Time to leave school before someone realizes what you have done...

You decide that it was high time you left the University of the Unseen, the last three years here had been fruitful and you had studied hard learning some powerful magic but you had no intention of growing old in these dusty halls and libraries like so many of its practitioners did. You are also aware that you had summoned a forbidden creature into the body of a prefect, breaking countless laws of the university and you knew that it was only a matter of time before your crime was discovered in a place like the University. Someone was going to realize that this creature wasn’t Elenor anymore and probably sooner rather than later. The thought gives you chills and the fear of some horrible punishment spurs you into action…

“We are leaving Eisheth.” You say grabbing a traveling bag and stuffing it with your meager belongings. “We are leaving tonight!”

She just watches you calmly as you leap about the room grabbing books and what few magical items you own, stuffing them into the bag. You pause as you grab the dusty grimore of Lust Magic and an awful thought occurs to you, the University of the Unseen was an enormous magical citadel built deep in the Forest of Shadows. After sunset the place was locked down tight, as much with ancient powerful wardings as with it’s heavy locks and alert guards, how where you going to escape with your new demonic servant? You turn to Eisheth in alarm.

“Did Elenor of Tracsor know any way out of the University after dark? Do you know of any?”

Eisheth gives you a wicked smile and you feel sure her canine teeth were longer than they should be.

“Certainly Master! There are many secret ways and portals out of this place for those that seek them. Elenor knew of one that will serve our needs nicely, it is in the High Gallery.”

“Lead the way.” You command her as you hoist the bag over a shoulder, and then add with an afterthought, “Go as Elenor the Prefect, it will be less suspicious if a prefect is seen to escort me through the halls.”

With a nod she changes, her demonic features receding until she looks like the prefect again. Then she turns and begins to lead you through the maze of hallways that is the University of the Unseen to the High Gallery. Following her like a chastened student caught out after curfew, you attract little notice from anyone else still up at this late hour and soon arrive in the High Gallery; a long empty room whose walls are lined with portraits and tapestries of the finest quality.

The succubus stops before one, a massive floor to ceiling landscape portrait showing the view from a wooded hilltop somewhere unfamiliar to you. On one side of the painting you see a dark forest growing up the side of a foreboding mountain range; on the other you notice a large town with farmland in the distance.

You are admiring the artwork as Eisheth mutters a word under her breath and touches the huge portrait, making the canvas ripple and shimmer like the surface of a pond. Turning to you she takes your hand firmly in her own.

“We must step through now Master; I cannot hold the Waygate open for long!”

Without a second thought you step into and through the painting, your feet crunching against dry leaves and grass as you reach the other side. You are on the wooded hill with Eisheth and you are surprised as your eyes are dazzled by sudden daylight, having just left the University in the dead of night. You look at the beautiful creature suspiciously.

“No magic comes without cost Master and the cost of travel to this distant place is time.” She proclaims, clearly pleased with herself, “Only half a day, and it is a cheap price for the many leagues we have come.”

“Where have you brought us servant?” you ask her sternly, not enjoying being lectured to by the likes of her.

“We are on the far western borders of Gwaydor, far from the University. Over there is the town of Furlone, ruled by a Baronet named Lady Sileen.” She tells you pointing towards the nearby town, then turns and spreads her arms as though to encompass the ominous mountain range, “…and over yonder lies your destiny, in the Iron Mountains! It is there we must go.”

You look at the landscape dubiously, you know a little of the Iron Mountains and everything you know tells you that you don’t want to be any closer to them than you are now. By all accounts they are meant to be a bleak and barren place defending the western border of Gwaydor with their impassible cliffs and crags. The only things that live in them were dark and magical creatures that take refuge in the caves and abandoned mineshafts and none of them are said to be very friendly to humans.

With these thoughts you turn a scowl of displeasure on Eisheth ready to tell her in no uncertain terms what you think of THAT ridiculous idea…

“Please Master, don’t be angry…” she begs as she sees your stormy expression, “In those mountains and the dim forests around them we will find you clever new servants and strong allies! But most of all; I know of a hidden place deep in those mountains. It is a secret stronghold built by the Lust Sorcerers I served of old; it is there you will find the vast knowledge and powerful magiks you so desire!”

She looks at you pleadingly as you look from the town to the mountains deciding where to go next…