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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid16350366 \tab Wind buffets Crimson Torrent\rquote 
s face violently.  He squints through watering eyes trying to locate his hidden Manse.  Normally the Azure Chariot protects its occupants from the wi}{\insrsid1842597 nd, but this was no normal weather}{\insrsid16350366 .  The essence driven horses spe}{
\insrsid1842597 e}{\insrsid16350366 d forward through the sky, hauling a pristine blue chariot with its two occupants.}{\insrsid2819649 
\par }{\insrsid16350366 \tab Torrent hazards a glance down at Kera Dragos\rquote  crumpled form.  She lies now in the back of the chariot, writhing in agony.  Kera shrieks and claws at her neck in panic.  Torrent\rquote s eye
s widen as he sees the source of her pain.  Her veins are throbbing and slowly turning black, the poison working its way to her head.
\par \tab Torrent curses and turns his attention back to flying the chariot through the tumultuous sky.  During the battle with a d
ozen Terrestrials, Kera had been wounded badly.  The danger had not come from the attack itself, but the poison it had carried.  Apparently it was designed specifically to kill Exalts.  It seems to be working.
\par \tab It was only luck that allowed him the time to cast his sorcery and summon the flying chariot.  If it wasn\rquote t for the quick transportation, surely Kera and he would have perished at the hands of the Dragon-Blooded.}{\insrsid8802398 
  Though the two Solars had managed to severely wound three of their assailants, it was only a matter of time before the others overwhelmed them.
\par \tab Torrent\rquote s mind shifts gears as the sky suddenly clears.  He grins as he sees the rocky island below.  Standing many hundreds of yards tall, the island looks more like a mountain peeking from the top
 of the ocean.  An elaborate structure had been built from}{\insrsid1842597  the massive thing}{\insrsid8802398 
.  Passages honeycombed the mountain leading to a massive inverted dome at the peak.  The dome was entirely exposed to the air and served as the powerful Manse\rquote s Hearthroom.}{\insrsid14682685   Thanks to}{\insrsid1842597  the incredible}{
\insrsid14682685  sway the island had with the surrounding weather, rain and clouds never obscured the room\rquote 
s view of the sun.  In the evening, ancient crystals illuminated the entire structure with the stored light of the sun.  It was the one of the most impr}{\insrsid1842597 essive temples to }{\insrsid14682685 the Unconquered Sun during the First Age.}{
\insrsid16350366 
\par }{\insrsid8802398 \tab }{\insrsid7937238 An essence powered fog encircles}{\insrsid8802398  the island at all times.  Naviga}{\insrsid7937238 tion i}{\insrsid1842597 s impossible }{\insrsid7937238 and any ships heading}{\insrsid14682685 
 towards the island inexplic}{\insrsid7937238 able miss}{\insrsid12796204  the massive Manse}{\insrsid14682685 .  The impressive defense s}{\insrsid7937238 ystem has}{\insrsid14682685 
 worked infallibly for centuries mere leagues from the shores of the Blessed Isle.  It wasn\rquote t until Crimson Torrent discovered an inert Hearthstone did}{\insrsid1666805  the island reveal it\rquote s existence}{\insrsid14682685 .}{\insrsid1842597 
  Even }{\insrsid12796204 now }{\insrsid1842597 knowing the island\rquote s location, the only thing that }{\insrsid7937238 enables Torrent to reach it is his attachment to the}{\insrsid1842597  hearthstone.}{\insrsid8802398 
\par }{\insrsid1842597 \tab }{\insrsid9141166 Torrent wishes he had taken more time to study the ancient texts deep in the Manse\rquote s library.  Perhaps they held some lost secret to curing poison.  It mattered little now; there was nothing 
Torrent could do for Kera.}{\insrsid1842597 
\par }{\insrsid9141166 \tab Setting the chariot down on}{\insrsid5794864  the dome, Crimson Torrent picks up}{\insrsid9141166 
 Kera gently and carries her over to the massive altar at the center of the Hearthroom.  An empty socket at the center of the altar shows the place his hearthstone ha
d formed centuries ago.  Torrent now uses the device as a desperate plea for help.  He lays Kera on the altar and faces her up towards the sun.  Dropping to one knee, Torrent whispers a silent prayer to the Unconquered Sun.  He grew up worshipping the Dra
gons under the tutelage of Immaculate monks and knows nothing of the prayer rites for the sun god. Torrent hopes that his benefactor will look kindly upon his children in their hour of need}{\insrsid8076558 , despite his limited knowledge}{
\insrsid9141166 .
\par \tab Days turn to weeks and Kera contin
ues to sleep on the yellow stone altar of the Sun.  Torrent has long since turned his attention to the books within the manse in the hopes that he might find a clue to help his Solar sister.  One day he travels up the long staircase to the Hearthroom and 
makes a startling discovery.  Kera is sitting up on the altar looking quite perplexed.
\par \tab \'93What happened to me?\'94 She says weakly.
\par \tab Torrent explains the situation}{\insrsid4854655  and confesses he could do little to help her.}{\insrsid9141166 
\par }{\insrsid4854655 \tab Kera rubs her eyes, \'93Its okay bud.  You did well.  I had the weirdest dreams though.  Dark figures were moving through Creation wrecking havoc.\'94 She shakes her head to clear the images. \'93
It was horrible.  I think they were demons.\'94
\par \tab Torrent raises an eyebrow at the sight of an odd object sitting beside her.  \'93What is that thing?\'94
\par \tab Kera lifts the tiny}{\insrsid12023210  arrow}{\insrsid4854655 head and regards it.  \'93I dunno, looks like green jade.  I guess this was what was making me sick.  It must have fallen out once my fever broke.\'94
 She tosses the artifact over her shoulder and yawns.  \'93Man I\rquote m starved.  What\rquote s for breakfast?\'94
\par \tab Torrent rubs his chin in deep thought. \'93Kera\'85 how long can an artifact stay attuned to its owner?\'94  She shrugs and begins to stretch, looking around for the first time.  \'93I only ask because so long as an artifact is at
tuned, its owner knows its exact location.\'94  Kera shrugs again and real}{\insrsid12023210 izes that she is in odd surroundings}{\insrsid4854655 .   She starts to ask another question but is cut off by the distant sound of a blaring trumpet.  
\par \tab }{\insrsid12023210 Both Exalts run to the side of the Hearthroom and look down at beach below.  Though tiny speaks, the form of ships landing on the island is unmistakable.  Crimson Torrent curses under his breath.  The Realm had found him.}{
\insrsid4854655 
\par }}