A guard at the gate looked her over with careful eyes, before asking "Who exactly are you here to see?. Commander Starblazer or Vice-Com Pyriathin, my lady?" The question came, still with suspect in the voice. The handle of his blade was tight and loose. The fortress had recently been restored to its grandure, the guard was loyal, and had no intent of anyone stepping through his gate to bring it or its patrons harm.

The guard was hesitant for only a moment, replacing his blade within its scabard. He turned and pushed open one side of the gate, allowing the lady to enter. "You may pass then, my lady."

When the daughter spoke the name of her father here, especially here inside the fortress grounds, there would be no chance that he had not heard her. Up and out of the comfortable chair that rested before the fire, all within his personal study, and he was moving towards the window to get a glimpse of what was going on down there. It would seem that a special someone needed directions this day and he thought to himself that he would happily play tour-guide to this young woman. Turning on his heel, he moved through the study and down one of the empty corridors leading towards his office. At the end of this corridor, well before the door, a shimmering tear in the fabric of the universe, the fabric of space/time, spiraled into being. The shimmering edges of the portal lead into nothing but darkness, this was the void that many mages and sorcerers had spoken about but few had ever found. His steps never faltered and he continued on through the shimmering portal and deeper into the void from whence the universe had been created. The moment he had fully stepped through was the moment that the portal in his corridor vanished.

Another portal was forming down on the path near Sha?uri and the gate guards. Again there was a tear into the fabric that weaved the universe, that weaved space and time, and just as before there was an opening that leads out from nothing but darkness. It was this moment that the man, called by so many over the various ages ?The Ancient One?, Pyriathin Arrowny stepped through the nothingness and out into the light to greet his darling daughter.

Wrapping his arms around Sha?uri, and quickly waving the guards back to their posts, he hugged his daughter tightly, a little tighter than at their last meeting but what was a father to do? ?Be at ease, my child? You have return to the Brotherhood that you once so faithfully served, the Brotherhood that loved you just as I do. I am sure that Vargus will be happy to hear of your return and wish to see you, but first I ask that you would walk with me for a while. We will indeed reach Vargus?s office when we are done, but I feel that I have much more I?d like to discuss with you.?

He didn?t quite look at her as they continued down the path until they were long out of the earshot of the guards at the gate. Another few paces and he finally stopped and turned to face his daughters, his hands moving to take hers up. Leaning towards her, he placed a soft kiss on her cheek and then stepped back a bit to look her over. He could sense the curiosity in her about what his purpose was and so he didn?t beat around the bush.

?Sha?uri, I wanted to talk to you for two reasons. The first is that I wanted to ask you to become a part of the Brotherhood once again. Don?t give me your answer now, I want you to give it serious thought first and then let me know.?

He dropped her right hand and turned to continue down the path that was now leading towards the fortress. She could easily tell that this next question was going to be hard for him to ask.

?The second question I have for you is about your mother? What happened to her after she left??

He wasn?t sure he wanted to know for sure where his ex-wife had been and what she had done since leaving him like she did, but seeing Shara inside the body of Lyndra had resolved that issue for him.

?How did she come to be?a part of that woman??

Again he turned to look at his daughter, those sapphire flames searching her face as if it held the answers he was seeking.

He had asked the questions and, while the answer to the first one was an expected one, the answer to the second was not quite what he?d hoped for, in truth. He knew that his daughter well enough to know that she wasn?t lying to him, but there were things that he could tell she was holding back on. The little flares of darkness in her aura were more than enough to tell him that parts of this story had a much deeper meaning to her than she was letting on, but it wasn?t something that he was going to get into with her right here. He watched her as her emotions ebbed and flowed through the parts of her story until she came back to Shara and the woman Lyndra.

?Yes? I think that I?ll do that the next time I visit Exodii??

Then she continued on.

"Erique isn't the only villain in RhyDin. Yes, RhyDin is not want for super villains these days, Father. I'm sure that doesn't surprise you. They are in terrible need of real hero's. I'm sure you've sensed a few old nemesis still lurking about. And they work to combine their forces, aided by those who don't care what they do, when they do it, and do to whomever they wish, how they wish because they have no real care for anyone but themselves.... They hold much power for which they are undeserving, expecting others to give them gifts, kiss their feet.... bow to their wishes...."

He simply nodded and spoke.

?Indeed, my child? We have sensed a few of our ?old friends? about the realm and I dare say we?ve dealt a blow, no matter how small, to two of them already??

He had a feeling he knew what she would say next, and so he nodded once again before speaking.

?Then let?s get to his office so we can hear out your request??

While he was speaking a portal rotated open a few feet from them leading to Vargus?s office. Turning, he stepped towards it and then stood to the side so she could precede him.

There were papers scattered across his desk. There were no trophies or awards displayed anywhere. No momentos of past conquests or victories. The office remained simple and humble. His cloak hung next to the door upon the hook that he placed there. He had been working most of the morning on various changes and updates to the fortress as well as working on some semblance of a budget.

As he was continued his work, he felt the change in the air of the portal, then the presence of two life forms outside the office. One he knew well enough, another was somewhat strange, and new, yet still familiar.

He didn't look up to the door as they would enter. "Good to see you, Pyriathin. How can I help you and your daughter today?"

He didn't look up to the door as they would enter. "Good to see you, Pyriathin. How can I help you and your daughter today?"

