The sun was fierce today. Having spent most of his life shielded from nature by
the vaulted ceilings and mural-lined walls of the palace in New Celest, Idrain
was especially sensitive to the elements. He held his current, patient stance
only because of the reward that he knew was soon to come.

Several months before, Prince Idrain had been called suddenly for an audience
with members of the expedition team which ahd recent visited the Skarch Desert.
He agreed solely based on the promise of a treasure. What they had shown him
was so much more. In his own audience chamber, unceremoniously stuffed into a
small chest, Prince Idrain gazed upon the great Hand of Tzaraziko. "With
this," his men had told him, "you will be able to accomplish your dream.
Hallifax and Gaudiguch can return."

Unfortunately, they had been wrong. Wielding the Hand, Idrain had marched with
his men to the site of Hallifax, and then on to Gaudiguch. His efforts were
rewarded only by a small power node which appeared at each site. No successful
contact was made.

It was only then that Idrain and his advisors began to consider other
possibilities. The leaders of both Hallifax and Gaudiguch had considered using
the Hand to accomplish something, but what was it they truly hoped to
accomplish? Or, more importantly, how could the Hand be used to accomplish
their goal?

Just one month before, Idrain had received a message from his men stationed in
the northern part of the Inner Sea. They had noticed a small, warm circle of
water, and could find no explanation for it. Stymied, the men reported that
they only item found anywhere near the area was a strange, deep black cauldron.

Only after this discovery did things begin to make sense. He had been foolish!
Of course both cities intended to use the Hand, but not only the Hand...he had
learned in his history classes as a child that the great Sphere of D'varsha had
disappeared only a few years before. There had also been the Scales of Juliana,
which many scholars believed were stored by the Aeromancers, though of course
they had always denied it. In realizing that they needed a second artifact,
the cities surely both realized also that they could not hope to acquire the
Claw of Shanth from the Aslarans. All that was left was the Hand.

That had now changed, though. Now, Idrain had located the Cauldron of Vestara.

He stood again now where he had begun, where the gates of Hallifax had once
towered. This time, though, he would not fail.

The ceremony seemed simple enough, considering noone involved had any idea how
it should work. Idrain simply decided that he would stand in the center, while
two of his advisors would stand on either side of him, holding the artifacts.
They stood this way for several uncomfortable minutes, baking under the fierce
sun, as the Prince collected his nerve. Then, finally, he began to speak.

"Tzaraziko, Master of Strategy, guide us through to achieve our goals.
Vestara, Ethereal Maiden, show us that which is now hidden from us."

With those words, the Prince nodded to the men on either side. The advisor
with the Hand stretched it high over his head before closing his eyes in deep
concentration. The man with the Cauldron knelt next to it, pulling a rod from
within his robes, and began to stir the holy water. At first, very little
seemed to happen. Then, a faint glow appeared simultaneously around each of
the artifacts. Slowly, the glow began to grow brighter and brighter, until the
artifacts themselves could no longer be made out through the light. Then,
suddenly, the light was gone. The men stared around in confusion for a moment
as their eyes adjusted to the relative darkness. Several minutes passed before
the alarm was raised. Prince Idrain was gone.

* * * * * *

Idrain woke slowly, soothed by the smell of spring grass. As his senses slowly
returned, he began to realize that something was different about the grass.
This wasn't the smell which streamed through his window to greet him most
mornings. It was much...closer. Lazily opening his eyes, Idrain found the
source of the smell immediately beneath his sensitive nose, which was nestled
deeply into the mud. Jerking himself up indignantly, Idrain looked angrily
around for whatever servant left him in such a condition.

Only then did Idrain remember what had occurred. Steeling himself against the
panic which threatened to overcome him, the Prince took in his surroundings.
He found himself in the middle of a large, open field which was, so far as he
could tell, devoid of any life other than grass. In the distance, toward the
east, he could make out the forms of tall, slender trees. As he had been
trained to do, Idrain willed his heart to slow its pace, and considered his
options. Finally, he settled on the only choice he saw available - he began to
walk.

