"The short, short version, the Dunnamon's a.k.a. were two upper level demons trying to bring the Nameless One back to the Realm by sacrificing all the citizens of Storm Haven in one massive ritual. We met Willow, War Scribe, and Gareth. We stole the Eye of Saffron from the bad guys and well, the Lady reached out and made a long-distance-phone-call and left a message. Uh, then horn head showed up and we won. At least, the Lady admitted she was out of her league when she arrived outside the city." Quake's huge form shuddered.

"WOW! That's pretty desperate when you have to call upon The Dark Lord for help." Irzen shook his head in pure disbelief.

Madeous surveyed the region, "Then we go around. Perhaps back up along the coast towards Eastport then cut across the plains along the northern pass through the Shimmerhorn Mountains to Deeping Dale."

"A sound idea, Madeous and I would rather not venture towards Storm Haven either but rather keep along the coast line." The bronze man nodded in agreement.

"Okay! I have to ask the question," Irzen turned to both Madeous and Lazheros, "I understand why Alyson wants to avoid Storm Haven like the plague, but why do you two want to avoid that city?"

"Storm Haven is too modern of a city here in the Realm for my liking with its very dark history being so close to Venger's territory." The Bronze Man replied.

The Platinum Knight studied the Swordsman for a moment and replied, "I do not want to attract any unnecessary attention concerning both Alyson and myself. I have a great deal of renown with the people of the Realm itself, however, it only takes one to open their mouth for the spies of Venger to hear and report to him."

"Point taken!" Irzen admitted somewhat reluctantly, "So, we're off to Eastport! Hey! Would anybody like to drop in on Prince Birch and say hello! I'm sure he would be more than happy to receive us considering the fact we helped save his father's kingdom and all."

"Umm, okay. Sure." Alyson shrugged and started walking north.

Caliaphy sat on Serna's shoulder humming a little tune, "Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight..."

"That sounds nice," The Shield Maiden mused with a smile.

Alyson stopped when she heard the kurori singing her favorite childhood song, "A nice song best sung at night when the stars fill the heavens."

Madeous walked along side the Swordsman, "Irzen, when was the last time you were home in the Underdark? Surely, there's a part of you that longs to return home and to see how your kin have been."

"It's been a full century since my Shadow Riders and I rode out of Naermon Nithren," The Swordsman sighed wistfully, "And I do long to return home and to see how my son is carrying on our family business and how my daughter is doing in her arcane studies. I miss them. I also miss my men. It was after my Shadow Riders defeated a contingent of Venger's army at the Battle of The Nudorn March, that I was plucked from them and dropped into Alyson and Willow's company. My men had standing orders that they were to return to Naermon Nithren should I fall in battle or disappear for an extended period of time. I wonder, sometimes, if they returned home. I wonder if they are waiting for me there."

Madeous glanced about the party and nodded, "Hmm, perhaps venturing towards your home wouldn't be such a bad idea sometime when there aren't any young ones in our company. And as much as I enjoy the company of children, the Underdark is no place for someone like Serna or Caliaphy."

"Or any Surface Dwellers for that matter." Irzen confessed apologetically, "Don't get me wrong. My people have had contact with Surface Dwellers in the past. But those Humans who came were either explorers or part of a diplomatic mission or a trading party. And they were always armed to the teeth. When they arrived, my people always treated them with respect and did business with them but we never allowed them to stay longer than necessary."

"Well, it was just a thought." Madeous stretched a little as they walked along the coast.

"And its a good thought!" Irzen smiled at Madeous, "I have no problem returning to Naermon Nithren with you guys. But you're going to have to be careful and our visit is going to have to be a brief one. My people are fairly open-minded but we are still Drow. And as you well know, we Drow do not nurse grudges, we harbor them!"

Lazheros looked over at the elemental pondering something, "Alyson told me that you've already laid your first clutch of eggs and they've hatched?"

Quake stayed back about ten feet behind the party to keep pace with him, "Yes. Gifts of fire, stone and metal to the Duergar of Mount Chasme. We freed them the mindflayers and in return I gained a lair and provided them with smaller versions of myself as guardians."

The elementalist quietly thought about her creation that sacrificed his life at the battle of West Fall, "Oh Mermidon, what should I tell Trokar Whitebeard now..."

The fire-stone dragon swung her head over to Alyson and nuzzled her, "Lady, my little brother who flies high in the heavens and the sky shall return soon but my brother, black and brooding will evolve just as you awakened us only months ago. One will become steel and the other mithral in their final stage of evolution. After all we three are aspects of you brought to life."

"Serna," Lazheros asked seeing the girl being quiet, "Are you alright? You're rather too quiet for my liking."

The kurori continued to hum the song from an American Tail pausing only to tap the shield maiden on the shoulder, "The Bronze Man has a point, you are really, really quiet, Serna."

"I was just doing some thinking," Serna quipped honestly, "That's all."