With the 3rd trial out of the way, the brothers headed over to the Grieving Palace, where they received a golden token so that they could enter Castle NeverNever.
10th moon, 23rd day, year 4554
Some days later, the dark elf brothers arrived at Castle NeverNever. With the token in hand, they had no trouble getting in, and found themselves in a huge hall. With the help of a house goblin, they were led down to a huge dining room, where more than 700 people sat and dined with the King and Queen of Faeries.
The brothers sat down, and were soon approached by a human fellow named Lotar Hubert. They quickly discovered that his interest in them (Belos had noticed he had starred at them quite a lot and followed them a bit around) was purely academic. After some talk, they were shocked to know why. Apparently, their passage into the Faerie had warped time, and 350 years had passed in the mortal world. Imix had sacked Menzo, then destroyed the Silent Forest before being banished and imprisoned by an unknown group of humans and elves (last bit divined by Nalfein a bit later). The remaining dark elves had fled underground and founded a new city, Menzar, while those who stayed above ground had been put to the sword, as divinations clearly had shown that dark elves had freed Imix.
Some years had passed, and then Menzar had seen a revolt, as House Mizzrym (divined by Nalfein) had turned out to be mindflayers. They enslaved all the dark elves and ruled Menzar for a while. Then the drow struck, and they killed the mindflayers, sacked Menzar and enslaved the surviving dark elves.
Meanwhile, above ground, an invasion force from another continent sailed in from the east and conquered most of the human lands. Nowadays, the lands are divided between the empire of XXX, and the three kingdoms YYY, ZZZ and VVVV.
After learning this, the brothers were very shocked. Nalfein was horrified while Belos and even Tagar seemed quite happy about the new situation. They each retreated to a chamber, Nalfein to seek the councel of Asmodeus about a number of things, Belos to look for some interesting books, and Tagar to spend some quality time with a willing nymph.
The next day, they approached the King in order to get the cup. He challenged them to prove themselves in 3 different contests against the eladrins. Tests of strength, wit and knowledge. Against the cup, they bet something very personal, be it an important memory (all 3) or their soul (Belos).
As it seemed impossible to win the cup fairly, Tagar snatched the cup as Nalfein cast a spell to leave the Faerie and return to the mortal world. As the brothers changed plane, the King stopped time just a second too late to catch them, and home they were.
12th moon, 16th day, year 5217
The brothers arrive in a snowstorm, in the middle of nowhere. Quickly they port back to what was Menzo, and find the altar of the T'orgh temple still stands, now in the middle of a forest, overgrown by all sorts of vines and bushes. Soon after they arrive, Belos notices that they are scryed upon.
Under the cover of the darkness stone, they quickly flee and camp in Belos' portable house.
12th moon, 17th day, year 5217
As they get up in the morning and leave the house, they are attacked by their old friend, the lich from House Jhalavar. Luckily, Tagar manages to turn him and the lich is forced to port away.
They decide to get on with the trials, so that they can free their people and rule all 3 together, with the scrolls.
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