On the Road to the University

The lights that we saw on the plain ahead moved towards us and surrounded us, blinking in the darkness. A dark figure stepped forward; he had red hair and was wearing a mask. He said “It seems our paths have finally crossed. You already know my mother and stepfather. My name is Vaerhaun.”
 
He was a child of Lilith. He spoke to us of rebelling against the Lovelocks and wanting to bring them to destruction. He wanted for us to join with him, since it seems we are the only free beings in the realm, all others have been enslaved by some evil power.
 
Po asked how we can help him, and he gave Po a scrutinizing look. Then it seemed that he recognized him. Vaerhaun wanted to kill Lilith and her followers. Po seemed torn at this statement, but said nothing. Vaerhaun then said to Po “I recognize a coward when I see him.” Po mentioned something about being in their service, but what he was talking about is very unclear. I called to Dru to rejoin us, and reluctantly returned with Dre, although his sister remained in her bird form. Vaehraun then told us what that his father was an individual named Corellian Lorithian, one of the deities and a ruler of the elves connected to Loth. Arashni transformed into Loth and descended to the underdark, giving rise to the Drow. Vaehraun’s father is the only one who can defeat Lilith, but Vaehrun needed help finding him. He said that we may be able to find information that could lead to Corellian in the University at Imre. He then offered to either pay for an airship to take us to Imre or have his dragon fly us there. At that point the blinking lights converged into the form of a shadow dragon that Vaehraun introduced as Damiel, Lady of the Black. This dragon was about two and a half times larger that Slarkrathel, and was apparently the dragon placed under a curse by the wizard of Stiljabyr. Vaerhaun confirmed that he was the nephew of the wizard that cursed the town and the dragon.
 
I was reluctant to trust this elf considering his somewhat hostile greeting of Po and his connection to the Lovelocks. I offered the excuse that it would be unwise to be so open about an alliance as to take his offer of a dragon ride when we had just made another agreement with Slarkrathel. Vaerhaun did not hide his disdain for the green dragon, but reluctantly agreed to simply pay for the airship instead, giving us a satchel with 10,000 gold worth of platinum coins. He also gave Shiara a map of the Four Corners of Civilization, then summoned several Yeth hounds for us as mounts. Still distrustful of this Drow, I insisted that Shiara remain on the elk I had summoned, but the rest of us rode the hounds. Vaerhaun and Damiel left and we began our journey once again, this time heading for Calem Port on the Shining Sea to find an air ship to Imre.
 
We traveled for several hours before stopping for a rest. Dru and Dre separated from the group for some time alone, catching up on all of the time they had been apart. Shiara had mentioned that she wanted a word alone, so I took the time to find her and speak. She was worried that she had joined the group and lost everything when we jumped forward in time, but that we would not need her with us and that she would end up being left behind. I reassured her that we definitely needed her, particularly since the next stage of our adventure would have to be spent doing research and finding as much information on our enemies as possible. I then took the book we had found on Rolf and handed it to her. It was a Tome of Clear Thought, and I told her it would benefit her the most out of the group and help prepare her for the challenges ahead. She seemed grateful, if not completely reassured. She then gave Dru a sketch she had made of Turlang, and he gave her a giant bear hug.
 
The moment of comradery was interrupted though when several figures appeared out of the dark surrounding us. I sensed that they were undead, and a large figure appeared saying its name was Malthraxis, and boldly announced that it would add our souls to its collection.