What is this, Morgyn,” Robyn asked?

“Present this to Madgy when you find her. She will know that I have sent you.” Morgyn looked compassionately into her niece's tormented eyes. She could see the weight of her concern.

Robyn opened the bag and poured Morgyn's talisman necklace into her hand. Robyn clutched it protectively and said, “I shall take good care of this, M'lady.”

It was then when Aslor called from the top of the plank, “we are ready, M'lady Robyn.”

Robyn hugged her aunt and proceeded bravely up the plank. Aslor took her hand and helped her aboard; the hopeful voyage had begun. The Seeker sailed westward and soon the Islands of Serpent's Hold were in sight.

“Shall we port, M'lady,” Aslor asked?

“Our supplies are plentiful and our time is short,” Robyn replied as she stared at the horizon. “Let us press on, M'lords.” So they sailed west without stopping and turned north when the docks of Jhelom disappeared in the distance. Soon the Islands of Skara Brae had come and gone and the Cape of Shame loomed in the distanced.

“We are getting close now, M'lady,” Vharaek shouted

Robyn looked at Salim, standing beside the tillerman. He had not slept in days and the strain was beginning to show. They passed around the Cape of Shame and headed toward the coast of Yew. Robyn clutched the precious necklace as she had done many times on the journey. She hoped that Vharaek's prediction was correct.

Robyn knocked tentatively on the door of the house Morgyn had described days before. It began to open with a creak. “What do you want, an ancient voice asked?

Robyn held out the talisman as a mute greeting. From the candlelit gloom, Madgy Figgy emerged. Even in this dim light, the open palm symbol, engraved on the necklace, could be plainly seen. “What does the Sister of Moonglow require of me this day,” Madgy inquired?

With that, Robyn told Madgy all she knew of Starmore's plight.
Madgy listened and for a long time remained silent. Staring into the dancing flame of her small hearth, she began to speak:

Twelve birds of the Phoenix,
Crimson and alive,
Seven feathers of the phoenix,
Underground where it lies.
Three gems of blue,
Valuable and rare
And a scroll of petition,
A hopeful prayer.

Madgy swirled her fingers in a nearby bowl. The dark liquid within slowly began to glow. Madgy, still trance-like, stared into the glimmering ripples. “He is still awaiting, alone on the coast of Avatar Island…but you must hurry.”

Bidding Madgy goodbye with many thanks and praise, they hurried from the hut and back to the ship. Robyn looked back to Madgy, who had followed them to the coast, and waved goodbye. Madgy waved her arms about her head and a fog immediately began to rise up and, in a short time, it had completely enveloped the ship. The snap of the sail unfurling signaled the beginning of the return journey. Throughout the clearing mist they peered until the familiar coastline of Fire Island could be made out on the distant horizon. Madgy's great magic had brought them less then a day's sail for their destination.

“Let the sisterhood be praised,” Robyn exclaimed as she still clutched Morgyn's talisman.

Many shall go to Lord Starmore's sendoff to convince him to stay. Lady Robyn shall go as far as to profess her undying love to him to no avail. After many tears and much begging, Lord Starmore shall board the Phoenix's ship and sail away. What followed was very odd to me as Oracle has never been cryptic for me. I have always been blessed with very clear sight as it pertains to the future. What disturbs me is the vision which followed Lord Starmore's departure.

The phoenix guides the ship and all watch until it crests the horizon. Many try to board ships of their own to follow only to discover they are unable to move past a few hundred yards of the shore in any given direction. FLASH...the following message is ingrained in my mind which I feel I must relate to save us all.

The components gathered the journey set,
The members gathered the criteria met.
The spell is tried by many all of whom fail,
The guild must seek out the one with the tale.
Known by but three for tales of his might,
His name has been whispered, his coloring night.
A lady must lead you, a stranger you must trust,
To return Lord Starmore, these things are a must.

Unfortunately, I know not what this bodes. Let us only hope that for once Oracle has failed me.
Your hopeful friend,
Vharaek, Phoenix Orcsbane

When she arrived at the waters edge many were gathered and in tears. As she moved to the side of Lord Beldin she saw the remains of Starmore on the ship and his ghost beside the Phoenix's tillerman. Her heart sank. Lady Robyn was all fire as she spoke to the assembled crowd and we gathered to hunt the evil bid in its lair. We were instructed to gather many items to send a message to the Phoenix but the tillerman would not wait overlong. Gripped with a cause we turned our back on the body laying on the plank and headed to our task.

