The old man turns to you, gives you a look up and down and says,

"And now three becomes four. The prophecy is in motion."

Putting Pyres down, the man walks to the door.

"Stay the night and rest. Tomorow is an important day for you four."

With that, the man walks out into the night, seeming to be heading towards the gates again.

Randall shifted his hat on his head, and scratched his jaw as the elderly fellow left them be, having set down Pyres before his departure. For such a seemingly aged man, he sure was spry when they were fleeing!

That mention he'd repeatedly made about a 'prophecy' and them being the participants of it, perplexed the young half-elf. His whole life, he'd never thought himself anything special. Cursed, maybe, by that damnable half-human, half-elven blood of his. But...some sort of hero?

He shook his head. "He's got the wrong guy..." He muttered as he knelt to see how Pyres was doing.

Looking up at Arhaedielle, Randall cast her a skeptical look. "He said tomorrow is an important day for us... What do you think he meant by that?"

Eldarwen gained entrance inoto the village after a bit of discussion at the gate. Howe4ver her pass in was the emblem of the King's ranger on the amulet she wore. Wldarwen passed on the news that she had about the invasion by the Duke's forces and the taking of the city which was unprepared to defend itself. She did not know if the Palace had fallen or not though as she ws outside the city in the forest trying as best as she could with her fellow rangers to stem the tide of the enemy destroying the forest.

They directed her to the local inn and Eldarwen headed there after her report to the guards. Once inside she found a few customers gathered at table. looked to the old man in white robes. She moved to an empty table with the long strides more suited to the outdoors than the common room of and in but still she navigated the tables and chairs with the grace of her race.

Eldarwen is tall for a maiden elf, long of limb though almost delicate in appearance is di bely a wiry strength much in keeping with her life path as a ranger. A beautiful composite elven bow what strung and hung over her shoulder, with one full quiver on her hip and another less full on her back. A long sword and dagger completed her weapons that were visible except for the quarterstaff she carried of finely grained ash wood about 6 feel long and almost 2 inches in diameter. IT served her well for most things.

As she enter the venerable onl man in white robes made a comment of how three were nt four, and the prophecy being fulfilled. Eldarwen looked around to identify who or what he was talking about but nothing really caught her eye except the party with the old man in white robes. They were four very different people, different also in race and age.

Eldarwen decided that he was talking to them and it had nothing to do with her. So she sat at s table closer to the to the fire and well away from those four. She didn't need to hear anything about any prophecy. Eldarwen was very tired and would eat lightly tonight and then seek her rest. Eldarwen motioned a serving girl over and order a light supper, stew, bread, and a glass of wine.

"I should like a room for the night if you have one available. If not I can sleep on the floor of the common room."

Arhadielle watched the white robed elder depart their company, narrowed green eyes following him on his way to the city gates. She was in a city again and already beginning to feel the oppression of the stone buildings on the land.

"He said tomorrow is an important day for us... What do you think he meant by that?"

She turned to face the kneeling half elf as he spoke to her, "I suppose we shall find out tomorrow," she replied cooly. It would be another night spent within the choking walls of the city, she had been too long in city walls already and longed for the freedom of the wild. But the tree killers had to die, and if spending nights at inns meant keeping allies then she would, but why did they always have to stink of ale?

Arhaedielle made her way to a table and took a seat. Taking in her surroundings she settled herself as best she could, stay at the inn she would but she did not have to like it.

As you discuss what tomorrow may hold, a portly female woman clad in priestly robes bustles in. She looks at the three of you, all in turn. Nodding approvingly, she begins to turn, then sees Pyres lying down, unconscious, with a bit of a yelp, she bustles her way over. When only halfway to Pyres, she trips. Getting up, muttering harshly to herself, she bustles the rest of they way, places a hand on Pyres' head, and begins to shake and twitch. Near the end, her hand starts to glow. Removing her hand,
(Pyres, 1 HP Normal - 12/12 - all subdual healed.)
she says to the rest of you:

"You should watch out for each other. Helps more people survive. Come now, I've prepared each of you a room. Up the stairs, turn left, and the first through fourth on the left side. You're wake up is scheduled before sunrise. At least, that's what that man said. O' course, that was before his head rolled off. But no blood, and here you are, so might as well heed a dying man's words."

Eldarwen watchs the three left in the inn after the old man departed. THe elven woman seemed a bit uncomfortable. She speaks softly to the half elf kneeling over the man lieing unconcious on the floor.

Just a bit later another person enters the inn. and portly human in robes. she hurries over to where the threesome's table. Suddenly she tripped. Eldarwen moved to help her up but she bounced up before she got there. Eldarwen sat back down

The woman knelt doen and healed the unconcious man of the floor. HE finally stirred to wakfulness. Eldarwen overheard the woman in robes tell the three that she had four rooms prepared for them. She figured that the man in white robes would be back later.

A moment later the serving girl returned with Eldarwen's dinner, such as it was, a simple stew of mixed meat and root vegetables with a decently thick gravy, bread toasted with a slab of sheese melted int ihn the tio, and a fruit tart. Her attention turned to her food and she did not see the others leave.

"I would like a honey mead, or if you don't have that a light ale." Eldarwen said in Common but with the sing song lilt of her race slightly accenting her words.

