26th Blossom, 802

We are abruptly awakened by Janos pounding on our doors. He explains that Roderick "isn't well" this morning. I don't think any of us feel wonderful after last night. Thank goodness Raven, Blackhawk and Stephen have healing skills.

Raven reports that she had a dream in which Carlotta took her to Gryphon's Tower and asked if we would help her to find her harp. She also presented Raven with a gift, a tortoiseshell comb with a fox carved on it. When she awoke this morning, it was on her dressing table!

Janos gave us quite an upbraiding for last night's brawl. He said we should have called the constables straightaway instead of taking the law into our own hands. We're apparently forgiven since we aided Roderick, but Janos made it clear that it shouldn't happen again. The last few weeks we have been completely on our own. It is strange to have a law enforcement group that we can go to now.

Janos leads us into the stronghold through an enormous bronze door which is covered with mystical signs and symbols. He signals the guards to open it, which they do with effort. The throbbing feeling that indicates power of some kind to me increases here. We approach a door carved of pink jade in the shape of a flower petal. At some signal from Janos it rises up into the ceiling and there is a door carved from a single stone. When it opens, we see an elegant staircase. Above us is the dome of the guild, birds flying in and out of it at will. In the center of the room below us is a huge basin, about 100ft in diameter. In the center of it is an abstract arrangement of blocks, towering above us. At the top sits a granite cube and atop that is a magickal flame 30 to 40 ft. high. All around it are jets of water, and all around us is a great wind. Janos says that it may seem to represent a balance of the elements, but it is actually protection from the power of the fire. He then tells us to remove our shoes and we follow him to the middle of the fountain where there is a hidden chamber. Raven and Blackhawk feel immense elemental magic here. The chamber is quite large, maybe 30 by 30 feet, and in the center is a block made of black stone. On top of the block is a bejeweled golden cask, rich beyond imagining. Janos begins the work of opening it and after about 5 minutes, the cask opens, revealing a purple velvet lining and a stone covered with purple silk. The stone is larger than a brick, carved all over and sparkling as though it is made of mica.

Janos says, "The trial is very simple. You can resign from the guild now if you wish. If you wish to continue, you must touch the stone and swear that you don't intend to betray the guild, and will never do her any harm. If someone swears and lies, they will die. If they betray the guild at any point in the future, they will die."

We walk up and touch the stone and repeat what Janos says. As we do, an exotic human form appears in a shadowy cloud above the stone. It appears to be a witness to the rite. As we speak, we feel a chill.

Then Janos is congratulating us, saying that we have proved their faith and trust and will be rewarded. He says the ritual has been in existence since before the rangers got here and it binds us to the stronghold. Now, off to breakfast!

Respectfully submitted by Maxfield Jaden Fox