That brought a wry smile to her lips, thinking about how some things don't change. She moved in and took a look around the office while the two leaders of the Brotherhood exchanged greetings.

?Good day, old man. Apparently my daughter has something she?d like to talk to us about and I have a feeling that Travanix and Romax are going to be at the heart of this discussion.?

Considering the words that had just come forth from her lips, she had to smirk with a sidelong glance to her father and light sarcasm laced her tones. "What was your first clue?"

She was nodding, though, as she stepped closer to the front of Vargus' desk and extended a hand for a more formal and friendly handshake.

"Good to see you, Vargus. I know it's been some time. Sha'uri is my name in case you forgot. I was very young then but I would not forget the place of my youth."

Her head canted in Pyr's direction.

"He's right, though. Although I don't know who this Romax is, I'll assume an accomplice... but it is definitely about Travanix."

She remained standing, though took a step back for comfort, which was clearly no longer reflected within her visage. She bore the weight of decisions upon her shoulders and the loss of the children in her heart yet she clung to something within for that hold of calmness being surrounded by that quivering of darkness... Sha'uri wanted revenge.

"This morning, Ravensheart Academy lost ten students who were taken. Six were children and four were teachers. They were attacked just outside our grounds while there was a break between classes sufficient enough for students to acquire morning tea or breakfast as they needed. Some are allowed to step off the grounds to visit the nearby coffee shop down the street. It was then they were taken."

The darkness groaned, her visage reflected the anger she felt from it.

"I suspect Travanix to be responsible for this, but we do not have sufficient evidence pointing specifically to him. I have been suspecting Travanix to do something lately only on a hunch, although let's just say he has been dealing with certain beings that have shown ill regard towards the school in the past by speaking ill of it and the staff ... specifically Headmaster Briarius and myself. She has spoken ill of us both and I do not know why. However, because of that, I will not trust Kairee in this and I will ask that both of you do the same. Gods only know what that woman will do tomorrow, but it wouldn't surprise me if she showed up. Even Corellon showed me visions of things.. of war.. warning me of her. I thought I was misinterpreting them, but now... I'm not so sure I was wrong then."

She reached into a hidden pocket within the black dragon armor and pulled out a knock out pellet, setting it on the desk.

"That and others like it were found on the paths where the victims were taken. It is apparent that slavers could've done this and they are the only ones I know of who use these. I also suspect the force was used in some way by the way their movements were described yet no magic lingered. I tried to follow their tracks and found they eventually led to a clearing in the forest north of the school. A shadow figure was there and I suspect the force used in its formation. Well, it was not magical, it had no soul and it was not a hologram, yet the shadows formed its movements and it was interactive with me. Curiously, it was not aggressive but... I have to wonder who controlled it and why itencouraged me to find clues..."

She let that thought trail, remembering the kiss the thing did to her nose, and sighed deeply knowing full well it was all bait, a trap perhaps for someone else... or more then just that.

"I ask that the Brotherhood stand up in some manner to help resolve this issue of getting the students back and seeing justice is done upon those that did this. There will be a public meeting tomorrow midmorning. I will also bring some to a more unobservable meeting at my beach house west of the bridge on the northern shore. It sits beside the Exodian trade shops, the warehouses and the Jump gate."

"If you do not think it wise to make a public appearance to the Academy... which I wouldn't think it wise to be there initially ... You can come to my beach house instead. The guards will escort you in. They already know who you both are, as well as Thara. Bring anyone else you feel it wise to do so but make sure they are with you. It is up to you who for I trust your judgements. And that, Gentlemen, is why I'm here. If there are no questions, I need to resume my search for clues... I don't suppose either of you have schematics on the Chained Inn, do you? we could use those."

It wouldn't surprise her if they showed up to the meeting, albeit incognito, hidden from view for at least a while. She just hoped they would show and could help get the children back again first and foremost. The children are what kept her in check from releasing that darkness quivering within.


((Considering things beyond my control, I've decided to change the timeline on this from the original thought, which had been more in line with things prior to the kidnappings, to fit into the day of the kidnappings but in the evening, the day before the public meeting at the Academy. The Invite from Sha'uri to her beach house is being played here:
Secret Base Camp - Ravensheart Kidnappings
You can also go to the other string in Ravensheart Academy boards for the Public meeting as well. Thanks!))

Sapphire hues did not miss the white turned purple in the Commander's eyes. She listened to the his advice, carefully contemplating the meaning. She understood all too clearly what he was saying, and it really wasn't anything she hadn't thought about already. Still, there were things in the details that she hadn't really known before.

"I understand, but I still have to try. I will try not to make it a raiding party, persay, but more recon/diplomatic situation. STill, if any of the students are there, I can't gaurantee something won't happen. In fact, I'm sure it will."

A glance was given between the two men. Her tones softened as her focus was shifted more on the Commander than on the subject matter of Travanix. He looked pouty gruff when he scowled like that and Sha'uri held back a grin from showing. But it did soften the darkness within her.

"I appreciate the information, Commander Vargus... and the advice. I will bare that in mind. However, I don't understand how Travanix is just your problem. I know you have history with him. But I didn't come here to lay this solely on your shoulders. I hope you didn't take it that way. I came here to ask for help. Together, we all stand a better chance of defeating him.... well, at least enough to maybe get those students back. I hope...."

But even as she said it, she knew some where going to be impossible to get back.