but she wasn't aware of the strength these creatures had in great numbers. She became breathless in the midst of battle, overwhelmed by the sheer number and tenacious nature of these 'Goblins'. She felt the life draining from her, her hands began shaking as they pummeled her. She was simply not strong enough to continue. She struggled to reach for the song she had tucked away in her pack to carry her to Fiosachd's door where she may rest awhile in safety. She tugged at her pack and rummaged around for a moment, the Goblins still beating her in thier fury, but the song was nowhere to be found. "Oh no! I must have lost it somewhere!" she thought, panicking as the beasts continued to call for reinforcement. She shouted for help as loud as she could, but there was no aisling about. She was at the end of her battle and she knew it. Suddenly she felt Shamble's cold fingers wrap around her beaten body and rip her items away one by one tossing them to the ground like they were bits of trash. Then... all was silent.

For a moment she was relieved to be away from the horrors of war until she looked to her left. There stood Sgrios, his imposing, decrepid form shaking with waves of cackling laughter at her naked form. She cried out "Nooooo!", her eyes darted about the large stone walled chamber, searching for an escape. The walls were solid all around and burned her flesh if she got too close to them. She could hardly tolerate the smell of decay hanging in the stagnant air. Defeated and trapped she approached Sgrios and begged in desperation to be released from his chamber. He agreed, so long as he could mark her, that all may know her humiliation. She begrudgingly agreed to his request, knowing there was no other way out.

He sent her promptly to the inn of her fair city, Rucesion. She stood there for a moment trembling, then gathered as much strength as she could and wiped the tears from her eyes. She dashed from the inn naked and humiliated, the mingled stench of failure and the lingering smell of Sgrios' realm following in her wake.She hurridly made her way back to the grass field and attempted to go retrieve her things,but the goblins were awaiting her return, surrounding her possesions like vultures. She ran out to safety and thought for a moment, "I need help." she groaned. She called out to her clan, "Is there any aisling near Grass fields who can help me?", there was but one reply "I'm hunting." the voice said plainly. "Oh please, please help me. I don't know what to do..." Ivy cried pleadingly. "Alright." the voice sighed. *Turn Page*