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"How would you know?" Tas asks without blinking an eye. "The last chance you had to show humans anything about elves, you were sending away helpless women and children simply because they were humans." He frowns and thinks about it. "I mean no harm, but I would rather my own people not experience the limits of your generosity."

Shrugging the sad thoughts off, Tas skips along and looks at the place in wonder. It really is a nice collection of tree houses.

"I don't think they were sending them away because they were humans," Tika says. "They are evacuating here. They probably only have enough supplies for their people."

Riverwind holds Goldmoon's hand as they walk into the town. He looks around in awe at the degree to which the elves have developed construction skills. Being a simple plainsman he is amazed at the level of detail and overall design of the elf-home. In a whisper "This place is glorious, though the reception we have received is not so much so."

As the royal elves discuss their differences, he wisely stays out of the conversation. Noting the bustle of activity, he finally understood when the word evacuate was used.

Again whispering to his beloved "This is one more example of why we must continue our task. If the elves have determined that they cannot defend this great city from the dragon-horde, what hope does the world have of defeating the scourge on the battle field. We must develop a plan to remove the head from the snake."

As they approach the tower he looks up marveling at the seat of power, so different from his own vision.

He finally can keep quiet no longer when Gilthans speaks of the conquered humans "Gilthans, you do not know the humans spirit very well. Though the bases of human civilization are no longer, do not assume that out peoples are defeated. Rest assured the humans spirit is alive and well, just biding time for an opportunity to deal a blow against the foe."

Gilthanas doesn't respond to Riverwind, although it's clear from his face that he's highly skeptical of the plainman's claims.

The party, following the elves, approach the golden tower. A pair of gilded doors swing silently open, into a chamber that looks much bigger than the outside of the tower. The huge room has a white marble floor and walls. Many windows admit the sunlight and fresh air. Many elves stand here expectantly.

The tallest elf here is dressed in a resplendent yellow robe, and his hair is tinged with silver. He steps forward eagerly, opening his arms to embrace Gilthanas and Porthios.

"My sons! I thought I would never meet you in this world again." For a moment, joy raises in his voice, and then his manner becomes serious. "Gilthanas, what of your raid?"

"Lord Speaker, my father," says Gilthanas solemnly, "I have failed. We traveled with all stealth southward as was planned; yet fate had us meet a northbound army of the Dragonlord. I was struck upon my head and fell into a ravine, thinking that to be the end of my days upon the face of Krynn.

"Some time later I awoke and found tracks leading northward to Solace. Thinking to free my warriors who may have been taken prisoner, I followed. I found that Solace has been taken and its vallenwood forest razed."

A gasp rings through the council chamber at the thought of the mighty forest leveled. Gilthanas lowers his eyes and speaks his next words with difficulty. "I found my companions in the square, tied to stakes made from the fallen trees. A large red dragon soared above them. I watched the people of Solace forced into a large circle around the captives.

"A great and evil leader, hidden by a beastlike mask, rode the red dragon downward beside the stakes in the square. He spoke as the serpent landed: 'I am Verminnard, Dragonlord of this realm. I have need of all mortal beings in the great work of the Dragonlords. Those who obey shall serve me. Those who do not shall feel my wrath!'

"Then the dragon breathed flame upon my fellows..." Gilthanas' voice trails off, and he gestures toward Theros Ironfeld. "A kind of madness came over me, and had not this man restrained me, I too would have been burned into nothingness. He risked his life for me, and indeed, suffered the loss of his arm for the crime of protecting a frightened elf."

"Then you have my thanks, and the thanks of the Qualinesti," the Speaker says to Theros, just now finally noticing the presence of the humans and other non-elves in his presence.

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(OOC: Kafen, I never said anything about treehouses. Here the buildings are made of quartz, except for the tower, which is golden.)

"Father." Laurana steps forwards slowly bowing." "They are everywhere, these creatures are slowly taking over.." She wishes she had taken a moment to do something about her appearance, she was already concerned why her father did not address her directly.

Solostaran's gaze locks on Laurana, then flickers from her to his sons to Tanis. "So it's true then. You have returned, and this," he gestures toward the half-elf, "was the reason for your disappearance."

"Yes Father I have returned, I wish I could explain, but.. I fear any explanation I might give would fail to be enough." She blushes, biting her hair.

"I left for love, I did not know the gravity of the situation, what was happening here.. Are you really leaving our home?" She asks quietly, reverently reminding herself her father was still in charge.

"My Lord." Sturm steps forwards, placing his arm on Laurana's shoulder, "Have we not all acted foolishly in our time?" Glancing at Gilthanas, he nods slowly. "This Lord Verminnard he will lead the attack on your fair City I assume, have you any plans to delay him?"

Tika watches this whole exchange quietly. What could she possibly add at this point that would actually help? She just got involved in all of this not too long ago. She didn't know what was all at stake.

Laurana wrote:"Yes Father I have returned...

"Do not call me that," Solostaran demands sternly, bristling. "We will discuss your actions later."

Sturm wrote:"This Lord Verminnard he will lead the attack on your fair City I assume, have you any plans to delay him?"

"There are plans in the works, yes. We will have a council this evening to discuss it," the Speaker says.

"Lord Speaker," Gilthanas says. "There is more. This woman," he says, gesturing to Goldmoon," claims to be a cleric of a true god--Quen Illumini. I saw with my own eyes as she healed Theros Ironfeld of his injury."

The Speaker frowns. "You were mistaken, my son. The gods left during the Cataclysm and there has been no magical healing since then. You know that."

"Very well." Laurana stifles back a tear and lifts her head. "Speaker." she looks back to Tanis but finds no solace there.

"Me look after you." Magpie Announces with a little hug of the elf maidens leg.

"My blade will help where it can." Sturm says darkly to the speaker, this dragonlord destroyed the only home he knew.

JadedDM wrote:"Lord Speaker," Gilthanas says. "There is more. This woman," he says, gesturing to Goldmoon," claims to be a cleric of a true god--Quen Illumini. I saw with my own eyes as she healed Theros Ironfeld of his injury."

The Speaker frowns. "You were mistaken, my son. The gods left during the Cataclysm and there has been no magical healing since then. You know that."

Riverwind is listening, but cannot help himself but interrupt, with a gentle squeeze of Goldmoon's hand, he releases it and steps forward.

Without preamble, not showing any deference to the speaker, he begins. "Your son was not mistaken, though the Gods may have left, they have returned. Are you really so tied up in your beliefs that you dismiss your son's claims so easily." Riverwind draws his dagger and holds it to his forearm "Are you so vain that you need a demonstration for you own eyes?"

As soon as Riverwind draws the dagger, he hears a number of blades being unsheathed, as the Speaker's guards tense at the human pulling out a weapon in front of their king.

"Riverwind no!" Laurana shouts, not moving. "This is not the time!"

Goldmoon steps forward. "Beloved, no. It is not wise to weaken and wound oneself deliberately when there is a cruel mortal enemy who will be delighted at our weakening ourselves. Surely there is someone in this hall who is seriously wounded and in need of help?"
Her eyes travel to Tasselhoff, who indeed is badly injured and, after the exertion of the journey, certainly barely able to keep himself upright. But if she lays hands on him, the elves might see it as a play agreed upon beforehand, so she waits for a suggestion.