Alright now that the silliness is finished, here’s the plan as it stands:

January 7th we’re hoping to get the first posts of the New Year up

February 4th we’re hoping to get Into the Black actually going

and sometime around March we’re looking at a change in staff (we’ll keep you posted on that)

Thank you for your continued support.

“Alright,” consented Loziras as he looked about at their surroundings.  Towering about them were the mighty mountains of the Southern barrier, a small thin chain that sat on the eastern flank of the Dividing Wall.

“Any clue where we are?” asked Credance.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” admitted Loziras.  “Without any definite land marks it’s easy to get turned around in this maze.”

“Yup.”

“So how we looking?”

“Môràh is holding up fine, but Lyn…I’m not sure if she can keep going like this for much longer.  We’re going to have to make camp before sunset at this rate.”

“Might as well set up here, best place we found so far.”

“Okay, you’re the boss.  Hey guys we’re gonna set up camp here so take a load off,” called Credance to the two girls.

“Thank the gods!” replied Lyn as she lay back on the grassy mountainside.

“Not so fast Lyn,” chided Loziras.  Lyn cracked open one eyelid.  “You’re still on cooking duty.”

“Great…”  She picked herself up and moved to the fire that Credance had lit in the center of their ad-hoc camp.  Môràh moved herself over to where Loziras now stretched himself out.

“This is rather nice actually,” she confessed.  “Just the four of us, just each other for company…I could get used to this…”  Loziras merely nodded in agreement as he stared out to the North at the smoking mountain.  “Is something bothering you?” she finally asked him.

“No, nothing.  Try to get some sleep,” he said.

“Okay, don’t forget to wake me for dinner.”

Dinner came and went with little in the way of excitement.  They scraped at the stew in their bowls around the fire.  Finally Loziras stood up.  “I’ll take first watch, Lyn you’ll relieve me in four hours.  Rest up, we got a long day ahead of us.”

✠                                            ✠                                            ✠

Not far from where the apprentices camped, another camp was bustling with activity.  “We simply have to stop for the day here Craet, that’s the facts,” cautioned Layfen as he followed the Templar Master about the camp.

“I know Layfen, but I can’t help worrying about them…about what could be happening to them at this very moment.”

“I understand, we all care for them.”

“Thank you my friend.”  The two grizzled veterans continued their tour of the camp.  All who had survived the devastating fire had picked up and followed the Templar, vastly increasing the size of the group.  As they rounded the corner of the next row of tents they collided with Öyre and Crüxt.

“Sorry sir,” they said in unison.  Craet merely waved at them before he and Layfen continued their rounds.

“What’s with him?” asked Öyre.

“Loziras and Credance were like sons to Craet, without them he’s lost,” replied Crüxt as they continued their own stroll through the camp.  All manner of people now shared the road with the Templar.  People from all walks of life, displaced by the devastation wrecked by the Enemy, both directly and indirectly, traveled with them.

“It’s interesting how many people decided to come with us, even Mikhail elected to follow Craet,” observed Öyre.  At the end of the row they took the opportunity to look down from their perch.  “Crüxt, what do you make of that?” he asked pointing toward a small plume of smoke on the opposite hill.

“Appears to be a fire,” replied Crüxt now staring intently at the grey cloud.  The Dräekìn shaded his eyes with his hand to block out the glare of the sun.  “Ayup, that’s a camp fire.”

“Who would be crazy enough to camp up here?” asked Öyre.  Crüxt stared down upon his companion.  “Good point…”  They continued to scrutinize the lazy haze of smoke that marred what was otherwise a beautiful view.  Movement caught their attention as someone strode about the camp.

“Is it me, or does that look familiar?” asked Crüxt pointing toward the figure.

“It does look like Templar armor now that you mention it…”  Öyre pulled his spyglass from its sheath on his belt.  “What do you make of that?” he asked passing it to Crüxt.

“Well, it’s definitely Templar armor, but I can’t get a good look at the- wait a second, look at the tent on the left,” said the Dräekìn returning the scope.

“Is that who I think it is?” asked Öyre focusing the lenses to get a clearer image.

