Before Serna and Captain Lion, War Scribe sat upon the ground in a complete stupor. The Drowling's eyes were glazed over and her body was covered head to toe in blood and guts as she sat upon the ground in a lotus position. The Chronicler had a distant stare as though she were viewing something just beyond the horizon.

"Um, War Scribe, what's wrong?" The Shield Maiden asked the Chronicler uncertainly, "Are you alright? Why are you sitting here?"

The only words that escaped War Scribe's lips was a barely audible whisper, "Thalack zhah ji ssin'urn!"

Serna turned to Captain Lion, "Do you know what she just said, sir? I can't speak Drow."

Translation: "War is so beautiful!"

He shrugged, "I'm not a mage. Besides flying an airship, I am what Alyson would call a Gunslinger. A ranged fighter using round projectiles fired from this."

He took out one of his guns and showed the Shield Maiden.

Serna gasped when she saw Captain Lion's gun, "Wait a minute! Are you from Earth?!"

"Yes from a time nearly nearly one hundred years before Madeous Khyng and his family came to the Realm." He replied.

"No way!" Serna shook her head in disbelief, "Captain Irzen, well at least the Human half of him, comes from Earth as well. Roughly around the same time as Alyson give or take a few decades. Wow! What a small Realm it is isn't it?"

"Hahaha! Let us return if War Scribe is lost in thought, Serna. I am sure the chronicler is quite capable of making an appearance with her resume." Captain Lion motioned to the tinker gnome at the helm and the life boat began to rise up once more.

"Yeah, I guess so. I mean, I do feel kinda guilty about leaving her here all alone like this," Serna looked back at the orgasmically entranced Drowling, "But I guess she'll be okay. I mean, look how happy she is."

A sickly smile came over War Scribe's face as a spittle of drool slowly escaped from her lips and plopped onto her ample bosom.

Captain Lion felt uneasy around the chronicler suddenly, "Time to head back to the city and Serna, there's no need to feel guilty regarding your friend there. She seems content as it were."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," The Shield Maiden joined the Airship Captain, "I guess she'll be okay. And if she's still there tomorrow, then we can pick her up, right?"

"Honestly, I don't what to tell you, young lady. If you say she's a chronicler of the realm, then she has powers beyond you or I." He said.

The life boat sailed back up to the balcony where they originally left and dropped them off before rising back up to the airship.

"After you, Serna," Captain Lion let her disembark first and followed right behind her. "It's awfully quiet in the banquet hall, perhaps we should head back in."

**********

"Knowing Ash he has probably thanked everyone for their contributions to our war effort," Willow chuckled a little, "And knowing Birch he is either doing one of three things: Regaling everyone with a song or story about our momentous victory OR smoking that brand of Halfling's leaf he loves so much OR passed out drunk from too much wine and hard liquor. Take your pick!"

When they reached the banquet hall, both Willow and Yew could clearly see Birch passed out in a drunken stupor on the far side of the room. To their left were Captain Mandur, Alyson, Lazheros, Irzen and Dungeon Master.

"How about the third option you just mentioned, little brother." The horse lord quipped.

"I knew it was one of the three," Willow smiled, "Oh well, it's just Birch being Birch. I'll see to it that he makes his way back to Cauladra safe and sound before the end of this night. So, what are you planning to drink, big brother? I am looking to quench my thirst with some of our finest wine and then I'll introduce you to my friends."

"We shall both bring our brother back to Cauladra, Willow. You need not burden yourself to carry him back. Your friends can wait until we return." The horse lord said making his way over to Birch.

"Since when did you become the responsible one?" Willow walked over to Birch, half-lifted him up and slipped himself underneath his unconscious brother's arm in an effort to support him, "I remember the time when you and Birch were riding back from Eastport. He got so drunk that he fell off his horse and you left him behind face down in a meadow. Father was furious at you for an entire year because you not only left him behind but also because he had to send his Rangers to find Birch. You have changed haven't you?"