Having lost track of all time, Idrain could not later remember how long the
walk took. Sometimes he seemed to remember a journey of many days, while at
other times it seemed only minutes. Either way, he soon found his way impeded
by the same trees which he had noticed from afar - only now, they loomed much
larger and much less inviting than they had originally appeared. Still seeing
no other choice, Idrain cautiously entered what he now understood to be a
large, full-scale forest.

He had traveled only a few short spans before his fears were actualized.
Streaking suddenly down, the branches of a nearby tree grasped Idrain, carrying
him forcefully back toward the canopy. As he attempted to leap to a nearby
tree, he found himself surrounded by briars, bound and tied so tightly as to
dissallow any movement. Just has he began to struggle against his bindings,
Idrain heard a light rustling behind him. "Stop struggling," a voice said, "or
I'll have no choice but to employ more lethal force." The Prince strained his
neck as he tried to discover the source of the sound, but to no avail. "Why
have you come to the forest? Do you not know that we have no interest in your
politics and nonsense?"

Attempting an air of diplomacy, given his present circumstances, seemed
rediculous to the Idrain. Still, he allowed his years of training to guide
him. "I'm afraid I don't know much of anything, lord." Inside, Prince Idrain
cringed at the use of the word, but he allowed none of his feelings to show
externally. "I'm afraid I stumbled into your forest by accident. Might I
assume that you are a servant of the Heirophant of the Hartstone? Perhaps if I
am allowed to speak go him, I might be able to better explain things..."

The silence of the mysterious man took Idrain by surprise. He had spoken what
he had intended. Could he have accidentally offended somehow? Finally, he
again heard the voice. "Don't go anywhere. I'll return shortly."

The man had not exaggerated - only a few moments passed before Idrain again
heard the sound of rustling behind his head. This time, however, there were
more with him. "Speak quickly, city-dweller, if you wish to remain well. Why
have you come to tease us? Do you not have enough to do with the other
cityfolk?"

"I'm afraid I don't understand." Idrain decided that in his present situation,
honesty was the best choice. "I simply hoped to speak with the Heirophant of
the Hartstone. Perhaps, if she's available, the High Priestess of the Moon
might also be willing to speak with me. I am, as you say, only a city-dweller,
but among my own I am counted as a Prince. Should you set me free peacefully, I
can send you gifts from my palace, and grant you amnesty in the territories of
New Celest. I simply wish to find my way back home."

Again, Idrain was met only with confused silence. Then, a lady spoke to him.
"You stand in the presence of the High Priestess of the Lake. Any deals you
hope to make are duly rejected and ignored. We're not interested in dealings
with the cities. It was you who destroyed so many all those years ago.
However, as you do seem to be lost and confused, and perhaps even insane, I see
no reason for you to be held responsible for entering our forest at this point.
Enter again, and you shall be slain on sight." There was a small movement.
"Dramsa, see that he is cast out to the northeast side, so he can find the city
again. Should he attempt to enter again, kill him."
Before he could see anything, Idrain heard the sound of a sling from behind
him. Something struck him hard in the chest, and suddenly his eyelids seemed
too heavy to keep open. Even as his mind raced with questions, Idrain fell
into a deep, restless sleep.

* * * * *

Throughout the next several days, Idrain's confusion and amazement grew
simultaneously. After he again woke up in the grass outside of the great
forest (which he could now only assume had been the Ackleberry), he had begun
to walk again. Even as he walked, he considered what had happened. While
attempting to restore Hallifax, had he instead accidentally restored the
Ackleberry? And if it was, in fact, the Ackleberry, why were they not more
surprised to see a city-dweller, after remaining outside of time for so long?
His questions only multiplied as he traveled.

As he walked, Idrain watched in wonder as a towering set of gates rose before
him. He knew these gates. Idrain knew that he stood before the great city of
Hallifax.

Though he was stalled shortly at the gates, Idrain had told his excited story,
the Lucidians quickly passed him up the chain of command until he eventually
stood before the Chairman of Hallifax. Having tired of sharing his story again
and again, the Prince was finally able to ask some questions of his own.

"I have restored both Hallifax and the great Ackleberry and I can only assume
Gaudiguch as well! How has all of this happened?"

