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Description
The Seven Become Three

The group were all waiting outside the quarters when Aether and Rael emerged.  Nothing was said, but it didn't need to be.  Aenar soon arrived, and came to Aether with an idea.
"I was thinking last night about the anaqueda sword that Rathan gave you."
"What about it?"
"What if we could re-forge the sword with the Spirit Sword inside? It would make it much more powerful."
"Would we need it?"
"Let's just call it insurance."
"Let's do it then."
"Come with me."

Aenar led the group to another section of the mine and told them to wait while he and Aether carried on alone.  After traversing several corridors, Aenar pressed a section of wall, which disappeared like water.  Behind was the Runen's forge.  A large room with what seemed to be a fountain of magic sprouting from the ground.  A Runen came forward and bowed to Aenar.
"I have need of the forge."
"Yes my lord, right this way."
The Runen led them to a small room where various pieces of anaqueda shaped like blades lay in disrepair.  These blades were obviously practice ones made by the Runen apprentices before making their darkswords.  Aenar signalled for the Runen to depart and he did so.  Aenar gestured to the assorted blades lying on the table.
"What shape do you prefer?  If you can decide on how it should look, it will be easier for you to forge in the magic."
Aether carefully considered and picked up one with a thin and supple blade, shaped much like what the Spirit Sword looked like when he summoned it.  Aenar nodded.
"Very well.  Summon the Spirit Sword into that mould and we will begin."
They walked back into the main room and Aether summoned the Spirit Sword.  It went into the blade easily and looked like it belonged there.  Aenar took a step backward.
"Thrust the blade into the magic.  Then the forge will do the rest."
Aether thrust his hand holding the blade into the fountain of magic.  Intense heat and cold wracked his arm as the forge did its work on the blade.  When he could not contain his pain for any longer, Aether screamed and used his own magic to heal himself.  Aether's aura appeared, and the room was filled with a tempest of magical wind.  Aenar was enthralled by the exhibition of his brother's power.  With a final scream, Aether pulled the forged sword from the magic and collapsed, his hand frozen into the sword.
"You're not finished yet Aether, you have to finish the hilt and remove your hand."
Nodding, Aether concentrated and drew enough magic out of the anaqueda on his hand to free it and finish the hilt on the sword.  Collapsing on the ground, Aether smiled and stood, placing the newly forged anaqueda Spirit Sword in the scabbard on his side that had for so long been empty.  He looked to Aenar.
"Let's go.  I do not want to keep the Geneslayer waiting."
"Nor do I."

The brothers returned to where they had left the others.  To their surprise, Rathan was there as well.
“I have come to wish you well.  I also thought you might like some directions to help you get to where the Geneslayer resides."
Rathan handed Aether a crudely drawn map of the land around the mine.  Rathan indicated an archway on the map.
"This is the entrance of the mines where the Runen found you.  And here is the Gate Nexus.  This large fortress on top of the mountain is where you must go.  It seems to be where the taskmasters went when the Geneslayer recalled them.  There's only one problem though."
"What?"
"To enter the fortress, you must be of Ketran origin.  Your friends will not be able to continue with you."
"What! You mean I came all this way for nothing!"
Laura stormed forward and poked Aether in the chest.
"I bet you knew about this didn't you?"
Decklan quickly rushed forward and grabbed his sister.
"I'm sorry about her Aether..."
"I don't need you to apologise for me Decklan!  Answer me Aether! Did you know or not?"
Aether looked at the finger on his chest and carefully removed it.  Laura was livid with rage.
"No I didn't know that only Ketrans could enter the fortress.  But this changes nothing I hope."
"What do you mean?"
"Now that you can't come, I want you all to stay and help evacuate the miners when the time comes.  If you can guard them as they leave with the Runen, you might just be able to save them."
"So that's it then? We just sit here and wait?"
"Yes."
Laura stormed off muttering into the back of the room, Decklan running after her to try and calm her down.
"Don't worry Aether, we'll do what you asked."
"Thank you Darnath."

Aether, Rael, and Aenar lifted packs upon their shoulders and bid goodbye to the rest of the group.  Shaking hands and hugging, the group gave what little they could spare to them.
"Come back you three.  We'll be waiting for your triumphant return."
"Sure."
The three of them turned and without looking back, headed out into the storm-darkened lands of Razen.

