The first to step through was Ygia, but one soon became many, and then a flood. Achaeans of all races and creeds fought their way through vine, bee, and Ratatosk's brood - and several deaths - in order to reach the waiting gateway into Nur's heart. Such an attack upon the angelic cohort's proclaimed sovereignty, discoveries that could destroy all that they had built, would not be allowed to stand. And so, as adventurers began to spread out through their prize, the Prime Exarch convened Trial. The invaders would see the Judgement and Justice of true angels, that they might know the truly righteous.

Trial was swift, once the first defendant had been corralled. A parasite of the physical realm, one of the many leeching from weak Celestia. The guilt of Halos Vorondil was undeniable, for it was declared to be so by Zafikel. Sentencing was swifter still, the intruder cast into the cosmic fires of Saar-elan, there to be incinerated - if one of Proteus' Favoured could not survive, what chance did filth have?

But something happened. Far from burning up within Saar-elan's embrace, instead Halos returned from its depths branded by primordial power. In fury at the mockery made of his Judgement, Zafikel demanded a confession of the Targossian that the vile trickery he had worked might be understood. Whether it would take a thousand years of torment or a quick death, the Prime Exarch would have his answers. But even as the Exarch readied himself to destroy the thief, a singular roar echoed across the planes of Creation, and for the first time in over a century an Aldar flew between worlds upon dragonback. Han-Tolneth had come.

The will of the Dragonmaster was resolute, standing framed by the magnificence of Sycaerunax and the cosmic fire of Saar-elan. Nur was the city of the Aldar, he declared, and not the property of either Angel or Achaean no matter who of his race had led the Exarch's cohort within its sealed gates. As Zafikel knelt before Han-Tolneth, humbled, the Aldar spoke to the assembled gathering.

"If you wish to test yourself within the furnace of Saar-elan, you may make your leap of faith. You, as well, may continue to visit, and explore what was once my home."

With an expression of fondness for his remembrances of ages past, the roar of Sycaerunax echoed again as the planes bowed to the departing Aldar and his draconic companion. And in his wake, the cosmic furnace of Saar-elan, and the city of Nur surrounding it, was left once more to await those who would be willing to risk the extinction of their soul in exchange for the might of a Psion.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Summary: With the Unmaking of an Archangel a path was opened into Nur, lost city of the Aldar. By the decree of the Dragonmaster, any Achaean who dared would be granted the opportunity to test themselves within Saar-elan and thereby command the skills of the Psion class, a shadow of a remnant of a remnant from the mightiest race to ever walk Creation beneath the Gods themselves.

Penned by My hand on the 13th of Mayan, in the year 788 AF.