A Look Into the Past

As you stare through the yawning portal, you see something clearly. Orcs, humans, and even dwarves, halflings and elves. They were in a massive, messy tangle of physical intimacy, the kind that makes what you just experienced tame and boring by comparison. A dwarf was plowing into an elf laying on her back while a halfling lady sat on her face. It seemed to be a mirror, rather than a portal, seeing as how none of the lovers made any notice of you, but with how deep they were in their passions, who could say for sure?

Vhail was as surprised as you were "Fuck! That's quite the party, wherever that is. I don't even know what I'm looking at."

"We're looking at the past" You say, surprising even yourself.

"What? How do you know that?"

"That's not important right now. The others need to see this. Come on" with the advantage of your night vision, you both were able to quickly make it back to the group. Vhail, not being the sedentary nerdy wizard, could have masked the effort. You were visibly sweating from even the short run, preventing any chance of denial. With the Kriia being a hearty success and the D'arcani being great guests for the Stoneheart, nearly everyone was either unaware or unconcerned with your absence. The two that were aware were the two that mattered: Grashk and Fracila. The two had seemed to be enjoying each other's company well enough, though it made your return all the more conspicuous.

"Vhail!" her father was clearly disapointed "What is the meaning of this? Quargh expects more of you than to be a host and than run off in the middle of the event."

"It's my fault" you interceded, with a quick bow that was out place, causing you to grimace in the back of your mind. "I lead Vhail to our expedition, to show her what we were working on. While we were up there, something happened, and you need to see it, quickly."

Fracila had a smirk on her face "I believe your Goddess can forgive Vhail being curious Grashk. If Herida says it's important enough to interupt dinner, than I'm sure she's telling the truth. Come, let's see what this is all about" The elf took the lead of the group, but did not have the sense of urgency that you and Vhail had, more to your frustration. You were afraid for both of your sake's what might happen if that thing had disappeared by the time you returned, and in fact more concerned about Vhail than yourself. Her breaking the rules would have had worse consequences than you.

Thankfully, that was not the fate the befell you. Despite Fracila's brisk walk, the magical viewport was still intact when you all returned. She confused you again, as the visceral sexual display had absolutely no affect on her; something that could not be said for the more conservative Grashk, who kept his daughter outside

"What do you make of it?" she asked you, her arms crossed in study "You're the wizard."

"I don't know that magic has an answer for this. Not that we commonly understand at least. Divination has some glimpses into time and what could be, but looking into the past like this is so strange, and why this? Why the Lost Age?"

"Maybe it was a fluke, or there was some message behind it."

"That could be" You remembered what had come before now "There were three spectral looking entities that turned into this. They had spoken some language I had never heard before."

"Could be anything" She muttered, frustratingly "This tells us we're on the right track, but we have more questions than answers." No sooner did she say this, than the magical window into the past widened for a second and suddenly shut.

"Fuck!" Fracila was visibly frustrated now. "That's just what we need. Magic with a vindictive streak."

"Excuse me" Grashk spoke up, finally "But, what is importance is this to D'arcan? How do the Mage Lords armies benefit? It seems that's all they are concerned with"

You were able to speak up before your boss, and all the better, as she looked annoyed by the question "D'arcan isn't just concerned with whatever it needs to support it's military. All knowledge is important" You recall the mantra from your days at the academy. "There's something worth knowing here, we just have to figure out what it is. Personally, I've been as interested in history as I have been in magic since I was a child. Any bits that we can learn can only help give us a clearer picture. The more we know about the Lost Age, the more people know that the world we live in now doesn't have to be this way. We can never heal the Sundering, but we don't have to accept things as they are just because we think that's the way it's always been."

Grashk had a small smile "I hope you speak truth, young wizard. D'arcan moves too quickly. It's leaders too engrossed in pragmatism and whatever may glean a perceived benefit. History isn't just dates and places. It isn't even just places and relics. It's tradition, the stories we tell each other, our family legends." He walked to you slowly, giving your hand a squeeze "Everything is history my dear. I hope you cherish it that way."

"Thank you Grashk" You nodded "I will keep this in mind"

"Quargh guide you Herida. Fracila, may Varissa watch over you, and may Ihstar aid you both. Farewell my friends, today was a great gift to us all. I should take Vhail back to the others, I'm sure the rest of the D'arcani will be on its way soon." With that, the elder orc waved and walked away, with you and Fracila walking out with him.

"A delightful soul" Fracila commented "I wish we had more interaction with our neighbors."

"Me too" You replied quickly, feeling strangely homesick all of the sudden.

"Well, you were invaluable today" she grinned "Not bad for the first real day on the job."

"It was nothing, I think we just got lucky."

She shrugged her head "Give yourself some credit Herida. Everything that went well today is because of you. We can go back with our heads high now."

"You're not angry?"

"I'm better now than I was a few hours ago" Fracila smiled "we can justify our existence for a while longer. I don't know how we're going to answer the big questions we have before us, but we'll worry about that when we get home. For now, we take a deserved rest. Tomorrow, we put together what notes we need, than we pack up and head home, and try to figure out the next steps"