<div align="center"><strong>The crime scene</strong></div><br/>The police chief waved the Drow off, being surprisingly understanding as he showed her the door's mechanism and how it worked.  The warrior was impressed to say the least.  "A dear friend of mine, if he was here anyway, would probably love to take this contraption apart just to see how it worked.  Unfortunately he's many miles away from here.  Still, I thank you for your kindness sir."  She said, sitting down after removing her heavy pack from her back and putting it on the seat beside her.<br/><br/>"No problem and...three hundred years old...impressive."  She looked no older than thirty, and the chief wasn't sure what to think.  Maybe time was measured differently for these people?  Somehow he doubted it though as he turned the ignition switch after inserting his key, Giselle leaning up to watch every move just in case she needed to use one of these 'vehicles' later, though it was highly unlikely she would.  Still, it was in her nature to be prepared for any eventuality.  The police chief was about to say something about her seat belt not being fastened but the half Drow/light elf had seen the man connect his own and the words died on his lips.  "Anyway, why don't you tell me about yourself and this world.  The more we know the better equipped we'll be to handle things as they pop up."  The brown eyes that were reflected in the mirror above the dashboard seemed to light up a moment as Giselle nodded her agreement to what he asked, unaware she was scanning for heat signatures as she looked out the back window.  Seeing nothing besides the bright orange colors that signified a large heat source; the cars the cops and the like had pulled up in, Giselle switched back since she saw nothing beyond them to say there was any new orcs to terrorize them...for the moment anyway.<br/><br/>"Three hundred years is but a twinkling to an elf, dark or light.  I will live, provided sickness or battle doesn't do me in first, for many hundreds of years, going into the thousands most likely.  I'm still young in the eyes of both races, but if your man that seemed to know more about this place than anyone else had more sense, he would have warned you against being near me.  Drow, or dark elves as you will most likely know them as, are evil incarnate.  Before you get any ideas there are exceptions to the rules, just as there are for every race in existence.  I am one of those exceptions.  Me trying to warn your men to clear out of the trees before more creatures arrived is proof enough for some since while I favor the night, I can live in the light of day like the lighter skinned cousins my kind hate the most.  As you said before, your world is no longer your own.  Things like those orcs, those are nothing compared to some of the creatures I've run up against over the years.  You'd be wise to spread the word around about keeping a very open mind in the coming days because narrow-minded behavior like that shown from that man I lit up with harmless magical faerie fire will get you killed very easily, let alone being reckless in the face of the unknown."  Giselle was unaware she was broadcasting her voice through the cruiser's radio, but even if she did know it wouldn't have changed what she said one bit.  The police chief wanted his men to hear this and take it to heart, planning to have a staff meeting as soon as they were able to get everyone in one place.<br/><br/>"As for where you are.  According to the maps I examined before making my way out here on the road to elsewhere, your town is in the middle of the Arcane Forests, not too far off from a kingdom called Cerulean Depths.  A king rules these lands, so it wouldn't surprise me if soldiers came to investigate the lights that could be seen for miles around.  From what I've heard he's a benevolent fellow, but my advice is to never trust a man with that much power unless he can prove he's as good as his word."  Giselle trusted very few in that type of position, seeing more corrupt dictators in her time than good ones.  Still, there were exceptions to the rule just as she had said before, and Bruenor Battlehammer was one of those exceptions.  Besides, she was wearing the armor he had crafted for her, and she had his brutal honesty to a lesser degree as well as his stubbornness in the face of overwhelming odds.<br/><br/>"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.  Sorry, a famous quote from our own world.  Still, in our history, America shook off the rule of a monarch three hundred years ago, so I doubt there will be many fans of such a thing if you're right.  I understand though that our ways are far different though, and while we might not like it we'll adapt as the need arises."  The cop replied, driving to the station as he made his way through town.  The ice cream shop was passed by, and Giselle could feel powerful magic flowing from somewhere nearby but the feeling faded when they kept on going.  She'd stop by and see who else was around.<br/><br/>"Whoever said that was dead on.  Anyway, if you have anyone in charge of this town, I'd highly advise getting barricades set up, guards lining said barricades, and a schedule set up so no one is overtaxed, at least until something more permanent can be arranged.  If you want any chance out here, this place needs to be akin to a fortress because it's not uncommon to witness attacks by roving bands of monsters like gnolls, trolls, kobolds, and more."  The police chief knew she was being dead serious, as did everyone listening in on their conversation.  There was nothing for it but to wonder just how bad things might get if they were unprepared.<br/><br/>"I'll do what I can Giselle, but it'll take time.  For now, this is our stop.  You're welcome to come in with me or you can wander about town and get your bearings first, see what there is for yourself.  Just be careful either way."  She nodded, unbuckling herself when they stopped in the station's parking garage.  Climbing out of the car a moment later, the warrior pulled her pack back onto her shoulders and stood by the vehicle, staring at the police chief.<br/><br/>"Don't take too long.  I'll get my bearings and come back when I can.  May the gods be with you and yours, as well as this town.  You're going to need all the luck you can get most likely."  She stated firmly, and the man sighed, watching her go into the night.  Before she got too far though, planning to stop by the shop she had picked up on magical energies, the chief had one more thing to say.<br/><br/>"Good luck to you Giselle, and thanks for sharing what you have with us already.  Take care of yourself."  He almost added the whole 'may the gods be with you' bit, but he wasn't a religious man, and his hesitance must have shown because Giselle smiled warmly again before walking into the darkness.