" Roslyn!" squealed a high-pitched voice " We are back and need you to lead the way to the army!" It was Nanith and he was pulling along the stumbling dwarf as if he were a toddler.
Five minutes later, the group was gathered together disguised as masked, distorted shapes. The foundations of the earth split at the perimeter and the fragments of the fortress were being absorbed like sand passing through an hourglass.

The team, not stopping to survey certain death, sprint west up the steep dirt foundation and found themselves easily sliding down the other side back into the east edge of the clearing.

Aramil's mouth gaped back at the destruction of the black fortress as the last bit of evil magic zapped into thin air. " There is no way we return to the army or any relations of Pinedroi! We have had no luck there for they have done nothing but hamper our progress. Let us move on north, find a more friendly village, and lick our wounds."

Erelis stared down at the hobbits while helping a coughing Gailwind recover. " I'm all for taking destiny into our own hands, but what would the Pinedroidian hobbits say about our desertion?" He watched as Roslyn was allowed to keep the dwarf's crossbow. " For they face an even greater fate if they do not return."

Aramil caught sight of his falcon and raised his arm to allow perch. The wizard seemed distracted and adamant about fleeing into the Nalmiar where they can reevaluate their situation...on their own terms.

" No Aramil," Nanith stated firmly. " We have to return to the our soldiers." Ninnipin indicated with an open hand to where Roslyn was standing. " How can we allow such a terrible fate to befall Roslyn." He looked directly at her. " Deserters get life imprisonment. Are you willing to take that chance? "
Roslyn exhaled with a loud sigh. " Nanith, I do not believe I would be willing to risk anything significant at this point in time."

Aramil stared at the rogue with an incredulous scowl " Nanith, we do not need the protection of this army. Your home and this city has done only one thing: delayed and put their own condition onto our mission." He turned and pointed to the northern forest. " I say we find a small village and rest, because I do not feel Pinedroi will let this little group go without the starpoint safely in their grasp."

The druidess stepped forward looking up at the towering mage " Aramil, I am sorry to hear you speak such words of where I come from. And I would ask you to keep in mind that not all of Pinedroi is as you speak. I am sorry if Pinedroi put conditions on you when you believe they shouldn't have. But did you ever stop to think that even though you say you are on a mission from the king, what proof do you have? I have not seen anything particularly special about you as of yet. And if the rest of Pinedroi sees you as I have just said, then I honestly don't blame them for holding you warily."

Teflar leaned heavily on a nearby boulder and stretched his neck with his palms. " There is nothing special you would see on the outside of us little one, but we are indeed very prized." He looked at the remaining members of StarPoint Raven and looked squarely at Roslyn " Do not let your eyes deceive you on what talents a man may possess. 'Tis true we have shown nothing special in your world, but that is the choice we have made. For in our world, we are indeed rather special. So sayth the wise council of Bethlun."

Nanith paced dolefully and kicked a loose pebble across the dirt.
" We are hop-along casualties at the moment. We need the army's help and protection." Nanith rubbed his chest and grimaced in recollection.
" That shadow creature sapped my strength and I need to rest."

Erelis looked back at the void that now marked the desecrated keep. All was now veiled in a fine ash. " Loten paid dearly for our escape and I think we have lost the aid of that sword." He crossed his arms and pondered the idea of the great decision before them. " We dare not rest where we are now and cannot wait for Roslyn to report to the Warmarshall. They are in heated battle as we speak and would quickly take us on as warm bodies to fight with or without our lethal injuries. An interest in our starpoint chase forgotten amidst the clashing of arms before them." The psionic looked at the wizard briefly before turning around to fathom the woods. " While I do not agree that we break the promises we have made to our western watchdog....in the end, however, it would be best."
Oktavianus nodded his weary head " Yes, yes, we have cleared a crucial step and should not lose this momentum."

The crew now looked at Rosyln who had a choice to make. Should she now honor her responsibilty to her city or fully engross her beliefs into the heart of the Phantinius quest she knew so little about?