The Starlit Capital, Vlaluna

     As dusk began to encroach on their progress, They began making camp, once again sprinkling the flower oil around the perimeter. The sun lazily hid its face from them, dipping beyond the horizon. Just before starting on the campfire, Oolah stood straight up an gazed intently toward the West. "There's something over there, far away." she pointed out, "Something like a city or a fire". Van looked but this was one of those situations where his sight worked to his disadvantage. Although he could differentiate between light and darkness, he found it difficult with subtle differences and changes. They Fell into their routine, only now Oolah cooked only for herself. The night passed as they usually did, Creatures noisy in the night, some held only at bay by the promise of carnivorous flowers, and Van groaning and sometimes screaming in his sleep. On the worst nights he cursed himself, expressing a deep seated loathing. 

     In only 30 minutes after they progressed the next morning, Oolah claimed to see a sort of light on the horizon, and before long, even Van could see it. That day the progress was slow. Even the flower oil was unable to repel the unnatural hordes they met that day. First they saw large webs and egg fragments, with the occasional 20-30 pound spider. Is there they had fled too? Or were they summoned, somehow? Either way, soon they were being swarmed as though the spiders had been waiting for them, thousands of them. They were frightening, and some could leap, but as it turned out they were more of a psychological threat then a physical threat, being slow, and clumsy. They were hearty however, but still, against the two relic holders, their numbers were for naught. It was worse at night, and they got no reprieve until there were no spiders left. They made a quick camp and managed to catch a nap before dawn and their internal clocks forced their compliance in getting up. They were much closer then the previous morning. However now it was a sea of unnaturally large goblonii, as though they, being unfit to evolve, had reached their full potential. They were followed by Hoblonii of much the same condition, all wielding a majority of bone weapons. Oolah and Van fought through them methodically, conserving whatever energy they could. Oolah still using her sling, long since nearly run out of arrows. Van in front of her acting as an offensive wall, mostly defending with sword and floating shields, allowing the greater bulk of damage to be done by explosion ala Oolah.

     Before them now was a grand city. Van recognized the architecture as being very similar to the tree city he'd been imprisoned in upon his arrival to this world. Of course it was without the great wooden decks, and it seemed somehow more refined. There hung about it a greater sense of age and timelessness. Trees and gardens lined wide avenues of gold veined bricks of blue-white. There wasn't much time to admire it, however, as over a dozen ogrii charged from it.

     "Oh no!!" wailed Van, "we're done for, now!" Then looking over his shoulder, flashed an arrogant grin at Oolah, who rolled her eyes. Turning back, he theatrically threw his arms open wide, and  Spinning black sawblades made quick work of the Ogrii. Leaving the Erlokas in a safe place they continued in. 

      Van strode on the main avenue as though he owned the place, and started walking toward the massive building in the center over which the star hung. As Oolah caught up to him, he said, "I think this is the place. I see advanced monsters, I see vibrant gardens and trees in a city where the fountains and wells are empty."

      "Yes," agreed Oolah. "Maybe our mission is almost finished." Every several hundred feet were shallow steps, and the central building loomed over them. Eventually they came to the massive recess where the doors had doubtless once stood. Without slowing down they entered. The building was mostly a vast circular hall, open to the sky. There were large passages immediately to the left and right, then two circular ramps just passed them running along the open marbled floor, raising so very gradually that in all that distance, the thrones they led to were only 15 feet above the floor. the ramps was the only way to them, a half wall protecting both. Above the thrones the building rose to a great point, hundreds of feet in the air, over which hung the star. In the throne sat a Lion Elf.

     seeing them, he stood and lithely sprung down to the floor. He was wearing white robes, which contrasted with his ebon mane. His large eyes were the palest of blues. "Welcome to the city of Vlaluna! I, of course, am Vlaluna!" he called, "By the light, he exclaimed, you're not of my people! There are more! More kingdoms to conquer!!" He rubbed his hands together, grinning. "You are my first subjects! You may swear yourselves to serve me, any way that is custom to you." he obliged. Van couldn't understand a word of it. As Oolah spoke up, Van looked at her admiringly, yet preparing to defend her.

     "You're enhancing the monsters and sending them off?" She asked.

     "Oh yes," he said, rubbing his hands together, still approaching. "First Alavia, and now that I know it exists, your city as well!"

     "Alavia stands strong. Most of the monsters never even seen it, going in random directions, or continuing traditional migrations."

      "Oh." he said, dejectedly, "Guess I'll need to make a better plan."

     "So no more making vast armies of giant creatures or of evolved monsters?" Oolah asked, cautiously, thinking she already knew the answer.

     "What?" he answered confused and dismayed, "That's my army! I can't conquer the world without an army!" he yelled the last part shrilly.

     "We've come to put an end to the source of the giant beasts and evolved monsters rampaging through the country." She claimed, "You must cease at once. You must destroy your relic!" she demanded, for he was obviously a relic holder, too.

     "I was worried that might be the case." he said forlornly. "And I had so hoped we could be friends..." 

     As he spoke, Oolah noted their shadows darkening and getting smaller on the ground. "Move!" she yelled in trade tongue, diving to the side, and rolling to her feet, arming herself with her sling. Van, hearing her shout and seeing her dive, did likewise, and as he rose to his feet he summoned his glowing ebon blade.

     What they had just barely managed to avoid was a giant beam of light, big enough to have encompassed them both. It's source was the star above the city. "Is it my imagination?" thought Van, "Or is it slightly darker?"

      Upon seeing them unscathed, the Lion Elf relic holder allowed his star to dissipate, and created for himself a blinding white sword.