"My life flashing multiple times under the influence of a terrible enemy and only Lili's love and trust for me. But you're right, I did leave Birch behind, it was rather humorous." Yew cleared his throat as the memory of their father, the king giving him the 'talk.'

Willow laughed, "It was indeed. Poor Birch, between the Halfling's leaf and the liquor he drinks, he's not been very good at handling either one."

The crown prince finally came up from over seeing the commoners getting ready to return to their homes. He surveyed the room making note of where his brothers were and walked over. Shaking his head in disbelief at Birch, "Again? Looks like Birch lost again to another drinking contest. And I passed Mandur and his fellows carrying the Guardian of Asylum down to the barracks. Apparently, the drow swordsman bested him twice, first a game of wits and second, besting him with his Cannard? Pray tell, what is Cannard, Willow?"

"Cannard is the hardest of the hard liquors among the Drow," Willow explained to his brother, "I tried it once--never again! That stuff was so strong that it not only put hair on my chest but also it made those hairs curl. Take my advice, Ash, and steer clear of it! Only creatures borne of the Underdark can handle that stuff and keep their senses about them."

"Good to know." Ash said filling a glass of wine for himself while Yew helped the ranger bring Birch back to his wife.

********

"Welcome to the Wonderful World of Unconsciousness, Lazheros," Irzen beamed from ear to ear, "I hope you enjoy your stay. And when you return to The Land of The Living walking hand-in-hand with your new bride, Mrs. Hangover, I'll be here laughing at you like the teetotaler you are! *HIC*

While Alyson could only stare at the swordsman, "Damn."

The Swordsman turned towards The Elementalist, "When your boyfriend wakes up, Alyson, tell him if he wants a rematch--he knows where to find me! I'll be more than happy to claim a few more things from his horde, while he's passed out on the floor! *HIC*

"Consider yourself very lucky swordsman besting a dragon at a drinking contest. They don't forget and will find a way to repeat the contest better suited to their needs." Dungeon Master waved his hands in a particular manner and a heavy crossbow with unlimited ammo appeared in front of him on the table.

"Luck had nothing to do with it, DM!" The Swordsman boldly declared as he swayed back and forth, "I've got a hollow leg and a taste for hard liquor! You know, Lazheros may breathe fire and crap thunder but he can't hold his liquor worth a damn! *HIC*

"Un-huh. Says the swordsman who's tipsy now." Alyson waved in his direction.

"As for your other request, seek out the Tinker Gnomes that came with Captain Lion on his airship. You find the way through that door." Dungeon Master pointed to the balcony where Serna went with Captain Lion.

"OOOOoooo! NICE!" Irzen set his drink aside and opened his hands to receive his prize, "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" *HIC*

As Irzen went to reach for the crossbow, his hands passed through it when the gnome snapped his fingers, "A reward you have earned, swordsman but you are drunk therefore when you have slept it off and sobered up only then will this weapon become tangible to grasp."

"Oh! I get it!" *HIC* Irzen gave Dungeonmaster a conspiratorial wink of the eye, "Don't drink and shoot! Gotcha!" *HIC*

Dungeon Master stepped down and walked away from the drunken swordsman as his attention shifted to Captain Lion and Serna.

The elementalist stood up and held out her open hand, "How many fingers am I holding up? Geez, can you even walk straight, Irzen?"

"What are fingers?" Irzen asked nonchalantly before he broke out into a laugh, "HAH! I got ya! I know exactly how many fingers you're holding up. And I can walk straight too! The Swordsman began to sway as he moved back and forth between Alyson and Dungeonmaster. "The really important question is: Would I ever date you if you were the last woman on Earth? And there were no goats. Are there goats?"

~Who's being a JERK now?!~ The elementalist muttered some arcane words and the floor turned into mud underneath the swordsman feet sucking him down to his waist.

Getting up, Alyson nonchalantly walked over with a grin, "Shame on you, Irzen. You really should watch where you walk, one never knows if the floor is gonna give out on you, hahahahaha!"