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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid4588605 \tab Kera Dragos has been stuck in this damn cave for nearly two days.  At least she thinks it has been two days.  It\rquote s hard to properly calculate time when you \endash }{
\insrsid2819649 
\par }{\insrsid4588605 \tab \'93Can\rquote t even see the damn Sun!\'94 She screams and pounds a fist into the stone wall.  Realizing her blasphemy she mutters a tiny apology to the Unconquered Sun and goes back to sulking.  
\par \tab In the corner lays the }{\insrsid12009383 unconscious}{\insrsid4588605  guy that came in an hour ago.  He was dressed in dark blue shark 
skin armor and had an odd hair cut.  Kera had decided the man was a prick, just like the damn cave.  Apparently she was stuck with both.
\par \tab Two days ago she had been trying to reach the small coastal village of Alphanous by way of the marshes.  She ignored the warnings that the marsh was impassable this time of year and went ahead in her normal headst}{\insrsid407058 
rong fashion.  Kera was a Solar}{\insrsid4588605  and she assumed she\rquote d figure out a way to cross the marshes.  Instead she fell into a hole and got stuck in a dark cave.  For two days.
\par \tab }{\insrsid15807960 Kera lets loose another string of swears at the impassive stone before she notices the man is stirring.  He looks up at her through bleary eyes and coughs violently.  Kera smiles and holds up a silver dart.}{\insrsid4588605 
\par }{\insrsid15807960 \tab \'93Don\rquote t do anything stupid or you\rquote ll get another dose buddy.\'94 She smirks despite the fact that she was out of paralytic poison.  He didn\rquote t know that though.
\par }{\insrsid6298481 \tab Crimson Torrent rubs his temples}{\insrsid15807960  and looks around.  \'93Where the hell am I? Who are you? What the hell was that monster?\'94
\par \tab Kera rolls her eyes and states blandly, \'93Too many questions buddy but luckily for you, I\rquote ve got nothing but time to answer.  I\rquote m Kera Dragos, this is a stinking cave, and that thing you so rudely killed was my pet worm.\'94
\par \tab Torrent stares at her in disbelief.
\par \tab She continues, \'93Well, it wasn\rquote t so much a pet as an acquaintance.  I ran into him down here and I guess he liked me enough not to eat me.  I was hoping to figure out how he gets in and out of the cave, but thanks to you}{\insrsid12009383 
 we\rquote ll never know.\'94}{\insrsid15807960 
\par }{\insrsid12009383 \tab \'93Gee sorry about that.  He was trying to eat me.\'94  Torrent rubs the back of his head and stands shakily.  He extends }{\insrsid14956136 his hand. }{\insrsid12009383  \'93I\rquote m Crimson Torrent, nice to meet you.\'94

\par \tab Kera takes a step back in surprise.  }{\insrsid13786868 \'93Torrent? I\rquote m supposed to meet you in Alphanous.\'94}{\insrsid12009383 
\par }{\insrsid13786868 \tab \'93How is that possible? Nobody knows I was there.\'94 He narrows his eyes and stares at the woman coldly.
\par \tab She snickers, \'93My Sifu sent me to help you take care of some Lintha scum.  I got a little sidetracked.  Don\rquote t worry about how he knows}{\insrsid3803745  your movements;}{\insrsid13786868  }{\insrsid3803745 let\rquote 
s just say he sees more than most people.\'94}{\insrsid13786868 
\par }{\insrsid3803745 \tab Crimson Torrent pauses for }{\insrsid14956136 a moment before nodding.  He does}{\insrsid3803745 n\rquote t like the sound of somebody keeping ta}{\insrsid14956136 bs on him, but it seems there is nothing he can}{\insrsid3803745 
 do about it}{\insrsid7670251  at the moment}{\insrsid3803745 .}{\insrsid7670251   This Sifu person would require some investigating}{\insrsid11033869  in the near future}{\insrsid7670251 .}{\insrsid3803745 
\par \tab Kera continues, \'93Apparently the real problem wasn\rquote t the L}{\insrsid12725062 intha themselves, it w}{\insrsid11033869 as the}{\insrsid15073648  dozen Terrestrials on a}{\insrsid3803745  Wyld Hunt.\'94
 She points a finger mockingly in his directly and winks. \'93They want you bad buddy.}{\insrsid15073648   My master sent me because he doesn\rquote t have enough sway to keep the Wyld Hunt off your back, not after your little stunt with the Satrap
\rquote s daughter.}{\insrsid3803745 \'94
\par \tab }{\insrsid15073648 Torrent rolls his eyes.  Wouldn\rquote t }{\insrsid2976934 they just let that go already?  It wasn\rquote t like she deserved the title of Celestial Virgin anyway\'85
\par \tab A resounding crack interrupts his thoughts and the two Solars look around in alarm.  Dust falls from the cave ceiling and tiny vibrations can be felt on the ground.  Before either can speak, another crack rings out.  This time }{\insrsid6047502 thin 
}{\insrsid2976934 rays of light pierce the dark cave from the west wall.
\par \tab Kera and Torrent turn to}{\insrsid6047502  the wall and wait}{\insrsid2976934  tensely}{\insrsid6047502 .  Muffled voices can be heard through the thick rock.  Another crack sends chunks of earth flying into the cave and light floods the area.}{
\insrsid15073648 
\par }{\insrsid6047502 \tab The Exalts blink from the assault of light and squint towards a gaping hole in the side of the cave.  There stand twelve men and women in bright j}{\insrsid8729247 ade plate armor}{\insrsid6047502 
.  Both groups stare in disbelief at each other for a full second before reacting.
\par \tab Bright animas of fire, wind, and other elements explode around the Dragon-Blooded as they raise their weapons and charge forward.  Kera grips a blue jade chakram tightly and Torrent summons his}{\insrsid6047502\charrsid6047502  daiklave}{
\insrsid6047502  with a flash }{\insrsid5447794 of essence.}{\insrsid4477057 
\par }\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4477057 {\insrsid14956136 Crimson Torrent has}{\insrsid6047502  }{\insrsid141627 intentionally avoided fighting the Dragon borne to this}{\insrsid5447794 
 point.  He has}{\insrsid141627  a fond respect for the peaceful Realm they created.}{\insrsid14365528   He gre}{\insrsid5447794 w up there as a scion of House Peleps}{\insrsid141627  and despite his exile still longs to ret}{\insrsid14365528 
urn to his home}{\insrsid9705273 land}{\insrsid14365528 .}{\insrsid6047502 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid141627 \tab It seems that would be a long time coming.
\par }{\insrsid6047502 
\par }}