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Description
Meeting At The Wellspring

"You're late, Rael."
"I'm sorry Lady Arlena, but I forgot about our meeting and um....well..."
Lady Arlena cut Rael short with a wave of her hand.  Though far into her second century of life, Arlena was still as vibrant as she had been in the prime of her life.
"I know what you were looking for, and that's why I asked you here today.  I want you to make the  journey to the Spirit Font."
Arlena smiled at Rael's face as her jaw dropped open.  It was all Rael could do to stammer out her thanks.
"My Lady! I don't know what to say! I'm not worthy to take the journey! Surely one of the attendants should make the journey.  I mean, I'm only well...me."
"And that's exactly why I made my decision.  The other attendants are good at what they do, but they are not Wellspring material."
Arlena looked on Rael with a motherly gaze.
"My child, you're not the only person that was considered for this.  The council asked me to send the Darkblade boy instead."
"So I'm off the hook?" Rael looked at her with hope in her eyes, only to have that hope quickly quenched.
"Not really my dear.  While Darkblade has the talent to wield the power of the Spirit Font, he has a manipulative streak in him.  He already has the council eating out of his hand.  Rael, I want you to travel to the Spirit Font in secret and gain the power as well.  If you are successful, then the council will have to issue a challenge.  And that challenge you could easily win my dear."
"But it's too much for me alone! I'll have to tell someone won't I? At least my father..."
"Lord Dolan is talking to your father as we speak.  By the time the ceremonies are over tonight, you should be well on your way.  I will ask Leviathan to guide your steps."
Rael was shocked to hear Arlena call her clan's god by its true name.  To an outsider, the clan's god was referred only by the clan name.  Rael bowed her head to receive the blessing.  The same blessing that no doubt would be given to another that night.
"I will try to be worthy of this honour."
"No doubt that you will, my child.  You must leave now as the ceremony will begin at nightfall."
Not long after Rael left, Dolan entered from the temple and bowed before Lady Arlena.
"The congregation is ready for you, my lady."
Arlena said nothing at first, but her hand went to a small crystal of anaqueda attached by an old leather thong around her neck.  She took off the thong and handed it to Dolan.
"After the ceremony, take this and go after Rael and give her this.  Tell her that this will give her the strength to do what she must do."
"Yes my lady."

Description
Meeting At The Wellspring

"You're late, Rael."
"I'm sorry Lady Arlena, but I forgot about our meeting and um....well..."
Lady Arlena cut Rael short with a wave of her hand.  Though far into her second century of life, Arlena was still as vibrant as she had been in the prime of her life.
"I know what you were looking for, and that's why I asked you here today.  I want you to make the  journey to the Spirit Font."
Arlena smiled at Rael's face as her jaw dropped open.  It was all Rael could do to stammer out her thanks.
"My Lady! I don't know what to say! I'm not worthy to take the journey! Surely one of the attendants should make the journey.  I mean, I'm only well...me."
"And that's exactly why I made my decision.  The other attendants are good at what they do, but they are not Wellspring material."
Arlena looked on Rael with a motherly gaze.
"My child, you're not the only person that was considered for this.  The council asked me to send the Darkblade boy instead."
"So I'm off the hook?" Rael looked at her with hope in her eyes, only to have that hope quickly quenched.
"Not really my dear.  While Darkblade has the talent to wield the power of the Spirit Font, he has a manipulative streak in him.  He already has the council eating out of his hand.  Rael, I want you to travel to the Spirit Font in secret and gain the power as well.  If you are successful, then the council will have to issue a challenge.  And that challenge you could easily win my dear."
"But it's too much for me alone! I'll have to tell someone won't I? At least my father..."
"Lord Dolan is talking to your father as we speak.  By the time the ceremonies are over tonight, you should be well on your way.  I will ask Leviathan to guide your steps."
Rael was shocked to hear Arlena call her clan's god by its true name.  To an outsider, the clan's god was referred only by the clan name.  Rael bowed her head to receive the blessing.  The same blessing that no doubt would be given to another that night.
"I will try to be worthy of this honour."
"No doubt that you will, my child.  You must leave now as the ceremony will begin at nightfall."
Not long after Rael left, Dolan entered from the temple and bowed before Lady Arlena.
"The congregation is ready for you, my lady."
Arlena said nothing at first, but her hand went to a small crystal of anaqueda attached by an old leather thong around her neck.  She took off the thong and handed it to Dolan.
"After the ceremony, take this and go after Rael and give her this.  Tell her that this will give her the strength to do what she must do."
"Yes my lady."