Description
The Seven Become Three

The group were all waiting outside the quarters when Aether and Rael emerged.  Nothing was said, but it didn't need to be.  Aenar soon arrived, and came to Aether with an idea.
"I was thinking last night about the anaqueda sword that Rathan gave you."
"What about it?"
"What if we could re-forge the sword with the Spirit Sword inside? It would make it much more powerful."
"Would we need it?"
"Let's just call it insurance."
"Let's do it then."
"Come with me."

Aenar led the group to another section of the mine and told them to wait while he and Aether carried on alone.  After traversing several corridors, Aenar pressed a section of wall, which disappeared like water.  Behind was the Runen's forge.  A large room with what seemed to be a fountain of magic sprouting from the ground.  A Runen came forward and bowed to Aenar.
"I have need of the forge."
"Yes my lord, right this way."
The Runen led them to a small room where various pieces of anaqueda shaped like blades lay in disrepair.  These blades were obviously practice ones made by the Runen apprentices before making their darkswords.  Aenar signalled for the Runen to depart and he did so.  Aenar gestured to the assorted blades lying on the table.
"What shape do you prefer?  If you can decide on how it should look, it will be easier for you to forge in the magic."
Aether carefully considered and picked up one with a thin and supple blade, shaped much like what the Spirit Sword looked like when he summoned it.  Aenar nodded.
"Very well.  Summon the Spirit Sword into that mould and we will begin."
They walked back into the main room and Aether summoned the Spirit Sword.  It went into the blade easily and looked like it belonged there.  Aenar took a step backward.
"Thrust the blade into the magic.  Then the forge will do the rest."
Aether thrust his hand holding the blade into the fountain of magic.  Intense heat and cold wracked his arm as the forge did its work on the blade.  When he could not contain his pain for any longer, Aether screamed and used his own magic to heal himself.  Aether's aura appeared, and the room was filled with a tempest of magical wind.  Aenar was enthralled by the exhibition of his brother's power.  With a final scream, Aether pulled the forged sword from the magic and collapsed, his hand frozen into the sword.
"You're not finished yet Aether, you have to finish the hilt and remove your hand."
Nodding, Aether concentrated and drew enough magic out of the anaqueda on his hand to free it and finish the hilt on the sword.  Collapsing on the ground, Aether smiled and stood, placing the newly forged anaqueda Spirit Sword in the scabbard on his side that had for so long been empty.  He looked to Aenar.
"Let's go.  I do not want to keep the Geneslayer waiting."
"Nor do I."

The brothers returned to where they had left the others.  To their surprise, Rathan was there as well.
“I have come to wish you well.  I also thought you might like some directions to help you get to where the Geneslayer resides."
Rathan handed Aether a crudely drawn map of the land around the mine.  Rathan indicated an archway on the map.
"This is the entrance of the mines where the Runen found you.  And here is the Gate Nexus.  This large fortress on top of the mountain is where you must go.  It seems to be where the taskmasters went when the Geneslayer recalled them.  There's only one problem though."
"What?"
"To enter the fortress, you must be of Ketran origin.  Your friends will not be able to continue with you."
"What! You mean I came all this way for nothing!"
Laura stormed forward and poked Aether in the chest.
"I bet you knew about this didn't you?"
Decklan quickly rushed forward and grabbed his sister.
"I'm sorry about her Aether..."
"I don't need you to apologise for me Decklan!  Answer me Aether! Did you know or not?"
Aether looked at the finger on his chest and carefully removed it.  Laura was livid with rage.
"No I didn't know that only Ketrans could enter the fortress.  But this changes nothing I hope."
"What do you mean?"
"Now that you can't come, I want you all to stay and help evacuate the miners when the time comes.  If you can guard them as they leave with the Runen, you might just be able to save them."
"So that's it then? We just sit here and wait?"
"Yes."
Laura stormed off muttering into the back of the room, Decklan running after her to try and calm her down.
"Don't worry Aether, we'll do what you asked."
"Thank you Darnath."

Aether, Rael, and Aenar lifted packs upon their shoulders and bid goodbye to the rest of the group.  Shaking hands and hugging, the group gave what little they could spare to them.
"Come back you three.  We'll be waiting for your triumphant return."
"Sure."
The three of them turned and without looking back, headed out into the storm-darkened lands of Razen.