Sunshine

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa smiles at them, "Gentlemen, thank you for your willingness to pass on your knowledge and experience. I thank you greatly, and prize knowledge very highly. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Alyssa Songsteel. I look forward to being your student, even if only for a short time."

[Anastasia]

The three bow, "You have been spoken for. We will lend you our memories."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods, "Thank you. Who will be going first?"

[Anastasia]

The bearded ones comes forth, "I will," he volunteers.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods and casts the spell!

[Anastasia]

Memories.

It's a cavern, where Rathguul awaits. A massive wyrm in an open air cavern, the roof worn away by the ages and the night sky visible. You (the warrior) braces and charges. Blade against scales, a familiar battle for any warrior. Yet it is too strong and one claw comes forth. A point and you scream in agony as unholy flames burn you. A split second later a gale of lightning follows, which causes sheer white pain and then the memory ends.

"I found and challenged the dragon, and the dragon was far more than a dragon," The old warrior states, with pained wisdom. "A dragonslaying blade was nothing to it."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa shakes her head then smiles, "And yet you faced the dragon without fear or falter. Worthy of song and story. If we succeed, you will be part of the story."

[Anastasia]

"Thank you, goddess," The man bows his head deeply to you.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods, "Who's next?"

[Anastasia]

The clean shaved one, "I lasted a little longer," he says, coming forward.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa smiles and casts her spell!

[Anastasia]

This time you see a fireswept hellscape. Cracked ground and flames everywhere as the warrior, barrel chested and wearing battered armor, stands atop a cliff amid this. Beaten devils of all kinds lie about - a few turn to black glass or melt into black ooze, or becomes incantations of Infernal. Others still survive, beaten but not slain. From little lemures to even a pit fiend, this warrior stands triumphant.

Until he emerges.

Rathguul emerges from the flames, massive and looming high.

"You shall disobey no more!" The wyrm roars as the warrior braces. He begins to lean back for a slash, but the wyrm is quicker. A beam, a shot of pure hellfire that immolates you - the warrior - and burns. Your greataxe is clutched all the tighter as you scream, yet you hold on. You keep your wits to fall back and avoid the lightning breath that comes moments later.

You slash. The distance matters not, yet the blow does not penetrate Rathguul's scales.

A mere moment later one of the downed devils, a hamatula, leaps up and bear hugs you from behind. Pain as barbs snare you, leaving you flatfooted for one horrible moment. It's all Rathguul needs to swoop in, hellfire consuming you to nothing.

Darkness and flame. You plummet.

"Don't worry," An old man's voice, as in this darkness your axe is seen. "Go. Hell won't have you, and this old champion won't see you become a devil's prize, there's still enough power in this axe for that. Let them chew on this old soul."

A sense of relief and sorrow at once, as you ascend away, another soul plummeting in your place.

The memory ends. With a solemn expression, "Rathguul's strong. My axe cut through a pit fiend like a goblin, but it couldn't crack his scales. Looking back, I believe he telepathically commanded or controlled that hamatula to act, all while in the middle of battle. A formidable dragon."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods and turns to the next.

[Anastasia]

He simply says, "Whenever you're ready."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa casts!