Tana'ri
Hintzu sees a Tana’ri with the upper body of a beautiful woman but whose lower limbs are replaced by a serpent’s tail. She has 6 arms each bearing a different item – a sword, a mirror, a brush, a cheroot, a small phial of perfume, a glass of wine; she wears a 4 pointed crown studded with rubies. She is the demon Marrilliath. Stood next to her, dwarfed by her, is a Drow dressed in deep purple robes, violet hose and a black cloak. His midnight hair is held in place by a small band of platinum studded with sapphires and flows down his back. His features are fine and sharp, with a pale luminescence that makes him seem unreal. His eyes are the darkest sea green and quick to react – he is alert but not frightened. “Find me the entrance and a means of getting there…” demands the Demon “My Lady, that has already been done” answers the Drow. “Are you as shrewd as I am led to believe, Morganes?” Marrilliath asks as she places her drink down and puts out her cheroot. “I will do what I have to do; I am not as quick to follow others that would be King.” Morganes replies with a slight bow, a hint of embarrassment touches his cheeks. “What do I need to do to be rid of these accursed serpents?” she holds the mirror to her head and combs her black hair flirtatiously. “Ah, that is a different question and one that will take longer to answer. I do know that the Orb of Dragor has been given to the follower of Lei Kung.” “Yes…..yes….What do I need to do to get it – kill him?” she smiles evilly. “That would be difficult and probably unnecessary. We know where Nagrad is and, importantly, where the entrance to her lair is. But there’s a problem.” “What is that? I’m sure that it will be something that you can resolve if properly resourced.” “She lives beyond the gate that you have been searching for.” “Ahhh. Now that makes sense. And you know where this gate is?” “Yes my Lady”. “Prepare to leave at once. You will bear a message for me – a very important message.”
The dawn breaks over a mountain range, bathing it in hues of pink, yellow and orange. At the end of the range, the last great peak – tallest of all – rises impressively above a valley rich with crops. At the top of this last mountain a gentle breeze carries smoke, emanating from the summit’s caldera, out over the valley. The ringing clash of metal carries with the breeze and mingles with the smoke as it drifts down into the valley below. A rhythmic beat of hammer on anvil…..Familiar words once come again to Hintzu’s dreams:
Orodruin’s folk fashioned it well,
With ancient gold and magic spell.
Though metal and gem came from earth,
This Ring was fashioned on an Efreet Hearth
In Morgul this great Hearth was kept,
Until a time when all Lords wept.
The Hearth was returned to its home,
A city of bent souls and bone.
On it are the runes which bring,
Life unto all the elemental rings.
Only when the Hearth’s aglow,
Will the commands be on show.
The vision of a ring being drawn from a fire leaps into Hintzu’s mind. There are runes on both the inner and outer surface of the ring.