“Yup, that’s our trouble maker down there.  This means that that’s either Loziras or Credance walking around.”

“Quick we should tell Craet.”

✠                                            ✠                                            ✠

“We’re being watched,” said Loziras as Credance walked by.

“You saw it too then?” asked Credance.  What he was referring to was a flash of light that reflected off of Öyre’s scope.

“Yeah, but who else would be up here in this area?”

“Good question and I don’t like the possibilities.  Are we sure there is no other way to reach this place?”

“I’m sure,” replied Loziras.  “This will be the easiest way to find the leyline and stop the flow.”

“OK, I’m just worried about what will happen if whoever they are up there ain’t too friendly.”

“Agreed.  Môràh is in no shape to fight, and Lyn is exhausted from training.  That leaves only you and me to fight.”

“You really thought hard on this haven’t you?”

“Ayup.  Oh look whoever was spying on us is back, how should we present ourselves?”  Credance turned to follow his friends gaze and caught the flash of light reflecting off the spyglass.

“Look there’s more than one person up there; they’re just passing the spyglass between them.”

“Rather insightful for you Credance.”

“Oh shut up!”  Credance tackled his friend in response.

✠                                            ✠                                            ✠

“That has to be them,” concluded Crüxt as he observed the wrestling match.  “I wonder whose winning?”

“Does that really matter right now?” asked Craet as he held the glass to his eye.  “There’s Loziras and Credance, and that is definitely Lyn all laid out on the cot.  But where is Môràh?”  He continued to scan the campsite until his eyes lit upon the resting elf.  “Aha, that makes all four of them.”

“So what do we do now?” asked Öyre taking his spyglass back from Craet, only to have Ishalzi swipe it from his grasp.

“Thank you,” she said.  She placed the lens upon her eye.  “Loziras has just pinned Credance, Lyn is faking sleep while observing the match and rooting for Credance under her breath, and Môràh appears to be recovering to an injury received several days ago.”

“How the hell do you do that?” asked Öyre as he retrieved his spyglass from the elf.

“Don’t ask mate, that’s what I do,” replied Cortin.

“And what a smart decision that was too,” chuckled Layfen.  “So what’s the plan Craet?”

“Well we have no way to communicate with them, so I guess we could just parallel their course until we get to a point we can actually converse.”

“Works for me,” said Crüxt.  “I don’t know about you guys but I’m getting some sleep.”  And with that finality he made his way back to his tent.

“Well then, see you all in the morning.”

“Rain of a Thousand Flames” by Rhapsody of Fire

            While the Templar rested in the plainsmen village, the world kept moving.  To the north was Mount Taell, a long dormant volcano.  Like all places of the world, it too ran deep with ancient magics.  As the world fell into chaos, so too did those magics become tainted with it.  Violently the land about the mount shuddered and cracked as molten rock burst forth in a deadly shower.

            The village was awoken as the land rolled and heaved about them.  Magma vents broke open, lava flowed like rivers over the land.  Houses burned as the flaming rivers touched them.  The villagers ran in fear from the raging destruction.  Unfortunately the apprentices found themselves on the wrong side of the lava, as the rest of the garrison was on the northern side of the flow, they on the southern upon a small rise that prevented them from being consumed, but only just.

            “Well doesn’t this just suck,” spat Crüxt.  The burly Dräekìn stood on the edge of the flow in his armor, and appeared to be perfectly fine despite the intense heat radiating from it.

            “How do you put up with this infernal heat?” asked Öyre who stood beside him, boiling in his own suit like a lobster.

            “What heat?  This is the first time I’ve felt warm since I left Dräethäl.”

            “Bloody hell,” muttered the man.  “How damned hot is it in that blasted jungle?”

            “Bit more than this…call it 48.”

            “48 DEGREES!?” screamed Öyre.

            “Yup,” replied Crüxt.

            On the far side of the flow stood Loziras, Credance, Lyn, and Môràh.  “Well…this sucks,” observed Credance.  He absentmindedly tossed a twig into the flow, observing how quickly it caught fire and disintegrated from the blistering heat.

