech is greeted by cheers all around. "Now we know for sure that those soldiers are up to no good! I say we protect this man and fight the soldiers in every little way possible. Give him and his companions shelter from the soldiers. Misdirect them when they chase us through the streets. We may not be able to kill them, but we can drive them back to whatever village they came from. Let's send them a message that they aren't welcome here!"

       As he speaks the crowd's cheers get louder and louder and he seems to whip them up into a frenzy. Magnus looks around and whispers to Demic to watch the front door and for Gideon to watch for anyone else trying to slip out.

       Albian seems flustered. "Why Gwydeon, and not the speaker or Mordred, they were much better fighters.."

       The man replies, "Maybe, maybe not, but I ain't heard a peep in this town about anyone who fits those descriptions you gave so it seems they chickened out. This Gwydeon fellow helped save my cousin Yelter when some guardsmen tried to skewer him for saying something nice about them Harmony Church. Now his picture is everywhere. Everyone knows what he's done."

       "This ain't right!", Another voice speaks up through the cheers, "We aren't supposed to be fighting each other like common orcs. I thought we were much better than that!"

       The man says, "We are but apparently there are some people who think otherwise and you can find them all around town wearing red and white uniforms!" Most of the men cheer. "Their time in this town is coming to an end!"

       For a long time there is a lot of grumbling and against the soldiers, but when a group of the soldiers actually enters the bar, nothing happens as most people move away or ignore the soldiers. The soldiers are carrying a picture asking if anyone has seen someone who looks like him. Every man in the bar shakes is head no and turns back to their drink. The soldiers stare around at them tight lipped. One looks like he is on the verge of drawing his sword, when the door opens and in walks a couple wearing long white robes with the red rose design.

       As they enter, the mood changes. Everyone seems happy to see the newcomers... everyone except the soldiers, who begin to heap insults upon the pair until finally, one of the couple turns to the soldiers and says, "You men seem to embrace violence, perhaps this is because you have never had a chance to experience true peace." The soldiers heap more insults upon the couple.

       "Perhaps your opinion of me will change once you have tasted the peace that Tara offers."

       The soldiers stop insulting the couple and one says, "You wouldn't dare."

       To which he is replied, "I see no reason why not you seem in dire need of some peace o violent one."

       With that the soldiers practically run out of the doorway. There is no gloating over any supposed victory, nor is there any malcontent muttering amongst the people in the bar. For a moment, one could almost believe that everything is normal (well relatively normal).

       Eventually the couple leaves and Magnus catches the eye of the man who began his speech and gestures for him to come over. Sitting down and not wasting any words he says, "Well are ya in or are ya out! If you're in you'll do your share if you're out then you'll keep your mouths shut."

       Magnus smiles at the man, " My friend, my comrades and I are most definitely in on your endeavor...in fact we are allies of Gwydeon, who is out scouting the soldiers as we speak. Please do me the honor of giving me your name...."

       His face goes blank and he leans back casually in his chair. He looks around at the group and says, "Surely sir, just as soon as you give me yours. We can't be too careful nowadays."

       "My name is Magnus."

       "Well now er... Magnus you say that you are allies of Gwydeon, but the only proof we have of that comes from a storyteller." He turns to Albian, "No matter sir how good your stories are we needs must be discreet. I admit I may have been a bit hasty in my declaration of allying ourselves to a character of story who may or may not exist. You make a bold claim right at the start, now that is suspicious in itself. First a simple test to see if you're not just a spy in our midst. " His brown creases for a moment then says, "There are some soldiers in this town whose uniforms are different. They have a golden gem in it instead of red gem. Bring me a golden gem or this man named Gwydeon as proof of where your loyalties lie and then I'll let you know more. When you're ready, just ask around here for Kendrick. Someone will know where to find me." With that he gets up and leaves.

       Magnus turns to Albian and says, "Do you have any more information about the soldiers to add."

       Albian smiles and says, "I know only what everyone else knows. These soldiers came from a far village, with some hair brained mission to free us from the 'oppressive yoke' of the Universal Harmony Church." He snorts, "They carry gems that seem to nullify magic and make people nervous and violent around each other. They are boorish, idiotic bullies...." he continues in a slightly quieter voice, "and they are being hunted. I've picked up a few stories of a woman, several women actually, but I believe its really just one woman, who is tracking them down and killing the leaders in this city. According to one story, they killed her husband. Another story says her parents were killed by the soldiers, still a third says she was raped by one of the soldiers." He gives a small shudder. "In any case she hunts and kills and disappears. They would circulate her picture as well as Gwydeon's except for two things....one she keeps changing her appearance. the second...well the only time they find out what she looks like is just before they die."

       He pauses for a moment, before going on, "Actually as fantastic as it may sound, I believe that these soldiers come from outside the valley. I think this maybe just the spearhead of an invasion force. In any case, little good can come of their staying here." Magnus asks "How will you know when the Lady Tasha has reached communion with her goddess."

       He looks soberly around and says, "I will know, because this is the first place she will come to look for me. We go long and far from the time she first left her church. We had our first quest ever together and have been nearly inseparable since. I will wait here in this town at this inn, until she returns, be it a day, a week, a year or ten years. But I hope it won't be quite that long." He finishes sheepishly.

       Magnus turns to Jassal and asks, "Has everything gone well with your business?"

       Jassal nods, his face unreadable, "As well as could be under the circumstances. I couldn't leave even if I wanted to. Those damned soldiers have effectively cut off all traffic out of Telor. This place is going to get awfully crowded in the next couple of days and something is going to happen soon. And when it does, I won't even wear a red or white hat, because they are going to be the targets."

