Remenents of an archaic civillisation, one of grace and beauty, long dead. You climb over some of the rubble following what you guess to be some form of deer track through the forest.
Many of the trees are ancient, their moss covered trunks too wide for six of you to span with your arms. The scent of green things and cold stone is sweet on the air.
"Welcome" The three voices make you start as they ring through the still air. Each is mellow and of a different pitch but are said with the same inflection and at the exact same time, a harmony rather than a word. You look around for the source and a white shape steps out through a marble arch carved, the creature glows with it's own inner light.The three headed unicorn snakes it's heads to look at you like some strange dragon, it's six gem like eyes watching you, waiting for you to speak or flee.
"We are Tripytch."
Like a wave the amethest eyed head bows first, eyes twinkling with humour. "Tu'mia. I am Nasith.", then the green eyed head cocking his head at you in curiosity "I am Savi...", then the wild, blue eyed head snorts tossing his seafoam mane fiercely and snorts. "I am Kamai and WHO are you?"
"Kamai! Peace! Control your temper!" Savi taps Kamai's horn lightly with his own. Kamai flattens his ears but stays silent, glowering at you.
Tripytch's feathery tail tip swishes angrily until Savi notices Kamai's control over the flipping tail and stops it. Nasith shakes his head and trys not to smile at Kamai's temper then winks at you and jerks his horn very slightly towards one of the smaller arches which seems to glow faintly.
"These are ruins from the Elder time" Nasith says, sweeping his amethyst horn in an arc as you look at the crumbling pillars and steps, many thickly overgrown with vines and climbing plants.
Occassional pieces of carved base relief depicting mythical looking creatures can be seen through the leaves. An old world, almost forgotten... A bitter sweet sorrow decends upon you and you realise it is the stones emotions that you are feeling.
Nasith watches you then adds "Kamai knows the tales and histories better than I." You look at the fierce Kamai and he glowers back at you, hoisting his head high above yours on his fine long neck.
"Come on Kamai, do speak. Please." Savi coaxes, nudging his companion.
Kamai fidgets for a moment then turns to the other heads and bows his slightly, blue eyes gentling with genuine affection for his two companions.
"Alright, but only because it is you who ask me to.
Kamai turns back to you and sizes you up for a moment before speaking.
"Before the Tir was named, before Haven, which was the original name for this sanctuary realm, was created this land was only a small portion of the lands governed by those known as the elders or elder race.
"Some form of magical catastrophy tore reality so badly that the land itself began to unravel. From what we have seen of the story stones and from what Allani has remembered we know that Allanon, with the aid of the warrior Raftnim, drew up a great barrier around Haven to save it from the unravelling and the rogue magic storms that blew across what remained of the land.
He shudders and the ears of the other two flatten momentarily in shared discomfort.
"If you want to see the wasted lands travel out in the desert. We have been there. It is... not pleasant, especially for a being born from magical disorder."
At you uncertain expression Savi takes up the tale while Nasith lips Kamai's ears to calm his discomfort at what you guess to be the memories of this waste land he spoke of.
"Allanon did not find, nor create us. We simply came into being here on this isle and have been here since the beginning of Haven. The Land itself created us, perhaps as a vessel to channel some of the great energy that was unleashed on the land We do not know. However no sapient beings visited this isle for decades, perhaps centuries, so we did not learn of what had happened until Llanos came here and we realised that there were other sapient beings beyond ourself still alive."
Nasith now takes up the tale and smiles slightly with relief as Kamai scratches their flank with his icy blue horn. "Before you ask there are no others like us. We are a freak of Nature..."
Kamui glares at you and cuts Nasith off. "We are a *gift* of Nature." He corrects, his look daring you to say otherwise. He blinks and is distracted as Savi gently tugs one of his ears and Nasith continues on blithly.
"The Tir k'Haven is our home and here we shall stay." His voice and eyes harden. "be warned we will not allow a being to take us from it."
Having given you fair warning Triptych relaxes and Nasith smiles once more as the being begins to move off. "Luck in your travels and mind Kamai's horn if you're wandering through the undergrowth." Nasith calls with a smile as the three headed unicorn strides, out of sight into the forest. You could head back to the island's beach or head towards the sound of a brook bubbling.