The End of the Road

[fontane]

Having trained twice in fairly quick succession meant that the two alchemist cousins were much more powerful than they were used to and they were keen extend themselves. They decided that the forest was one area where they could test their power. They spent many happy hours exploring the myriad of paths and fighting some difficult creatures. Away from the lure of the taverns in town, Quantum seemed content in Fontane's company. Many a time they rested at a shrine deep in the forest. One evening, after a series of very successful fights, the cousins lay down to rest beside each other; Quantum ensuring that his cousin has safe before he drifted off to sleep. Only this sleep was different..........

Each cousin woke every now and then, checking on each other before falling again into a deep sleep. Each lacked the energy to move or rouse their cousin, when they did drift into consciousness. Finally one day when Fontane woke, she felt for her cousin's presence. Although she could feel his clothing, she knew instinctively that he had passed away. His comforting warmth was gone but she was too weak to even mourn his loss or wonder what had happened. She drifted back to sleep .... and in time, she too passed away.

It would seem that the fallout from the explosion that sent them both fleeing to The Lands finally took its toll on the up-and-coming alchemists.

[quantum]

The tale of these two Alchemists was born from shared tragedy and trauma, so began the story and the cousins travelled to these lands.

They ventured far and wide, meeting many interesting people and creatures.
Some they met became firm friends, thus allowing wilder adventures to be undertaken.

Having enquiring minds and and a flair for Alchemy they progressed through guild qualification with often surprising results. (They are still repairing one lab building)

After a major alchemy discovery they retired to the forests seeking certain quests and just for the joy of each others company in the peaceful solitude.

Each night they hid from the dangers, (note: the forest is NOT neutral) and after an arduous period of exploration they decided to camp for a couple of days at a shrine.

Fontaine slept gently and lightly covered with an invisibility spell and Quantum prepared himself to rest and drifted off the sleep.

For some unknown reason, Quantum did not wake for a long time and a dark force of the Lands noticed his slumber. This force is not a caring or an enquiring one. It is fashioned by the imortals with one purpose in mind, to take those that sleep and destroy them. It is uncaring of any mortals achevements, its only function is to destroy.

To see the sorrow in Fontanes soul at the death of Quantum was heart-rending.

It beggars belief that the sparsely populated lands can continue to exist having such a dark force upon it.

The loss of this pair leaves the Lands a much poorer world.