Pillars of the Dragon

There wasn't much ambient noise to be heard. What woke him he thought, was it the pounding in his head? He really didn't care at the moment all he could focus on was the pounding; his heartbeat wouldn't shut up. "Wake up young one" he heard from behind him, suddenly he realized he had no idea where he was, or how he got there, nor did he recognize the soft gentle voice behind him. He sat up and without turning around he asked, "Who are you, what am I doing here, and for that matter, just exactly where am I?" The voice answered, "I am Rashta, I know not why you are here, nor where you came from, a band of travelers found you in the Field of Bones and brought you here for your safety, and you are who, I might ask?"

"My name is Jabek, son of the High Elf Grand Warrior, Artistan." Rashta stopped and stared at Jabek for a long hard moment, and then said in a soft low voice, trying not to laugh, "You are a what?" Jabek stood, as he turned to repeat what he had just uttered, he froze for just a moment as he looked at Rashta in disbelief, then he stumbled backwards and screamed "Lazari, you're a damn Lazari!" he grabbed a staff that was leaning against the wall "Get back or I'll smash your pale green skull!" he screamed. Rashta stood there and stared at him with a puzzled look, "Relax Jabek, I mean you no harm, what are you then, if not a Lazari?"

"Lazari? I told you who my father is, that makes me a high elf, where do you get off calling me a Lazari!" Rashta still looking at him in disbelief said, "How is this possible?" He began to wonder how Jabek could think such a thing, does he have amnesia, did the hot sun bake his brain when he was unconcious in the Field of Bone?. "Jabek, I think you had better have a seat" Rashta took the mirror from the wall and handed it to Jabek. "Here have a look, but be prepared for something you are not ready to see" Jabek glanced up at Rashta, he took the mirror, slowly he reached out to take the mirror, then he noticed his hand, his hand was bright blue, as he looked closer he noticed it was scaly, rough looking, he paused for a moment then brought the mirror to his face.

Rashta walked over to where Jabek was lying and threw a cup of water onto his face. "What happened?" Jabek said, "You looked into the mirror and for some reason you fainted, falling face first onto the ground from your chair" Rashta chuckled. "I'm glad you find this so amusing, I find nothing funny about this old man!" bellowed Jabek. Rashta smiled scratching his head as he pondered this dilemma "You are right, what I find amusing is, that you think you're a High Elf, when clearly you look like a Lazari to me." Jabek glared at Rashta with a blazing glance fists clenched "Do not call me a Lazari again old man!' I told you I am a High Elf, not some.... freak lizard" Rashta moved towards Jabek slowly and said in a very calm quiet voice "Jabek, I will warn you only once, keep your voice down, should a guard pass by and hear our conversation, we could both be in serious danger, I understand your dilemma here, and I am willing to help figure out what happened to you. I have no idea how you were changed from a High Elf to a Lazari, nor do I know how to change you back, but I have an idea of who may have done this and why."

Rashta picked up a scroll from the table and walked over to the fireplace, reaching up he pulled down a pipe from the mantel, it looked to have been very well used and made from some type of bone, it was an off white color with a yellowing tint around the top of the bowl, it had a very long stem with a small curve to it to make it easy to see when lighting. He pulled a small leather pouch from the inside pocket of his tunic and filled the pipe, he looked at Jabek and said "Let me tell you a story, one of great importance" he paused for a moment to light his pipe. "A long time ago, long before you were born I am sure, the Lazari lived quietly and peacefully along side all the races of Trindigar including the High Elf. We traded with everyone freely, as they did with us, oh how I miss our city the way she looked so beautiful back then, the majestic buildings, with the gold trim outlining the windows and doors, they towered above the markets lining the cobblestone streets giving them shelter from the heat of the day, and where the young ones ran freely, playing without care."

"Then one day, without warning it began, I'm not sure of the year anymore it's been so long, but they came by the thousands to started the Great War. They attacked our great city, day after day, night after night they bombarded our walls, wave after wave of men came and attacked, but the Lazari were strong and tough and held their ground, so many died on both sides, the war raged on for years, they thought they could besiege the city, they failed to understand the will and heartiness of the Lazari. One day the figting stopped, a messenger from the attacking force was sent to the wall under the blue flag of calm, he handed a guard a scroll with a seal upon it and said it must be delivered to our High Grand Master at once."

Rashta paused for a moment to light his pipe again, "The scroll had the seal of the Supreme Marshall of the High Elf Council and was delivered to the High Grand Master of the Lazari without pause. Zenria, High Grand Master, not wanting to open the scroll and break the seal in private, Zenria had the high council summoned to him at once, wanting them all to bear witness to the seal being broken and read to them."

"Soon they had all gathered and were sitting in their rightful places. Zenria looked at them all with a sadness in his face and said 'I gathered you here today to witness what is written in this scroll, I know not what it says yet, I wanted you all to be here for the reading of it, i sense it is not of good news, I pray I am wrong' He then broke the seal and began to read it aloud 'We demand the return of our High Priestess Kiara, she was taken from us many years ago and held within your walls, since we have failed to rescue her on our own through the means of war, we now ask through diplomacy' Such madness"

Jabek stood and with anger in his eyes he said, "Why do you tell me of this story, I am a High Elf and know of this Lazari treachery and deciet" Rashta stood and with a very firm voice said "SIT!" He lowered his tone, "You will sit and listen to the rest of my story, or you will recieve no help from me nor anyone else, for at this point in time, you look like a lazari, and in many ways act like a young one too, so if you think you can venture from this place on your own and proclaim to the outside world, or even my world that you are a High Elf in this form, be my guest see how long you last."