There were sounds of crying...people dying.

Elthas could hear that and was powerless to stop it all.

He stood up in the field, dusting himself off...at the very least he could be presentable. Mother taught me that. The ash continued to fall...Ash Fall they called it. Elthas adjusted his fedora hat. During the previous adventure, bandits had come to ravage The Great Tree...Elthas' home. As he stood there he studied the burnt trunk, crumbled and ruined. The Ash Fall saw fit to destroy their world. As Elthas observed the husk of The Great Tree, he adjusted his hat nervously once more. The hour had come.

The Elders of their village looked upon Elthas, Son of Halm Belthasar, with some sadness. It was Xu Bellaparte who broke the silence first and walked up towards the Son of Halm. "Are you certain?"

"The last incident let me to believe I am a threat to everyone now." Elthas responded carefully. "As long as my Father lives, he will hunt us..hunt me. I have no choice but to leave now." His Brother, Drathis Belthasar looked upon Elthas.

"I can go with you, Elthas." Drathis stated.

"I am a liability now. With The Great Tree ruined, my power will put everyone in danger." Elthas explained. He looked at Drathis. "If I can save him, I will Brother...you have my WORD." Elthas explained. He shook his Brother's hand warmly. He really did respect his sometimes head strong brother. The Ash Fall continued to silently drift everywhere.

"Just come back safely. When Ash-Fall stops we will have to meet someday." Drathis said calmly.

Elthas smiled at his Brother. "I always did hate drawn out good-byes." Elthas explained. He hugged his Brother one last time...then he looked at his gathered friends and family. He considered the remaining townsfolk his family. They were few those days now, after Ash Fall ruined so many lives. "Parting is such sweet sorrow...until the morrow." Elthas said softly and tipped his fedora to his family. Some openly cried for Elthas' self imposed exile, others were indifferent But all were sad to see one of their own...a HERO leave under such sad circumstances...

Elthas adjusted his hat on a forty-five degree angle.

His clothing was well tempered and suited for Ash-Fall those days. He'd spent a pretty gold piece to help assist in the manufacture of ash-proof clothing. Which during that deadly time period was a luxury. Elthas' green cloak swished with the breeze gently. It pained him to see his forest, his home...the home of his people in such a state of despair. He took a look back. The Great Tree had a blackened trunk at that point, and was twisted and gnarled. It's great roots slumbering beneath the earth.

Elthas shook his head.

He could not feel the whispers of The Great Tree in his mind any longer. Instead...other voices lurked there now. The Elders of his people explained he'd developed an ability to see like The Old Ones used to. He could see things before hey happened and alter, change things. It would forever be a burden to him and him alone...he'd become a keeper of the old ways.

As he walked he carefully considered what his goals really were. The last few dreams were bad...I have to find a way to calm the nightmares. Help me sleep naturally once more...but it will never go away will it? Elthas noticed it up ahead. Stirring within the trees, movement. There was blurring and something fast moving just beyond his standard field of vision.

It stopped right in front of him, a spirit of some sort. But there was more to this female being than spiritual energy. Instinctively, a hand went to one of his fabled daggers.

"Hold, forest child." She said calmly her voice echoing in his mind.

"Speak your peace, nymph." Elthas narrowed his eyes at the nyph carefully studying her.

"You are lost and wandered into our domain." The nymph said carefully.

Elthas sighed. "What...do you want?"

She raised an eyebrow. "My. So eager!" She chuckled in amusement. "We have very little contact with the world outside. Not many mortals like to wander out here these days."[/ b]

"I've been exiled from the village I belong to...too much is going on." Elthas stated, only half-telling the truth.

"Careful there, Forest Child. I can see things...and I know there is something unusual about you. You've caught certain...beings attentions." She explained calmly.

Elthas thought about his response. "Such matters are not that uncommon to my people." Elthas explained to the girl. She was now a few pace away, she was quite a beautiful nymph. [ b]"You've obviously appeared for a reason...what can I do for you?" Elthas always did prefer more diplomatic routes to most situations.

"Your eagerness is noted Forest Child." She was now directly in front of Elthas. "I am also lost, but not in the same way you are." The Nymph said calmly. "My people have gone through a change since the great destruction broke Lornius." The Nymph continued to talk to Elthas in a rather pleasant voice. There was no malice there. "The old wards in Concordia have faded as a result of the great destruction." She said. "I have been waiting for someone strong to help me save my people."

There it was.

Elthas nodded calmly, it was in his nature to help those who could not help themselves. "I accept your offer. What do I get in exchange?" Elthas asked calmly, and she smiled in response, kissing him quite deeply. Elthas did not resist her advance...