Arriving on the shore, Krynn's Vanguard was greeted by three elf-like creatures who looked very similar. The three of them looked no older than seventeen. One looked extremely young, no older than twelve. Each one was of a porcelain complexion with platinum, silver, or white hair. They stood no taller than 5'6" and were very lean in build. Their ears were not as elongated as elf ears, but were pointed. However, instead of angled back, their ears pointed straight up, maybe only about an inch or so from where a human ear would end. The only distinct difference among them were their eyes. Their irises seemed to stir and mix on their own with a vertical pupil pointed at the ends much like a reptile's eye.
After being asked for their name and their purpose, the tone changed slightly. More deliberate, a bit wary. Those who greeted them gave them small, beaded threads they called 'bindings'. They were symbolic symbols that they would not draw or use their weapons for violence. They asked the party to wrap them around the hilts of their weapons as a show of good faith, and they complied.
Being led up to the city, Krynn's Vanguard noticed that the city was not built into the enviornment, but around it. And looking at the population, it was young. No elderly people, no one appeared to be over 30 and they all looked the same. Not the same, but very homogeneous. It was a bit of a shock. Two of the three left to go talk to the council and left them with the girl who appeared to be no older than twelve. She introduced herself as Serelyn and told them they should get them a change of clothes. Everyone wore the same soft, pale fabrics — platinum, ash, muted silver — draped in clean lines that fall naturally rather than sharply tailored. The outer layer wraps across the chest and fastens without visible ornament. Sleeves hang loose at the wrist, long enough to soften movement but never cumbersome. The garments are neither elaborate nor plain. They are intentional. No embroidery for status. No color denoting rank. No sigils of office. The silhouette is the same from child to elder. Differences are subtle — a shift in fabric weight, a slightly varied fold, faint metallic thread along a seam. But the structure remains constant. It is not a uniform enforced by law. It is a form chosen by everyone.
A tailor a bit into town was able to give them the same clothing calling it "Auravethra". When the party changed their clothes, they noticed their armor, equipment, and everything else melded into the Auravethra, almost as if it had disappeared and the Auravethra was all they had on. After a while, the other two who greeted them told them the council would speak with them in three days time. In the meantime, they were welcome to explore all the islands as they pleased, as long as they remained off the last island, known as Heart. Given a map, Orla and Armantaro explored the islands as Kyan Covverre and Orion went rock climbing along the cliffs, and Big Bob kept cooking with what he could find.
After a few days, and exploring the islands, the most interesting thing was 5 statues of serpentine-like dragons on Jaentharth, the seventh island. It was then time for them to meet the coucil. A messenger was sent to get them and bring them up a spiral carved into the largest tree on the island that stands above the rest of the canopy. Carved into it, was a chamber that opens to a view of the ocean. There, 5 figures stood. One they had met before.
From left to right they introduced themselves. Quick and simple. Serelyn stood on the left, next to her was Karef, the girl in the middle did not speak. To her left, the party's right, stood Veyrin, and finally Maris. The girl in the middle, presumably the leader introduced herslef as Auri. She asked the party why they came. She already knew, just wanted to make sure their aim was as they stated before.
After talking, the group seemed to argue among themselves, Maris being the one most strongly against letting them even get close to the shard, Auri stood silent. Maris, being frustrated finally turned to Auri and asked "You don't think this is coincidence?". Having never took her eyes off the party she responded simply 'No.'
Making the decision, Auri would take them to the shard the next day. That day came and sure enough, Auri took them to the island of Heart. Heart was very much left as a natural habitat, but there was no wildlife, under the brush was a stone cavern. Auri stopped and turned to them "Inside you'll find the shard. This is as far as I'm allowed to go." With that, the party decended. Reaching an opening, to the northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast were 4 hallways. Directly ahead, were two large, wooden doors. The doors were locked. Krynn's Vanguard took the northwest path.
After a while, they came to a room with a Red Dragon chained and bound, heavily wounded. It didn't attack. It looked defeated, and as if it was begging for death. The party knew that this dragon, although they'd never met it, had committed many atrocities. After a long debate, they loosened the dragons restraints, but did not harm it nor release it.
The dragon stood, unfurled it's wings and flapped them three times before it disappeared in a flash of light. A flat stone in the back of the room, about 30 feet up had an inscription carved in it 'Violence mastered'. The path the party took them reopened. What would the next trial hold?