Devaguea put Tina on training up her UMD after the briefing, so she could use a sending spell to contact Stroon and see about hiring the man permanently. And once the group got back, she was trained enough he was willing to have her work with Allison to get a scroll so they could contact Stroon. He made sure he wasn't involved more than necessary, while he wasn't sure about much, he knew the wizard was powerful. And while Allison might protest losing the extra spell books, getting another spell caster to help around the kingdom would be excellent.<br/><br/>The next group sent out was Kesten, Cynthia, Korima, Serena, Anke, and Sena just stayed out with Jubilost, the druid preferring untracked wilds and the smaller settlement to the sprawling metropolis his city had become.<br/><br/>Jerking awake wasn't a new sensation for Devaguea, though it had been becoming more rare as of late, as he grew and his old fears became less and less relevant. Waking to find Nyrissa in his room was... very strange, as she wasn't among those cleared to enter his room, and just as he made a note to have a long talk with the guards with Sak'bas' help, she spoke, and Devague felt his blood run cold. This was not the Nyrissa that Puff Puck adored. This was his opponent. Still, despite her apparent ability to possess his apprentice, he was going to be polite. "Ah, Queen Nyrissa, a pleasure to finally... well, not QUITE meet you, but close enough."<br/><br/>He glanced at the window, before standing and stretching, not having a partner this particular night. "I am off to the gardens, care to join me?"<br/><br/>As he headed for the door, he grabbed his haversack and the artifact sword from the tomb, taking care to keep the still wrapped sword away from his scales. He offered the Queen a wing, and opened the door, sneaking a quick check of his guards before heading to the garden with his adversary. "As to your initial statement, perhaps, but then again, stranger things have lasted longer. Reality against the Destroyer, for example. Or the world surviving Earth Fall. Or any dozen of other evils that were barely turned in the last century by rag tag groups of wandering murder hobos. Maybe you will win, but I am willing to bet on the off chance you won't. After all, everything dies eventually, so why not take a few risks along the way?"