The fire dungeon was teaming with evil cats, hounds, and lizards to block out path. Together we fought with determination towards the lair of the Evil Phoenix. Many were injured seriously as we finally saw him perched on high staring down at us. The ballet was fierce. Mages resurrected the fallen as we grabbed our things and headed back into the fray. Finally we had the prized feathers plucked from its dead corpse. Fighting our way out we finally gathered in the town of Jhelom to split and search for 12 of the Phoenix's red birds. The search was fruitful but long. Eventually we all gathered by the boat as I spoke to the birds and asked them to follow me onto the ship and to go the journey to the Phoenix as a message to bring our Lord back to us. Lady Robyn added the 4 gems and the scroll on the ship.

Hoping that the message would bring Starmore back to us we stood to speak one last time to the tillerman before he left imploring him to leave Starmore. Tears filled our eyes as Lady Robyn turned toward everyone still on the ship and cast an ebolt on herself. I jumped aboard and froze her everyone started to cast spells to stop her hand. In the search for the items we had forgotten how upset she was. Yet no one had any idea she would do such a thing. We reasoned with her that we needed her that Lord Starmore would not return if she were not here for her to return to. Finally she relented and walked off the ship. A sigh of relief could be heard loudly as we gathered to comfort her. The Tillerman said he would make sure the Phoenix would receive the message we sent and turned to go.

Lady Robyn gave a cry and tried to kill herself again so she would be with him on his journey. After her attempts failed she turned toward the tower and went to her room. Elya stood by Wynter watching the door hoping she was fine but decided it was not a good idea to break it down to see. Robyn came out and returned to the shore quietly. She announced she would not leave this shore until he had returned and then tried to drink poison. We quickly wrestled it from her hands and held her until she stopped sobbing. None of us wanted to leave her in that state but she boarded her boat and gave her promised to await his return alive. She wanted to be alone but we were afraid to leave her.

Elya opened a gate and went to the stables. Elya had spoken to her long friend before leaving town with him and asked if he would watch over Robyn during the night. He agreed with his gentle growl as they headed back. The grizzly walked up the boats plank and sat beside Lady Robyn. Leaning his head to her hand. Elya felt better though she knew she would not see her friend for a very long time. But her sister would be comforted through the night with his gentle strong presence.

On shore many started to leave as they wiped tears flowing unceasingly. Timbre, Sir Kill'salot, Kithra, and Elya slowly walked together to the shrine to say a prayer and hold the night's vigil there. Timbres put up his instrument and sad song and lead us in a heartfelt prayer before the silence of the night set in. Wiping the tears from her face Elya kneeled beside the shrine with Wynter close to her and settled in for a long night.

I just heard that Penari is missing too! I pray that all of our loved ones are safe and will return soon.

"This is not fate alone that briengs me to this place" he whispers to the silent darkness that fall's around he ashe move in search of he goal.Thinking long an hard upon the spirit dreams of the others he calls friends an family,There is to much sorrow an pain comming from everyone he loves an cares about.

Seeking the heart of the shadow'd cavern witch opens up before he's foot steps.

"Aye there you be" he says to himself an he gaze's upon the firey feathers an glowing red ornge eyes othe the Pheonix. The great Bird of fire stop's an turns to him.Speaking softly to his beloved goddess for a breif momment an in answer to his prayer.

"I am Penari Nioku!,Herld to Me Goddess an Shield to the forest." He say's Entorducing himself to the phoenix.

"what is it you wish of me?" asked the phoenix within his mind.

"Is this dream of sarrow to be true an of thyn doing?"he ask's.

"It is Fate of choosing not of my own doing" Reply's the Pheonix."

"then tis a thing that can be undone!" Penari's smiles tward the pheonix.

Within momments he walks out into the sunshine of a new day from the cavern from witch he enter'd,his eye's sparkle an ajust to the day light.

"Time Me love! must be there before tis to late"

A voice from the serounding forest calls to him.Within the forest he see's only a horse an within momments of talkin with the musled steed he climbs upon its back an rides tward skara to gain access to a boat.

It then dawned on me that although I was seeing these events, I was not present on the grand ship. I was once again peering through my crystal ball. Once again, Oracle posed me with a riddle instead of a clear answer. The following words were burned into my memory:

By sword and shield, kryss or mace,
Only three have seen the face.
The stranger wanders through our land,
Creatures who pass him dye by his hand.
Though the time seems tortuous, as always it passes,
The dark one shall help the true leader rise from the ashes.

Take this as you will, I have my own opinions which I am always willing to share with those who seek my wisdom through direct contact or carrier pigeon. I apologize to all who have felt pain due to Lord Starmore's passing, in that I feel my foul prophecies may be the reason things have come to pass as they have. I can only hope as I sit in Oracle, more will be revealed as time passes.

Thank you all for listening to the rantings of an old man who some consider crazy.
Vharaek,
Phoenix Prophet

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