            “I’m all for ideas,” said Loziras.  They were isolated from the rest of the group by the flow.  While they may have been able to ford the river behind them, it was now super heated by the lava that terminated into the river.

            “Can’t swim, can’t float, can’t survive, yup we’re dead,” responded Lyn.  “So…shall I make breakfast?”

            “Ugh.  As if Credance wasn’t bad enough!” cried out Môràh.

            “Well we need food for energy, and energy to think dummy,” replied Lyn before returning to the cabin.

            “She’s right you know,” pointed out Loziras.

            “Great, we’re all about to burn to death and all you can think of is food?”

            “I have to agree with her,” said Credance.

            “Please tell me I did NOT just hear that,” called across Crüxt.  “Did you just put something BEFORE food?”

            “Oh do shut up!” called back Credance.

            “You are so lucky there is this lava between us boy!”

            “Oh go roast yourself!”  The three apprentices bid good-bye to their friends and returned to the cabin to find Lyn setting out some biscuits.

            “So?”

            “Got nothing,” replied Loziras sitting down.  They ate in silence, none daring to speak before the other.  “Ok let’s face it we’re trapped.”

            “Ayup,” agreed Credance around one of the biscuits.

            “Damn it Credance stop doing that,” chided Lyn.

            “Give up Lyn,” recommended Loziras.  “I’ve been trying to teach him since I met him, and that was nearly 15 years ago.  I doubt you’ll have any more success than me.”

            “Point.”

            “If only we had a boat…” moaned Môràh.

            “We don’t have a boat…but wait!” cried out Credance.  He scrambled up the ladder to the loft before tossing down a rope.

            “What are you thinking?”

            “Loz remember the night we met Môràh?”

            “Of course,” replied Loziras.  “Why?”

            “How did we meet her, or rather how did YOU meet her?”

            “I don’t get it…OH…”  Loziras grabbed the rope and tied it to an arrow that Credance pulled from his quiver.

            “What are you doing?” asked Lyn.

            “You’re not serious?” asked Môràh.

            “Got anything better?” challenged Credance.  He scrambled back up to the loft then bashed out the window facing the river.  “Found a tree that works Loz!”

            “Good.  Ladies if you will please gather your things?”  Loziras slung his pack over his shoulders and climbed up to join Credance.  A twang announced the bows release.  “Is it secure?”

            “One way to find out,” replied Credance.  He attached his pack to the rope and shoved it out the window.  It glided down the rope till it hit the tree at the end.  “Am I good, or am I good?”  With that he slung himself out the window and followed the pack.  “All good!” he called back from the far bank.

            “Next,” said Loziras sending Lyn down the rope.  “Môràh you ready?”

            “I guess…”

            “What’s wrong?”

            “Um…“ she held up her hands showing the bandages from the wound she took during yesterdays sparring.

            “Crap…Credance we may have a problem.”

            “Well hell’s teeth!”

            “Tell me about it over a drink mate!  Ok I guess we’re going together?”

            “Ok…just like old times?”

            “Heh…just like old times.  Hey Credance get ready to reel us in!”

            “What the hell Loz, wasn’t once enough?  I don’t feel like catching the same fish twice!”

            “Well bugger you too!”  Loziras gripped the rope and slid down with the elf hanging onto his back.  Unfortunately for Credance he had failed to move before the two slammed into him, and then into the tree.

            “Well that was good!” complained Credance.

            “Shut up,” replied Loziras as he stood up.  He looked around at their surroundings.  “So now what?”

            “Don’t look at me I’m fresh out,” said Credance as he slumped up next to the tree.

            “Do we even know where we are?” asked Lyn.

            “That’s a damned good question,” admitted Loziras as he looked back at the small “island” they had abandoned.  With a crash the shanty collapsed inwards as the lava continued to eat away at the walls.  “Wait…don’t you know where we are?” asked Loziras as he realized that Lyn asked the question.

            “Err…well I’ve never traveled far from the town on my own…and now that most of the town is gone I have no familiar landmarks…”

            “Hell,” cursed Loziras.  “Môràh?”

            “Don’t look at me,” said the elf.