       Demic says suddenly, "I'll meet you guys back at our place." Without another word he slips silently out of the chair and heads out the door. As the door opens weak beams of sunlight signaling the nearing end of the day and the dawning of twilight streak in. Magnus pulls a few coins out and hands them to a serving girl, paying the tab. He turns to Albian and says, "Perhaps we should pay a visit to the Harmony Church and talk with someone if not the Lady Tasha."

       Albian thinks for a moment and says, "Yes I'd like that, though I know they won't let us talk to her or even see her. She is in total seclusion. She has seen no one outside the temple and many inside the temple didn't even know she was there."

       The group gets up and heads out of the Fanciful Tale. Albian quickly takes the lead confidently following a path that he has apparently trod many times before. As before many soldiers move through the streets, which are much less crowded now that dusk is near. At nearly every corner soldiers stop the group and compare the picture to Albian's face. Most seem only barely satisfied that he doesn't look anything like the picture. They seem frustrated and irritable.

       At nearing the temple they come upon an unusual sight. Three soldiers standing over a young man who looks battered and bruised.

       The three soldiers are facing a single young girl in white robes with a rose on it. The young girl looks confident as the three soldiers heap insults and threats upon her. One starts to move upon her and someone nearby says, "They're going to get it now."

       The three soldiers drawing their swords move threateningly upon the young girl who stands her ground. She pulls a medallion in the shape of a rose out and says, "Agents of Chaos, you have harmed another! You shall cease your violent ways in the Name of Tara, Goddess of Peace and Tranquillity. I banish your violent natures and grant you a moment of utter bliss!" The first soldier raises his sword as he approaches.

       A strange wind blows, the wind carries a heady perfume scent. All the stress seems to seep out of Magnus body and he feels relaxed. The scent of roses seems to overwhelm his senses and he gets a momentary feeling of utter peace. He snaps back to his senses and realizes that the soldiers are no longer threatening the girl. In fact they have dropped their swords and are sitting idly in the street staring at everything around them. They have a strange dreamy expression to their faces.

       The young girl passes through their midst and says, "Peace my children, may Tara banish your violent natures forever." The girl reaches the young man and helps him up. He thanks her and disappears down a side alley in a flash. The young girl turns and heads down a another street, humming a tune.

       Albian continues on as if nothing happend, ignoring the men sitting in the street like idiots. Within a few minutes the group comes upon the temple sitting in the center of a large clearing. Its white domed structure marked only with the picture of a red rose above the doorway. As they near the building there is a feeling of comfort emanating from it. They enter and talk to a woman in white robes. When the name of Tasha is mentioned she shakes her head and says, "No one may see her. She is in total seclusion. She cannot be disturbed." At this point they realize that Albian has gone missing.

       Magnus looks at the priestess and says, " My dear lady I have never fully seen the glory of a temple of Tara. If it is allowed can my companions and I be allowed to be shown this magnificent temple?"

       The priestess smiles and says, "Of course, it would be my pleasure to show you around."

       Gideon and the others elect to wait near the front, while Magnus is directed on his tour.

       After Magnus goes off on his tour and Albian disappears. Gwydeon asks Jassal to go with him to the armorer. Demic and Strongarm join the pair and sometime later they meet the proprietor of the shop, "Yes may I help you."

       Jassal says, "Ah, merchant, you remember me. I was in here just the yesterday with a customer of yours."

       "Yes, I remember the elf with the funny bracelets."

       "Well, apparently he got sick earlier today", he mimes drinking, "and couldn't be here to collect his armor. But he wanted it so bad that even in his current state he forced me to come out here and get his armor for him. I do hope it's ready."

       "Of course, it's ready.", his eyes narrow, "but I don't know it's kinda unusual for something like this to happen, how do I know you're not really just pretending to be with him so you can get his armor and run?"

       It takes some talking to convince him that Jassal came to pickup the armor for his friend. A couple of extra coppers and the armor is wrapped up and given to Gideon. A quick run takes them back to the temple where Magnus is finishing up his tour.

       As they make their way back to Nushaba's place from the temple guards suddenly surround them. A small round fellow screeches pointing at Magnus, "That's him, that's him!"

       One of the guards holds up a piece of paper with a picture on it and compares it to Magnus, disbelief plain on his face. His face screws up in anger as he rounds on the little man, "Are you blind! He isn't even close. For one thing we are looking for an ELF, a short one! I was willing to go along with you because you seemed eager, but I can see you were just trying to get the reward."

       The little man cowers, "But he was responsible for the killings at Ogre's Eye..."

       The soldier moves closer to the man shaking with rage, "Get OUT! GO BEFORE I STRING YOU UP AND HAVE YOUR FLESH PEELED WITH A DULL BLADE!"

       The little man takes off running. The soldier looks at the rest of the group and turns signaling to his men, "Damn, I need a drink."

       The rest of the trip is uneventful as they reach Nushaba's place. Sabik meets them at the door and asks, "Will you be staying for dinner?" He doesn't seem surprised when Magnus tells him they will be heading back out again.

       Magnus runs upstairs to the room and retrieves a golden gem. When he returns, Jassal asks Sabik, "Have you ever heard of a man named Albian? or Kendrick?"

       Sabik says without hesitation, "Yes Albian is the name of a Charlatan that is in town. From what I understand he is one of the better storytellers around his stories have that little extra something to make them realistic. As for Kendrick, he has made the gossip circuit more than once in the last several weeks. The latest rumor is that he is starting an army to fight the soldiers. It will fall through. Kendrick is just a person with big ideas, but can never complete his plans he just doesn't have it in him. In short an idealist."