OOC: Uhh.......we haven't even TOLD them(the townspeople) about the impending invasion yet. Besides, it's few days more before Shuren and Aeris returns, so this would be the time where we argue over our future plans while packing up. Have you actually read what I posted in the discussions thread?? :S

"Yes, I think we should." Arthus nodded in agreement. "Since you're familiar with these elves, I'd suggest that YOU tell them." Arthus said to Ilgivan without even so much as a smile on his face.

Aeris leaned on Shuren's neck, clutching his fur, and trying to stay concious. She had certainly been through a lot lately, and if it didn't stop soon, it would most certainly kill her. Unfortunately for Aeris, it didn't seem to want to let up anytime soon. However... something felt different. Wind was gone, but Aeris still felt her, and the troubling part was, Aeris still felt Wind was right there with Shuren and herself. More problamatic was that all the magic that had been recently used had most likely caused something (Or multiple somethings) that were not intended, to come to pass.

But now wasn't the time to brood on this.

Aeris, taking out a scroll of a spell she could not normally cast, read the inscription, designating Shuren to recieve her "Haste" spell. She prayed it would help them make it to the city before another one of Nezurahl's patrols caught them...

OOC: This will be my last post for about a week as I'll be away on holidays.

Shuren looks at the chill ice field. It was almost like a reflection of his mind. Inside he was perched upon an icy pinnacle and was filled with a peculiar clarity. He was numb and felt oddly emotionless for that tower was forged of his will alone and it held at bay all those things that threatened to destroy him. His injuries, his exhaustion, his sorrow, the draining from the overuse of his magic, all of these were buried in the numbness. But he was painfully aware of the slow crumbling of his body and his will. He could only dimly hope that he would be able to make it.

There had been no sign of demons or the undead and any track he came across were old. It seemed that their foes had depleted their strength here for now. The spell of celerity greatly improves his progress and, as they had still been quite close to where they had parted he came across the tracks of the knights. The chance he had taken had paid off for he had not gone back the exact route that they had followed but had instead moved to try and run across the knight's further along. The risk had been that if they didn't find the trail, they would have lost even more time. Fortunately he does not have to slow down to track by scent - hundreds are armoured knights leave an easily followed trail and he had excellent night vision. He would continue traveling into the night. Shuren was afraid that if he stopped, he would be unable to start again.

"I'm not familiar with them, we both just seemed to be going to fight those unalive people, and we joined up for a bit, I'm sure they had their own reasons, mine were that the zombies want to die. But if you think that I should tell them, fine"
Ilgivan stepped forward and said in a voice that could be heard throughout the town, yet was at the same time not too loud,
"attention everyone, there are a large number of undeads advancing upon this position, and it would likely be best to move away until they pass, and to come back later"
one of the elves looked at him as though he were crazy
"oh yeah? and who are you, a mere human, to be telling us this?"
another elf who had been with him whispered urgently to this new speaker
"all right, i suppose that you are alright, for a human, but how do we know that this horde is able to get rid of us? I'm not doubting your word, just that humans aren't as good at fighting as we are, maybe they could wipe out a human settlement, but not us."
Ilgivan walked back to Arthus
"see? I'm not good at talking to people, they don't listen to me."

Arthus sighed as he shook his head at the ignorance of this snobbish group of elves. The only elves he had ever liked were the Winged Elves of Celestia and the Wood Elves of Silverwood. City elves, or Plain Elves, as the western kingdoms would call them, just irritates him.

"Good elves of Archeron," Arthus began. "I do not doubt your bravery in battle, nor the skill of your famed bowmen, but this army - no, this horde - of undead and demons that are bent on destroying all that lives is not meant to be taken lightly." Arthus paused for a moment as he siezed hold of a nearby box to stand upon.

"See this army before you?" Arthus points his finger towards his remaining "army". "Do you not recognize their insignia, their crest? They are what was left of a great army of Apocalypse Knights. Five thousand strong we were, our hearts ever vigilant and ready for battle, but yet we - we, the very Order of Knights that led the armies of the west to victory in the Great War - were soundly defeated and were driven back. These army of the damned that now comes upon you is no ordinary evil, for they are led by one of great power. Ashkael, the Fifth and last of the Horsemen of Apocalypse, Lord of Pain leads them now."

Silence filled the air as not a single soul moved at the mention of the name.

"We.......have given you this warning. Take heed of it, or die from your own ignorance of the doom that is to come. As for my army, they will be heading westward towards the protective borders of the human kingdoms, and whichever of you who wishes to follow, we will gladly grant you sanctuary." And with that, Arthus turned back and left without saying another word.

Aeris clung tightly to Shuren's fur as the two rapidly tracked Arthus' army to the elf city. The mountains, and later, the woods, on the path of their desperate journey, were completely devoid of life. The trees looked sickly, the ground, almost darkened. All manners of animals and wildlife were nowhere to be seen. The landscape appeared almost a plain of living death, the kind of feeling that evokes a sense of imminent doom, and failure. Aeris' spine chilled, and she hoped that this field before her was not truly what was real, and that she was merely imagining, or hallucinating. However, Her hopes were in vain. The entire journey to the elven encampment was quiet, unstirring, and horrid. It did not take a Druid to discern that the plants themselves feared the coming horde.

"Shuren, we must make it... quickly, doom stalks us from all angles, and all other life with us." She said, audibly frightened.

For a scene from above, had the observer had shuch a vantage point, could not be looked upon by a mortal soul, without the feeling of intense, and utter paranoia.

Shuren continues onwards, the chill tower of his will sustaining him. Yes, they are very near to journey's end - the trail grows stronger with each step. Through the trees the site of the elven village becomes visible. The last elements of the knights are just leaving along with the majority of the elves. The rest of the elves have chosen to stay and await their fate. Shuren and Aeris plod wearily out of the woods towards them. It had been a legendary feat for them to cover that distance so fast, especially in their battered condition. Shuren hadn't slept at all and Aeris hadn't done much better. The sight of them must have been surprising - a cleric riding a massive wolf - and some of the knights begin to gather in a rough half circle around them. Aeris slides off Shuren's back, leaning heavily on her staff for support and Shuren is dimly pleased. He had suceeded. But then the icy tower of will that had allowed him to get this far shudders, cracks throughout its pristine surface. It shatters and falls in a tumult of pain and darkness. Shuren collapses.

Ilgivan rushed over to see what was happening.
"how did the two of you get here so quickly? Last I sensed you you were fighting a large force far in the distance. And where is the changing one surrounded by many? what happened to the third member of the group? Oh, right, you're unconscious."
Ilgivan placed a hand upon each of them, and lent them a bit of his strength. He felt the energy flow out and into them. He could not heal like his grandfather could, but he was able to get the unconscious standing again, at least for a time. Once he felt that any more energy would cause it to be himself who was unconscious, he stopped the flow, and then repeated his questions.
While still looking rather battered, the two newcomers seemed to once again have the will and energy to speak and move.
OOC: now we have three cripples instead of two dead-weights.
fair trade, right?

OOC: I know my own little thing against completely OOC posts but eh, it needs to be said. Shuren is grieviously sick and won't be awake for some time. He's in a state of near total breakdown, both mentally and physically. His magical ability was also blown open so he'll be very sensitive to any magic used on him. In short, not good.