"I am not sure what it is you speak of, precisely, Prince. Gaudiguch and
Hallifax have never needed restoration - it is the other cities that were
destroyed, as were the dear Serenwilde, and the Gloriana. All was lost because
of those blasted butterflies from the tainted flame-throwers. We thought that
even the Ackleberry had been destroyed, but it was discovered safely only a
short time later."

Dazed momentarily, the prince slowly soaked everything in before continuing.
"So...you think Celest, Magnagora, the Serenwilde, and the Gloriana were
destroyed? I fear in this you are mistaken. I have seen each of them with my
own eyes, though you are right that the Glomdoring is only a perversion of the
Gloriana which once lived." Deciding to trust his instinct and take a chance,
Idrain continued. "In fact, I'd like to prove it to you. I believe there is
still a way to restore Hallifax, Gaudiguch, and even the Ackleberry if need be,
to their original greatness as part of the Celestine Empire. However, I first
need something."

The small lucidian seemed to consider for a moment before speaking. "I must
say, all of this seems far-fetched, but I am curious by nature. What is it you
need?"

"First, I need the Scales of Juliana, which I believe your High Aeromancer
still holds."

Again the man sat in silence, thinking for a moment before continuing. "You
say first. What else will you need?"

"I will also require the Sphere of D'Varsha, which I believe is still held by
the Trill in Gaudiguch."

"You ask a great thing. You must do something to prove yourself to me before
we speak of the Scales. The scum of Gaudiguch were twisted by the taint
brought there by the Emperor all those years ago. If they hold the Sphere you
seek, you must get it first and bring it back. In addition, you must bring to
me the tainted head of the High Flame, who continues in his attempts to spread
the taint throughout the realms. Bring these two things to me, and I will
allow you to use the scales."

Seeing no other choice (a situation which seemed to be more and more common),
Prince Idrain agreed. He could not hear the conversation behind him as he left
the chamber. "He could be lying. Why do you allow him to go?"

"It doesn't matter. It's perfectly logical. If he brings us the head of the
High Flame, it is a success in our war against the taint. If he does not, we
have lost nothing. Besides, he did know about the Scales, which very few know.
Perhaps he really knows something valuable?"

* * * * *

So it was that Prince Idrain now found himself before the walls of Gaudiguch.
Deciding it best to avoid speaking of his time in Hallifax until he knew more,
Prince Idrain instead told his story exactly as he had in Hallifax. And, in
exactly the same way, he was slowly passed from lord to greater lord until he
finally stood before the High Flame himself.

After introductions were made and the prince had finished relating his life and
recent events, the High Flame began much as the Chairman had.

"You seem to be a bit messed up in your head. We never needed revival or
restoration, we've been in the same place all along. It was that blasted
Crucible nonsense from the tainted Lucidians that did away with Celest,
Magnagora, the Serenwilde, and the Gloriana. Though I must say, they had done
a pretty good job of messing up the Gloriana before they ever started on us."

The Prince again allowed all of the information shared by the High Flame to
soak in, blending with what he already knew of events surrounding the Taint
Wars. Apparently, history had been wrong on many accounts. Hallifax,
Gaudiguch, and Ackleberry believed the other organizations to be destroyed,
while the Serenwilde, the Glomdoring, New Celest, and Magnagora believed the
previous three sundered. Some great schism must have occurred in reality where
the two halves were split. This would also explain why Kethuru lost his hold,
unable to grasp both halves at the same time. Now, before his very eyes, the
opportunity seemed to be presenting itself for all to be bound and righted
again.

"I must ask you a favor. I know a way to revive those cities lost, while at
the same time destroying your tainted enemies." Idrain lied blatantly, playing
to the beliefs of his audience as he had been taught. The Prince had spent much
time around the taint, pushing away those who were twisted by its grip. It was
clear to him that neither Hallifax nor Gaudiguch had been tainted. However, so
long as they each believed the other to be a tainted enemy, he knew he had to
play that part. "First, you will need to bring the Sphere of D'Varsha, which I
know you still hold. It shall never leave your grasp, so do not fear for it.
If you will bring the Sphere, we will meet in a clearing to the northeast of
here, near the Ackleberry. I will bring with me the Scales of Juliana, as well
as the heads of your enemies. Meet me, and you shall have victory over the
tainted of Hallifax."

