The Herald

I'll tell you a tale I heard in the air,

a tale of hope, a tale of despair.

While Julanar has gone, her works did not stop,

or so it would seem, if you visted her shop.

For weeks trade did continue to flow,

but who took the money? No-one did know.

But someone did profit while she was dead,

Someone took her money, her goods instead.

Then one day, a commotion was found,

from inside the shop, under the ground.

Spirit did venture, with Ice in tow,

and found something suspicious hidden below.

As they discussed, smoke did fill the air,

and soon their nostrils certainly did flare.

For an Acolyte had come and set fire to a tree,

Brazen she was, in the open for all to see.

There stood the Herald, garbed in dark red,

hoping to sew panic, fear and much dread.

She cursed at them and took them for fools,

but Spirit said "You have broken our rules."

"There is no law" she declared "No law but true power."

but the heroes around her, simply didn't cower.

Instead off to prison they did attempt to take,

though instead she decided she'd rather escape.

So with a chant and a twist, she did cast her spell,

which happened at the chime of the first evening knell.

"Oh powers of wind, that howl and cause fear.

Make me invisible, make my body clear."

With that she was gone, but her trace could be seen,

as ashes followed her, and her location they did glean.

She hopped in a boat and they sailed away,

chasing her through the ocean to one very far bay.

There they found a sight of such horror and woe,

a village razed, covered in flames that did grow.

Spirit went into a house and saved a few people,

as the Herald did climb her makeshift town steeple.

Dave and Ice, followed and cornered her there,

and down at them she gave a baleful glare.

"You didn't save them, for we were much faster."

"They were all a sacrifice for my great master."

Ice would not listen, and at her threw his axe,

this caused her to jump, stopping her right in her tracks.

She landed hard, and slowly rose from the ground,

turning to see Dave as she spun right around.

He threw his trident, straight at her chest.

But she whipped up her wand and it came to a rest.

She roared with her wand, as on her Spirit did fall,

and she missed Dave, instead blasting a wall.

She parried his sword with her magical wand,

which was impossibly strong, though looked like a frond.

The Herald summoned water and the ground did sog,

getting muddier and thicker, creating a bog.

Ice leapt down wielding his axe with all brawn,

so she sank into the mud until she was all gone.

The three looked around, until she did appear,

upon the roof of a house that was near.

Dave dove at her with his trident you see,

but she swatted him with her wand into a tree.

"Oh hear me powers of fire, protect me from this carver.

Pour down upon their heads, a river of lava."

It engulfed the robot, who was stuck in the mud,

but Ice cooled the lava, leaving her magic a dud.

Spirit broke free, red hot and steaming,

His sword in this heat was menacing and gleaming.

"Oh hear me powers of Earth, wood and the trees.

Claw at this warrior, scratch him so he bleeds."

Dave did yell as the branches of the tree clawed,

but he fell when he cut them, leaving him floored.

Spirit lept forth, crashing the Herald through the ceiling,

This left her breathless, weak and now reeling.

He swung down hard as she attempted to stand,

but as she rose up he cut off her hand.

What happened next was quite a surprise,

and I can truely say they all rubbed their eyes.

For while she was there, helpless and cowered,

the robot stood down, as if he was unpowered.

It thought it was someone else he struck with his scimitar,

A woman with one hand, his old friend - Julanar.

"Oh hear me powers of the water, the ocean and sea.

Carry me away swiftly, help me to flee!"

With a final chant, she had gone far away,

leaving the three as the heroes of the day.

Alas though, for the town was ruin,

and it was clear to all that trouble was brewin'.

For while the Herald was a danger to all,

it was not her that was to be their downfall.

This 'master' she mentioned is surely more than he seems,

So watch out good people, and have some sweet dreams.