After the training and the oath ceremony for Gallo they traveled to get him a horse in the area. Then they headed to the mountain regions hoping to find either Griffins or Dragons. About half way there they were attacked by a group of minotaurs. As the minotaurs attacked Orion was the first to start to sing the song of truth the minotaurs eyes cleared. They stopped their charge and the one in front asked where are you from? Orion said I am from the past here in the present looking for the last of the order in all the races. The minotaur says we have no one of your order here mage. Orion says would you like us to visit your village and its chief or do you want us to be on our way? The minotaur leader Says I am Montar May I know your name? Orion is what I am called. Montar Says for a "human I can feel your strength and your group did not hesitate to charge in under your song! What made you sure you could fight us we are easily 2 times your size". Orion laughs and ask Montar if he would like to spar with or without weapons? Montar says you are very confident for one of your kind lets do hand to hand first. Orion bows and says who do you want to say for us to begin one of yours or one of mine? Montar has one of his steps forward and the minotaur says begin, Montar charges and Orion uses his weight against him and flips Montar. Montar is stunned a minute. Looks at Orion and stands up. Montar says you could have attacked while I was down but you didn't. Orion says I am a righteous man not a barbarian. I recognize honor and give honor in return. Montar gets up and squares up again and punches this time to find himself on the ground again. Montar laughs and says "you beat me fairly and have shown no fear. I am impressed and you travel with quite a group, two cat folk, a half breed demon, and Three orcs if my nose is correct. It has reached even us that a great sword mage walks the land again. The shadows are searching for you and those that they deemed monsters are not controlled by them they mostly control men. Men are easily corrupted and easily possessed". "Oh", says Orion "that's more information than we had. Thank you. So, you say we are safer with the demi humans and the ones considered monsters"? Montar says "yes that's right you might find more allies with the harpies, the fairies, the Silkies, merfolk, centaurs, and Arachne. If you ride in singing the song of truth you will have an easier time of it. Believe this we are looking for the song of truth most of us are hoping you will help bring back the golden age of peace. So just remember the song is what we all are longing to hear. But please come to our village and dine with us and enjoy our hospitality, let us introduce you to our chief". So, they all go to the village and are brought to the chief as they walked into the town the sword mages all sang the song of truth together making the entire village come to life everyone came out and watched the procession. Children laughed and played and the town was filled with hope. The group was taken to the chief and in the chief's hut everyone was standing there looking o greet the new comers. Even the chief was standing there as the song came to an end all was silent. The chief stepped forward and said "I am chief Montan I welcome you to the minotaur village. Great Sword Mages in training and the legendary Orion whom we have herd so much about. We thank you for your mission to save us all. Come and dine with us and eat till you are full you have brought hope back to our lands and we all wish you the best". So, they sat at tables and dined. Orion says I am told that the humans are lost to the shadows, and that I and mine will be welcomed even by the Arachne"? Montan says yes you would get a warmer welcome but I will not say that you will get out alive but they will treat you better and he laughs. Orion asks "So who will we be able to truly trust"? Montan says "elves, dwarves, dragons, fairies, the harpies are a maybe, the centaurs, the merfolk, the were folk, the vampires, the lamia, and the kitsune that's all I can think of. All of the ones I mentioned will be open to you the demons well they like the way the shadows operate because the shadows feed the demons human souls". Orion says "so the shadows take the souls of those they pose and feed them to the demons". Montan says "Yes, the souls of man have been fed to demons and the one over there he was possessed by a shadow was he not he was lucky his soul was not eaten. I heard that when a demon eats a soul, they get stronger and as they get stronger, they bond with the shadows more" Orion says this makes sense because the soul of Gallo was not with his body. I had to sing it home and it took even his daughters tears to bring him back. Now I can understand what was really happening. All this is good to know can you tell me what would be our next stop as we are hoping to find the dragons"? Montan said "you will probably find a safe haven with the were folk to the north to be best. they have a human type of settlement". Orion says 'thank you" and they have a feast, the minotaurs bring in roast pig and stewed beans and greens. Orion sets up the cottage and the Sword mages all had a chance to sleep.
