Years have past swiftly it seemed and the once pampered little aqualonian became a rather formitable visage of a woman indeed. She walked through the Stygian streets one morning to look for her next meal. Which was rather difficult since most of the street merchants new her by know. She stopped just outside of a local tavern where she happened to overhear rumors about a crysaline tower, and the riches it held. Both men convincing each other that going to such a place was folly, but for a hungry desperate barbarian' Just up her alley.

A few days pass. Collecting what information she could from the local merchant, and gossip hounds of the bazzar. Gressa was on her way across the plains in the assumed direction of this mighty tower. Settling down for a night of rest the warrior woman came upon a cave. Dark and forboding. Cloth wrapped around the tip of her sword and set afire to make a makeshift torch the woman enters. Her green eyes moving slowly over the cave walls as bare feet carried her further within. A few meters within the large cave she could hear the sound of men.

Her back was put against a wall. Her hand placed upon the hilt of her sword. Edging closer to the sound of those voices. Keeping to the shadows. Finally the circle was spied. Rough piggish looking men drinking out of large jugs and eating some beast. The smell of food wafted past her nostrils and stomach did indeed growl. Perhaps the men would share..most likey , but at a price she was not about to pay. Crouching down behind a rock formation she could wait. Soon enough the men did begin to dose off from the brew. LAying this way and that. She peereed over the edge of her hiding spot to make sure all were asleep before creeping over to the remaining roast.

Just as the meat was within reach she felt a tight grip upon her ankle, and then her face met the floor. " Thief, and a woman at that!" She knew what was comming next. Hand moved to her word. Pulling the blade out quickly. Rolling herself upon her back. Ankle twisting quite painfully in the male's grip. Lunging foward a quick slash opened flesh at the side of the man's neck. Recoiling with his hand to the wound. The others were still trying to get thier barings. Gressa with a burst of agility kicked up to her feet. Swinging wildly oce more. Her blade met with more flesh, and her face would be reddened with the spurt of blood to follow. Five men left. All now within a small formation. Staggering. She smirked. Moving foward and lifting up that half eaten roast. The men looked to each other , and then charged. Thier swords pointed foward as if to impale her on the tips of each. Her body sunk low to the ground and rolled off to the side as they collide with a far wall. Sword sheathed she began to run. She had gotten lucky so far, but she was not going to press it.

Belly full and her person far away from that cave and those men Gressa came upon a large mountain formation, at it's peak a large tower seemingly of quartz. Figuring she would be safe for now the woman lowers herself upn the ground. Back against the rock. A blanket of fur wrapped around herself. Eyes closed, and soon she drifted off to sleep. Nightmare ridden sleep of fortune lost, and of her past.

She awoke the next morning and peered up to the tower, but to her suprise it was no longer there" A gasp escaped her lips, and she near gave up, but she decided to climb to the top anyway. Perhaps there was somthing else of interest on the other side" Bare hands and feet finding cracks in the formation she began the long climb. Her muscles ached and she nearly met her end once or twice thanks to loose earth beneath her feet. hours of such strenous activity facing the hot orb in the sky took thier toll. Shakingly she made it to the top. Standing. Her chest heaving underneath a sweat soaked brazier. Hands moved through her hair as she moved foward, and then wam!.

What was this now" Her hands outstretched to feel contours of somthing unseen. Moving to one side her hands moved along what felt like smooth glass and yet did not appear so. Then the sun began to dissapear beyond the horizon and night fell once more. As the moon shined down upon the earth the tower of crystal would soon come into view once more. She might have known it was an illusion Thier was a wizard within this place after all. The wals to steep to climb, and their seemed to be no entrance. Hands frantically began to push and feel over the structure as if to find a switch or hidden pressure plate, and then. Hand raked across a jagged shard where it was unlikely to have one. The crimson trickling down, and then absorbed into the very being. A small portal opened just beside where the wound took place. Hand upon sword she entered just as it began to close once more.

No gaurds. no beasts were met as she climbed the spiraling staircase. What manner of wizard was this expecially if there was soposedly a grand treasure to be had. These thoughts flooded her mind as she accended. Finally meeting with a landing and large room with many doors. Each of course were tried, but none budged. Her body would slam against one, but to no avail. This of course brought along repercussions.

A tall elderly man of dark skin appeared behind her. Thick robes of multi colors shrouded his near skeletal form. Long spidery didgits wiggled abit, and a crooked toothy grin spread across his lips.:: Those wont open without a key young lady...She whirled around. Sword drawn with blinding speed. The old one with a wave of his hand send Gressa flying into the door behind her. Head made a cracking sound, and backbones popped. Falling to her knees briefly. Eyes meeting the elder one's who seemed to be gasping just abit. A smirk played across her lips as she began to move foward with the same result. A wave of the hand and her body send against the wall again.

Weezing with laughter he began to approach. Now i can do much worse you know, but...it has been years since i had female company,so if your nice i might let you leave unchanged. Spidery didgits begin to explore her cheeck to be met with teeth as she latches onto them. The old man lets out a scream . His free hand gripping into a fist. A free hand goes to her throat as she feels pressure upon it. Her mouth releasing that didgit . Her vision began to blur. Sword raised she ran at him to deliver a killing blow so he would join her in death, but wiith a quick sportatic encantation she would be met with a bright light followed by darkness.

When the darkness fades and her vision refocused Gressa rises to find herself in unfammiliar surroundings. A lake off in the distance with flowers and all manner of mythical beasts frollicking in the glen. Was she in some sort of heaven" Confused and disoriented she wanders down a man made path to a large city known as Rhydin.