            “Well, no use sitting around here,” decided Loziras.  “Let’s try to stay with the flow, hopefully we’ll find a point where we can get across and join the others.”  The four intrepid youngsters gathered their packs and began to trek along the flow toward its source, hoping that their friends waited there.

            On the opposite side of the flow, now hidden by the steam of the lava meeting the stream, a similar discussion was occurring.  “Look Craet I’m telling you, if we head down stream we will meet them,” said Crüxt.

            “And I say they would have followed the flow in hopes of finding a safe point to traverse it,” retorted Öyre.  The debate had been raging for some time now.  Only an hour ago they had finished putting out the raging inferno that had consumed the town.  By this time they had discovered that the apprentices had escaped their dwelling before it too was consumed.  This did little to comfort the trio seeing as they had little clue as to where the wandering youngsters were now.

            “Crüxt while your thought has merit, I believe that Öyre is correct,” added Layfen.

            “Well why is that?”

            “Because the tracks I saw on the far side of the flow go North-East,” replied the elf flatly.

            “Well why didn’t you say so sooner?”

            “Too amusing to stop the two of you.”  Several of the survivors who had gathered around the argument found the elf’s manner-of-fact tone hilarious given the situation.  “After all, it was such an enlightening conversation,” continued the elf in the same mannerism.

            “Is that so?” asked Öyre.  He took a swig from the skin at his hip.  “Then do tell what have you learned during from this most educated debate?”  The trio enjoyed a half-hearted laugh.  “Well then, shall we move out?”

            Crüxt nodded.  “Hey where’d Craet go?” he asked looking around.  The other two shrugged noticing his absence as well.  A further examination showed that Craet had already started walking.  “Oh great, we’ve been left behind.”  Hastily the survivors of the disaster marched after their leader, in the distance sat the smoking volcano.

Instead I wish to share something with you.  As our loyal viewers are aware, our newest member of our staff is a Marine, Gunnery Sergeant Jesse Semler.  A few months ago he shared a story with me from Arizona.  During a military funeral for a fallen Air Force officer, a flight of F-16′s flew the missing man formation over the funeral, and inadvertently over a busy mall.

The next day a complaint was filed in the local paper by a woman who said the “flight of low flying jets disrupted her otherwise beautiful day at the mall and should not be done in such a busy area.”  This protest was responded to the following issue by a Captain from the Air Force base, which concluded in the following statement:

“Only two people have offered to give their lives for you, Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.”

So tomorrow, when we remember all those who died in the tragic attacks, also remember those who are now over seas fighting to protect our freedoms, and who have volunteered to place their lives between us and the dangers of the world.

God Bless the American Soldier.

“So we could be alone of course,” responded his companion.

“God I hate it how you elves have this way of answering questions without ever answering!”

“And that’s why you love me isn’t it?” she teased.

“Keep dreaming pointy ears.”

“Oh?” teased Môràh.  She leaned against Loziras.  “Well I shall.”  They remained this way for some time.  “Look at that,” gasped the elf.  Above them was an amazing array of stars, across which flashed the trails of meteors.  “It’s beautiful.”

“Aye,” said Loziras.  He looked down upon her.  “Reminds me of you, breathtakingly infinite.”  Môràh blushed.  “That is amazing,” he said as the shower continued.  All manner of colors rained down: red, blue, green, and others that could not be described with words.

“It truly is amazing isn’t it?” asked Môràh.

“Aye, and so are you.”

“Oh stop flirting will you?  Let’s just enjoy it in peace.”

Across town Lyn and Credance were doing just that.  They sat out upon the restaurants deck looking up upon the display.  “It’s unbelievable,” breathed Credance.

“More than that even,” corrected Lyn.  “It’s breathtaking, that’s for sure.”  Lyn looked across at her companion.  “What do you think?”

“I can find no words for it,” admitted Credance.  “I find myself for once at a complete loss of words.  Such immensity that is concealed within our world, it’s marvelous.”

“Mm-hmm”

“Lyn?”

“Yes.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“What is it Cred?”

“Well…What do you think of…”

“Before you ask yes, and now do me a favor?”

“Anything.”

