[h1][center][u][i]"First of the Dark Days"[/i][/u][/center][/h1]

Castle Bloodrose was an imposing ediface.  It's towers reaching into the sky like the fingers of some impossibly vast god.  In better days witches worked,  studied,  and played in the comfortable embrace of its grip.  Confident that their home was unassailable,  and would stand for all time.

The sun was just kissing the mountain behind the witch's haven when the black caravan finally arrived back home,  casting long shadows in the intrepid witch's approach.  The tension that had been building within the castle,  and in the hearts of its occupants was nearly palpable.  Some cast their gaze up towards those mighty digits and wondered if they might be reaching up towards heaven in one last petition for peace.  A petition that ultimately would go unheeded.

The grand black iron gates swung open for the first of the black carriages.  Witches had gathered in the courtyard just beyond to await their arrival.  A tremble went through the crowd as the caravan came to a halt.  The first door opened,  and from the dark confines of her carriage emerged Lorelai Von'Strauss.

She was clad in her black succubus skin ritual garb,  and bore her blade before her like a staff.  With a snap of her fingers a dozen servitors sprung from the earth,  and began the work of unpacking the witch's belongings.  All they while she kept her eyes locked with her nemesis,  Medusa Bloodrose,  who'd come out to the balcony over looking the courtyard to greet them.

[color=ed1c24]"The Dragon returns!"[/color]  A small spell allowed Medusa's voice to carry through the courtyard.  [color=ed1c24]"And with her our champions.  Look well sisters,  upon some of the finest witches to call the castle home."[/color]

A nervous cheer went through the gathered witches.  Some had already chosen a side;  Those with Lorelai stood near the gates,  those with Medusa had gathered near the stairs beneath the balconey.  Others stood between them,  hoping they'd not be forced to make a choice,  or at least hoping to avoid the bloodshed.

[color=ed1c24]"A feast in their honor is being prepared,  in three days we'll gather in the grand hall and hear stories of their exploits!"[/color]  A small smirked curved Medusa's lips.  [color=ed1c24]"Untill then I bid you let them rest... they've surely earned it."[/color]

Lorelai nodded up to the unspoken agreement.  A three day peace before the war began.  Her sisters would need their rest,  and she'd use the time to focus her sickly spirit on the task before her.

Medusa turned and stepped back into the castle just as the sun dipped behind the mountains again.  Bathing the castle and the witches that called it home in darkness.  How many would live long enough to see real light again?  Whose banner would fly when the dust cleared?  Not even the prophets of Seher could tell you that.

The curtain was opening for the final show,  as Dragon crossed Rose for the last time in a long and mostly forgotten history.  The souls of witches that deserved better caught between two giants poised to destroy one another.