| It soon appears that negotiations have broken down....when a girlish
cry breaks the mounting anger in the amazons!
Astra and Anina turn and stare as a red haired child of nine years comes
running and crying out from the bushes. Her face is tear streaked and muddy
from falling and tripping in the mud after running for her life at the
bequest of her mother's dying wish. She'd been traveling with her father
and mother to a secure location to better be able to regroup and share
resources with the remnants of the forces of Allaria to better be able
to strike back at the invasion of the giants only to be ambushed by giants
(who'd somehow tracked them down). Then, a shocking change in fortune had
occurred.
THE dragon of the NORTHERN CAVERNS, long time foe of Allaria and Aqualaria
had....flown in and had killed each and every grotesque humanoid....and
had then went and tried to lend aid to those still living.....
The little warrior princess had been thrown clear of the royal wagon
as it had been crushed by a boulder the size of a cottage, and had been
too stunned to move while the slaughter had been in progress (a matter
of seconds). Why the roving out patrols hadn't spotted the ambush remains
a mystery. Why this had happened remains a mystery. The fact is, however,
the little girl had been frightened nearly witless by it all (brave though
she was) and hadn't thought of what danger she might be in by running away.
Her mother had been nearby and mortally wounded and had whispered to her
little "Astra" to run.....for safety.
The nine year old had obeyed, and that was that.
The dragon, meanwhile, looked up in the direction of the fleeing child
and made a move to follow....only to turn back when he realized that the
groaning people around him needed his aid. He might possibly be able to
stop the child, but he'd definitely lose the patients he'd be trying to
save while he wasted time in the effort.....as cold as that sounded.
No, better to finish his work quickly before trying to help the child.
He just hoped to his goddess, Tiamat, that the red headed child would stay
well long enough for his aid!
Turns out that the child Astra had been more proficient in camaflouge
than the dragon had anticipated. This had lead on a long.....and frustrating
trek as dragon futilely searched for the kid, who thought that the dragon
was out to eat her or something else vile (Astra hadn't been able to SEE
the dragon helping those who'd fallen....nor did she see the rest of this
"Minestus' Dragon Circle" fly in and take over the healing efforts).
The dragon had changed into his darkly handsome "human" form and was
going about on foot to try to assure the child that he was there to help.
Meanwhile, not too far away, the nine year old Astra had come across
the haggling session and had seen Anina (as well as her older version....though
she didn't realize that). She'd cried out in joy at seeing a familiar (and
loved) face and ran to the startled weapon trainer.
The youngster had hysterically began to babble what had happened as
she wrapped her arms around the befuddled Anina's leg, causing her to look
down at her and then up at the elder Astra with a most befuddled look.
The elder Astra had looked back in blank shock and fear at what this would
mean (she had NO memory of this ever taking place and feared what the paradox
could/would do).
"Ahhhh, isn't this touching," a mocking (and familiar) voice says from
the side, "A big and happy family!"
"Fred?" the elder Astra whispered, looking over at the man with a bronze
mask over his face, "I......"
The elder Astra shakes her head, suddenly remembering (and fighting
down an urge to vomit) the vision of "her" Fred laying in the swamp....with
his spine having been torn out (and being very dead from it....also).
The Brazen Man pauses, a look of confusion working his way over his
Phage ravaged face (which of course didn't show due to his mask).
"That...name has no meaning to me!" the Brazen Man shouts, throwing
off the odd feelings the name invokes.
The demon continues.
"So.....you don't understand my little jest? Bending space/time back
upon itself for this lovely paradox.....leaving one Astra a 'time orphan'
from a future that no longer exists thanks to me?!" the twice dead man
laughs evilly, "Well, you're going to love this next trick!!"
A wave of the hand and all the humans fall over unconscious. Anina is
in the process of demanding an explanation from this rude man (she'd have
gone over and drawn a sword on this unusual character if she hadn't been
hampered by the little one holding onto her leg) sighs and starts to snore
along with the rest of the humans. The horses of the wagon scream in terror
from the evilness they sense from the Brazen Man and bolt (carrying the
unconsious weapon's merchant along with them).
The Brazen Man curses as he senses the odd dragon do gooder turn this
way as he hears this noise. His mistress (RF to some, Randall Flagg to
others, and Legion in yet another place and time) would NOT be pleased
to have these toys rescued.
Time and space bends as the Brazen Man deposits the sleeping humans
in a forest on a distant....yet close....world. With another twist he appears
and bows as a demoness appears and praises her "toy" for his gift.
-
 The
sleeping humans are put into stasis for later play.....
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