Just enjoying some new 3D toys... and some older ones too :) ________________________________________________ Long after the battle had ended, Tallea woke among the fallen. Confused At first, but then her head cleared and she got to her feet. The battle group she had fought with seemed decimated, their bodies littered the battlefield. The land seemed unfamiliar now, and she felt the fear welling inside her... which way was home? She pushed the fear down deep, as she surveyed the landscape and chose a route into the forest. As the battlefield faded behind her the fresh smell of the forest replaced the odor of death. Birds chirped and flew about, squirrels scampered up trees as she passed. Tallea walked until mid-day before stopping at a stream for water. At the waters edge she knelt down, removed her helmet. Then she retrieved her small metal cup, dipped it into the stream and began to drink. It was then that she glanced across the stream, where she noticed the remains of a obelisk and steps leading upward into the trees. The stream was not deep but it was swift, better to find another way she thought. After walking only a few minutes she found what she was looking for, a fallen tree that spanned the stream. It was long dead and had few branches, making it easy to navigate and get across. Once on the other side she headed back the way she had come to find the stairs waiting. Up she climbed, nothing but blue sky and tree tops in her view. The stairs were very old, cracked and crumbling. Roots had broken through and re-positioned some of the stones, so she had to be aware of her footing as she ascended. As she rounded a curve, the top of a structure broke through the tree tops. With every step the structure was revealed a bit more, her curiosity began to grow. Tallea was 30 feet from the entrance of what appeared to be a temple, when something familiar caught her eye. Lying on the steps, 20 feet up, was a metal staff, topped with a circle and cross. She knew this item immediately as a staff of Orlaas, the Sorcerers of her people carried these. At that moment it occurred to her, that she had not encountered a single footprint since she entered the forest, how could the staff be here? Tallea cleared the distance quickly and with the staff of Orlaas, stood at the entrance to the strange temple. It's huge doors partially open... only blackness beyond the opening. The Fear was coming now, only her force of will made her step forward, the staff of Orlaas raised high in her right hand as she reached to her sword with the other, just as she did the wind kicked up and on it was the smell of death. :)