Though clearly not a fool, the High Flame was not nearly so logical as the
lucidians with whom Idrain had already met. Such a stirring appeal could not
be denied. "I will see what I can do. We will speak again soon."

Formulating his plan in his mind even as he walked, Idrain returned to deliver
a similar (though much more logical) offer to the Chancellor of Hallifax. So
great was his hatred of the Trill, the Chancellor agreed without any further
deliberation. The only thing left for Idrain was to return to the field where
he had first awoken so many months ago, and wait.

* * * * *

Finally, his wait was over. Standing at the edge of the great Ackleberry
forest, Idrain fellt deep in his gut the wrenching sensation that told him that
the Chancellor was on his way. The feeling was soon repeated, so he knew also
that the High Flame would be joining him. So far, everything was going
according to plan.

The Chancellor appeared suddenly before him, looking confused for a moment.
Taking advantage of his momentary dizziness, Idrain shoved the Chancellor with
full strength into the forest, watching with satisfaction as the living trees
reached down and ensnared their prey. Seconds later, he repeated the exact
same process for the High Flame, before himself diving into the forest after
them.

As all three of them lay tangled in the branches above the forest, which
disallowed any movement or fighting, Idrain began to explain. "High Flame,
Chancellor, I brought you here to explain one simple thing." When he heard the
rustling sound again behind him, Idrain knew that everything was now in place.
"High Priestess, I'm glad to hear that you could also join us."

"You're a fool. You'll all be killed for your insolence."

"Please, first hear me out. You have all been misled by your own beliefs and
misconceptions. For starters, High Flame, the Lucidians of Hallifax are not
tainted. They were simply fighting for what they believed was right.
Chancellor, you are also mistaken about the Trill of Gaudiguch - they fought
off what they saw as a full-scale invasion. And my lady High Priestess, though
you and your forest escaped a sure disaster, you have been fooled into isolation
and uselessness. For when you cut off all contact, you cut off all chances to
teach, and to learn. So, to rectify these things, I have brought you all
together. Any one of you can destroy everything at any moment. Chancellor,
you hold the Scales of Juliana, which can surely destroy this forest and all of
us in it. High Flame, you hold also the Sphere of D'Varsha, which could do the
same. Or, my lady High Priestess, you could simply destroy us yourself with
your great coven. However, I offer a better choice."

"We will listen."

"I was brought here by the use of the Hand of Tzaraziko, along with the
Cauldron of Vestara. These two together generated enough power to return me to
you. I now believe, if we use the Scales, the Sphere, and a great coven of the
Ackleberry, we can re-unite what was sundered some time ago."

It was the Chancellor who first spoke. "While you might be right, I do not
believe I can accept. We have lived for too long at war, I would like to see
what we can do with Gaudiguch at peace, without falling under the influence of
the others."

"I also must refuse," the High Flame agreed. "There is too much for us here to
bind ourselves again under the oppression of the Celestine Empire, or any other
for that matter. We have learned to live here."

"It seems," the High Priestess intoned, "that your suggestion is defeated. You
share a great deal of wisdom with us, young Prince, but you still lack much.
You must come to understand that some things happen for a reason, and are not
meant to be reversed before their time. Your trip here has not been a failure,
but neither shall it be a success in the way you were hoping."

"We can still send you back, though," the High Flame offered.

"That should be done," agreed the High Priestess. "And soon. Things should
not be manipulated any further."

"We must now see what we can accomplish without any further help from you,
Prince. Thank you, but it's time for you to return."

* * * * *

Prince Idrain woke slowly, the sweet smell of grass rousing him pleasantly. He
realized very slowly that something was wrong with the smell. It wasn't thick,
it wasn't as close as it should be. Slowly raising his head to glance around,
the Prince jumped in alarm. The smell was not from grass directly beneath his
nose, as he had expected. Instead, it was the simple sweet fragrance which
rose through his palace window to greet him each morning.