“Shut up and enjoy the show.”  Credance and Lyn returned their attention to the skies above.

✠                                            ✠                                            ✠

Morning found the two groups of apprentices unmoved for the most part.  Upon the hill Môràh was sleeping upon Loziras’ shoulder, who had, in turn, found  a nice boulder to lean upon.  On the deck of the restaurant, Lyn was lying in Credance’s arms, upon them the old man had placed a blanket to keep them warm.  “Loziras,” mumbled Môràh.

“Mm-hmm.”

“You up?”

“Am now.  What time is it?”

“Hell if I know.  We should head back to the hut, Credance and Lyn might be worried.”

“I doubt that,” chuckled Loziras from atop the boulder.

“Ok what do you see,” asked Môràh.

“Oh just the two of them curled up under a blanket,” he smirked.

“They’re what!?”  Before Loziras could stop her, Môràh raced down the hill back toward town.

“Oh god…this could be amusing.”

Meanwhile Credance had just begun to stir.  “Ugh…Lyn?”

“Yeah…what is it?”

“I think we should get up.”

“Why?”

“I think I see Môràh charging toward us.”

“Uh-oh…too late to run?”

“’Fraid so…but yeah let’s get up before Loziras makes an appearance.”

“CREDANCE!” yelled Môràh as she approached.  “WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HER!?”

“Môràh it’s not like that…please calm-”

“WHAT!?”

“Môràh calm down,” said Lyn.  “It was me who joined him sheesh.  Why do you care anyway?”

“Môràh god damn it!” cried Loziras.  “Don’t you know anything, how do you think Credance reacted when you did that!”

“WHAT!?” cried Lyn in shock.  “You little hypocrite!” Lyn tackled the hapless elf.

“Care for a drink?” asked Credance.

“You know it,” replied Loziras taking a seat.

“So care to talk about it?”

“’Bout what?”

“Oh just life, the universe, everything?”

“Well thanks to you I got that off my chest, I don’t know what I’d do without you Cred.”

“Hey I did have a little help in there from my friend…speaking of whom, HEY YOU TWO KEEP IT DOWN!”

“Shut yar trap!” called back Lyn.

“Women…”

“What was that!” cried Môràh.

“Nothing!”

“Credance I suggest that we keep out of this,” cautioned Loziras as the girls continued their struggle.

“You realize that we’re all now supposed to be one big happy family?”

“Bugger,” spat Loziras.  He cried out as something slammed into his head.

“Nice shot,” complimented Môràh as Lyn dusted off her hands.

“My thanks,” bowed Lyn.

“Gah!  I give up!” cried Credance returning his attention to the drink before him.  “Hey Lyn what is this stuff anyway?”

“It’s called Sake, it’s imported from the islands.”

“Huh.”  Credance sipped a bit, “GOD ITS HOT!”

“What are you-” said Loziras before he too spat his out in shock.  “Damn it girl you trying to kill us?”

“Only a little,” replied Lyn innocently.

“Loziras I take back what I said about Lyn earlier, I think I’m starting to have a whole new respect for her.”

“Uh-oh…”  The two girls smiled at their compatriots before skipping off into town.  The boys blinked, look at each other, then returned to their drinks.

“Did that just happen?” asked Loziras.

“Define what you’re talking about,” replied Credance in an equally stunned manner.

“Did they just not only agree, but get along?”

“Umm…apparently.”  Credance took another sip from his drink.  “I swear I will never understand girls should I live a thousand years.”

“Hell even with an infinite time to think it over I’ll have as much success,” proclaimed Loziras after another sip of the burning liquid.

“They’re just one of those mysteries in life which can’t be solved I guess.”

In the words of Leonard Nimoy, “Live Long and Prosper.”

As a final note We here at Chronicles send out our regards and well wishes to the Glover family.  Unfortunately Scarlet Glover was killed in a car accident this past weekend.  She was a friend to myself and my fiance as well as one of our guest editors. We ask all our readers and fans for their support as we lend our hearts and minds to the Glover family during this tragic time.

Thank you for cooperating with us during this transition, and for your continued support.

Peace Out!