"So you've yet to see a city that mirrors your home town, Irzen?" Alyson replied on a whim, "A city sitting on an island in the Underdark surrounded by a vast lake with an other worldly light that glows from the various lichens that grow there, right? Or am I wrong?"

"You're half right, Alyson," Irzen smiled wistfully, "Naermon Nithren is all of those things and yet so much more. There are four causeways hewn out of cavern rocks that connect the city to the cavern floor on the other side of the lake. There are the barges and triremes that sail to and fro upon the lake itself silently gliding by in the dark. And then there is Naermon Nithren itself. A city of hollowed out stalactites and stalagmites in the hundreds where my kinfolk dwell. Whether one is from Upper Naermon Nithren where the noble houses dwell or whether one is from Lower Naermon Nithren where the artisans and commoners dwell, we are free, we are Drow, we are Naermon Nithren!"

Caliaphy turned into the fairy and sat down on Serna's shoulder, "Actually this city reminds me of home. A mix of Asylum and the Ancient Oak. It's sooooooo beautiful."

"It is isn't it?" Serna agreed as she looked around, "And there are so many people here from so many places. It kind of reminds me more of Asylum than anything else."

"You're half right but my kin don't go into the city itself, Serna. Too many things to happen and one less thing for the Bronze Man not to be angry at."

"But you go into the city all the time," Serna corrected Caliaphy, "How is it that you get to do that and the rest of your kinfolk don't?"

"Cuz' I can do so as a cute little kitten or bird so I go unnoticed. No one pays attention to some random tiny creature that's part of the area." Caliaphy snapped her fingers and her wings became a cloak.

"True," Serna conceded, "I can see how a disguise would help."

Lazheros eyed Caliaphy warily, "I believe the Elder forbade it to keep the peace between the Fae wild and the normal folk lest you catch his ire."

The kurori waved both hands in protest, "Oh no, no, no! That would be very BAD to anger the Elder, very bad indeed!"

Quake smirked at the kurori's response turning her direction briefly and then back to the wonder of the East Port.

The platinum knight stayed next to the swordsman taking in the sights, sounds, diverse races, and all exits into and out of the city itself. Experience taught him early on to know who you meet, what they're capable of, and how to get out a situation should it go awry.

Irzen kept one hand on his sword and the other hand upon the token King Sunrider gave him that would grant him safe passage throughout his lands. The Swordsman knew he was walking into a city full of Surface Elves and knew that some of them may look ill upon a Drow entering their city. He was ready to either talk his way out of a bad situation with the token or fight his way out of it with his sword.

As the party reached the southern gate, a pair of elven guards approached them, "State your business here in East Port."

Irzen held up his hand with the Elven's king token for all to see, "We seek an audience with Prince Birch and Princess Cauladra. We are merely passing through your land and sought only to pay a visit upon our good friend, your prince, before we continued our journey."

One of them noticed the token in the swordsman hand, "They can pass. The drow has a token of the king, he must be one of the ones at the great battle of Arbor Haven."

A third elven guard in full plate stepped out from behind the two observing the group, "I heard there was a dark elf at Arbor Haven, are you the one Prince Birch spoke of?"

"I am," Irzen stated proudly, "My name is Dy'var Irzen, First Lord of House Sylvar, Captain of the Shadow Riders, mercenary company out of Naermon Nithren. In the Common tongue, my homeland is called Shadow Haven. In your tongue, it is called 'Daes ed' i' linae' or Shadows-By-The-Lake."

The bronze man stepped forward slightly, "All but two of our party were at the battle of North Haven. The others joined us only recently."

"I am Captain Talisen, guard captain of the southern gate and watchman of the region that borders this side of the city. Prince Birch spoke of three humans, and a dark elf." Talisen turned towards the platinum knight and the elemental, "And you are?"

"Madeous," The platinum knight replied.

*Quakeixenedardarastrix* The elemental quipped, "Quake for short."

Lazheros raised an eye brow suddenly at Quake abruptness and shook his head.

"Pray tell, Captain Talisen," Irzen inquired, "Is Good Prince Birch and Lady Cauladra in residence today? We long for their company and seek to pay them well wishes and greetings."

"They arrived a few days earlier but his highness is preparing for another voyage soon. Alas, he does not stay inland for long. The sea has always called to him. I will send word to Lady Cauladra if you wish to treat with them. Should you find yourself turned around as do many visitors just go up and you shall find the palace at the zenith of the city." Talisen gestured towards the city proper.

Madeous gave the guard captain and his men a nod quietly waiting for the others to join him just inside the gates.

Once inside the city walls the elementalist gazed upon the wonder of the East Port, "Wow!"

"Meh, I prefer Mount Chasme myself. Nothing like the earth around, over, and underneath to make one comfortable." Quake said quietly.

"So, you favor the company of dwarves over elves," Lazheros replied standing next to the elemental.

"Ulp!" Quake jumped, "Don't do that...sir."

The bronze man smirked.

"He does that, a lot. Just stands there like no one notices him," Caliaphy walked in between Quake taking her hand, and then grabbed Serna's hand.

Alyson looked over at her uncle and sighed, "Tell me about it."