The serving girl bows, and replies, "Of course miss. It will be right out."

~~~~~~~~

Moments later, your drink comes out, the serving girl also with a note in her hand. "Here you go. Oh, and is your name by Chance Eldarwen?"

Arhaedielle watched the portly woman leave, a strange interaction indeed. Strange events it seemed were to be expected. There was too much preparation made for them, too much care and too much notice. She did not quite understand what was unfolding. Prophecies and coincidences were much the same as they unfolded. Was it prophesy and fate's hand, or was it really mere coincidence?
She focused her attention on the now conscious man to her side.
"Welcome back to the waking world," she said cocking her head to the side and smiling. " Introductions are in order, I am called Arhaedielle," she said extending her hands outward, palms facing upward.

Pyres slowly raises his head as the bruise on his head fades. He tries to remember where he is and what he was doing without succes. As he begins to stand up the blood rushes to his head and his vision blurs. He looks around, recognizing the shapes of his friends, slightly reassured by their presence. But as he continues to look he notice several new people around him, an elf, a robed woman, and an old man. As his gaze passes the old man he suddenly remembers. The fire in the forest, Borghen launching an attack on the king and princess, and his destroyed hometown.

With fury he draws his sword from its sheath on his back. He points it towards the old man. He breathes heavily seething with rage. "How could you?" he shouts at him, "If you had let me go I could have saved at least a few people!"

"Foolish boy." The old man says. "You would have succeeded in saving them the trouble of having to find you, that is all. They will most certainly find you, but hopefully after all of you have had the chance to advance your abilities." He shakes his head, and coughs a few times. "You don't seem to understand what your arrogance is risking right now young one. Four people in all of the land can save this world. The four of them are in this room right now. If any of you perish, the likelihood of the world being saved is severely dropped. The four of you... yes, I am also addressing you sitting at the table there... must get to Altair. And before Borghen's soldiers get here."

The old man looks around, looking each of you up and down. He sighs heavily. "The fate of the world you four. Don't forget that." Giving another sigh, more a wheeze, he walks over and briefly discusses with the innkeeper, and then proceeds to the staircase. At the base of the staircase, he turns to you. "Any last questions? I'm rather fatigued myself."

Eldarwen looks up at the serving girl who addressed her. She certainly did not know her and had never been in this place before. She wondered how the girl knew her name though it was apparent that she did not know who she was exactly. She could have lied about it not wanting to be bothered but there ws no reason to.

"I am Eldarwen Ranger of the High Forest. I am curious though, how it is that you know my name."

Eldarwen does not start eating until the girl responds. She waits patiently for her answer. keeping her face neutral and the tone of her voice even.

While Eldarwen waits for an answer she can head the old man chastising the human that just got up from the floor. That younger man grabbed out his sword and raise his voice to the old man about trying to save somebody. The old man's retort was lower and in a much calmer voice. She did however hear a few words with intrigued her. :The Fate of the world (depends on) you four.

She turned her head as the old man announced his intentions to go to bed. then turned to look at the four gathered at a nearby table. The old woman and ther young man who had been unconscious and thw two others one male and one femnale. The fate of the world rested on them? Eldarwen shook her head in disbelief.

"Well miss, I'm only asking because an elven person named Eldarwen is supposed to be leaving with that group of three people over there. Don't ask me how someone could have booked this, but it says on our reservations that's how it's supposed to be. I think that man was talking about you too. I think it'd be best to talk with those four over there, especially the old man, and find out what's going on." The woman gives a furtive glance over towards the group of three with the old man, then looks back at Eldarwen. "May be good for something. Saving the world... seems like you've got a pretty big job miss! Good luck!"

The serving girl gives a curtsy, and leaves Eldarwen to her meal, shuffling her way back into the kitchen.

Eldarwen turns her attention to the old man ascending the stairs. This matter has to be straightened out at least to satisfy her curiosity which ws growing.

She stands and moves over to the stairs her natural grace making it easy for her to move around the tables and chairs as she moved around trees and bushes in the forest.

Eldarwen drops her hood out of innate politeness as she addresses the venerable old man.

"Excuse me sir, This establishment seems to have a misconception about a reservation in my name that you apparently know about, However, I know nothing about it. Perhaps you can explain that to me before you retire.?" Her words are quite formal in the way of elven speech just translated into common. and her tone courteous.

Her delicate eyebrows lifter in question over her piercing Golden eyes. Set of with creamy complexion and deep framed with redd hair.

The old man turns to you, a look of shock on his face. "Did you not just hear me talking to them about you? You are one of the chosen, to fulfill the prophecy. Along with the rest of them." Giving an exasperated sigh, he continues. "But, you must have been lost in conversation with the waitress. I'll explain again. Briefly."

Clearing his throat, the old man says, "You four are chosen by the prophecy. You must go to Altair early in the morning, that's why the innkeeper is waking you up early. You must train, to defeat the evil which is Borghen. Thus, saving the world. It won't be easy, but you must. Your names have been spoken in the past; Eldarwen, Tek, Pyres, Arhaedielle... you will save the world."

Panting, he regains his composure. "Okay...any more questions?"

Emerald eyes widen in rage as the waking human ignores her greeting, the feral cat growling within. Closing her eyes Arhaedielle breathes deeply, visibly calming herself, quieting the wild rage rising within. In but a moment the cool calm returns, holding back the hunger of the panther. She needed the calm, she would lose herself without the calm. Elven eyes open again, the hot emerald rage faded to a cold emerald calm.

She stood in silence watching the human rise with words of bravado, heroes always ran head first and blind. Heroes usually lost their heads. Yet it was not heroic arrogance that made her head shake, but the old proselytizer and his incessant talk of prophesy. Were they to follow blindly at the mere mention of fate?

From the corner of her eye she saw another approach, another elf woman with inquiries about prophesy. Arhaedielle lowered her head slightly greeting the newcomer, then slowly returned her attention to the robed man.

Rising to her full height she locked eyes with the old and spoke "I hear much of prophesy and fate, but very little of what and why. Prophesies are not merely told, they must unfold. I need reasons to believe, reasons more than esoteric poetry and coincidence. I will not walk this path blinded." Emerald eyes stare out at the aging man awaiting his reply.