Envoy stands in the Room of Mirrors, countless other Envoys reflected in every reflective surface, multiplied and stretching on into infinity. She is presently seated on a mirrored chair, and end table next to her holding four hand mirrors. The four hand mirrors stand out compared to the rest of the room, for they represent the only items (other than Envoy herself) not completely reflective. Each of the hand mirrors consists of a perfectly polished silver-backed mirror set in a handle, frame and backing of amber. The mirrors lie on the end-table, facing the ceiling, one set next to the other: one to the left, one to the right, one in the middle, one slightly askew from the rest.

"This is different," the Exile says, looking around, and finally focussing on the four hand-mirrors. Ever the one for order, she reaches out to straighten the off-angle one.

As the Exile reaches for the off-angle one, she catches a glimpse of a reflection of something other than yet another one of the countless Envoys seen elsewhere in the room. This figure looks dark and big.

Envoy ponders, "If everything here is a mirror, then it follows that the mirrors wouldn't be I suppose." She leans over the end table to see what each mirror shows.

In one mirror, Envoy sees a child-like version of herself looking back. In the next, Envoy sees a gaunt version of herself with wide eyes and a hungry, obsessive expression. In the third, there is a solemn-looking dragon. And in the askew one, there is a dark, strong-looking, chimerical being who seems an amalgam of various persons Envoy has known in the past.

Envoy's form seems to have changed, as she looks into the mirrors – the one reflecting the dragon's image being the last one.

Envoy touches her now longer muzzle. "Interesting." Her voice is slightly deeper, to match her draconian aspect. "I must be dreaming again, which would imply that Morpheus is near at hand."

The image in the mirror is still the same draconian form that Envoy now seems to be. The other mirrors appear to still reflect the same images as before.

The white and gold dragon looks away from the mirrors on the table, to see if her aspect returns to normal.

No, she appears to still be the logical and rational dragon that she is.

And, furthermore, all the other reflections in the mirrored walls, floor, ceiling, et cetera, all show the Dragon.

All, that is, except for the picture over the fireplace. It shows a foppish-looking fox.

Envoy arches an eye-ridge at the familiar face. "Victor, surely you don't expect to find treasure in this box." She reaches out with a claw to touch the picture.

The foppish fox doesn't move a bit, just frozen there as if he were a painting … or more accurately, as if he were pretending to be, since he's apparently breathing. Or, that is, his reflection is. Suddenly, he blinks. "Oops! The jig is up!" he says in his slightly whiny vulpine voice from somewhere on the other side of the mirror. "Hello there! Sorry that your friend couldn't make it, but he sent me instead! I may not be such a great dancer, but I'm a much better singer! In fact, I have a song for you, if you'd care to hear it!"

Envoy's ears droop. "Morpheus sent you? Things must be more desperate than he let on before." She taps her claw against the picture frame, and says, "All right, since I know you'll sing it no matter what I say."

The foppish fox gives the dragoness a hurt look … but he gets over it soon enough.

The foppish fox smiles, strumming his lute, and then he starts singing…

"Mighty do you swing your sword,"

"For causes bold and grand,"

"You are only as good as your word,"

"Not by the strength of your hand."

"Rescue the damsel in distress,"

"It's a noble cause, it's true,"

"But now that you've gotten in this mess,"

"My friend, who will rescue you?"

With the last words of the song finished, the fox hops up from his reflected seat, bowing with a flourish of his floppy, feathered hat. "You've been a splendid audience! Simply wonderful!" And with a swish of his fluffy tail … he's gone! In his place is another reflection of the Dragon, staring back.

Envoy hmms. "Far too structured to be Reynard's own creation, so it is probably a message." She rubs her chin with her tail as she thinks. "Someone is in trouble; a botched rescue attempt perhaps." The Dragon looks around the room for any distortions that might indicate a door.

Yes, as a matter of fact, there is set in one wall a shape that resembles a door. It, too, is made of mirrored surfaces, right down to the doorknob, hinges and frame.

The small dragon tries to open the mirror-door, after feeling around for the knob.

The knob twists, and the door pulls open. But as the door pulls out, instead of revealing a doorway, the mirrored frame and wall seems to stretch, pulling with the door. The whole room seems to be pulling and stretching now of its own accord, twisting and turning in on itself, the reflections writhing and dancing … until … the dragon's surroundings change…

Envoy hmms, and first examines… the floor. She checks for dust and footprints.

As Envoy the Dragon looks at the floor, she sees four amber and glass mirrors lying there … and she hears a sound off to the south, like something crawling through broken stones. She happens to catch a glimpse of the mirror reflecting the image of herself as a child-like ki'rin…

The Exile squeals as the perspective changes on her. Or rather, she changes and the perspective stays the same, her body having shrunk to that of a child. She quickly hides behind the altar, away from the noises.

So far, it's quiet. The noises have stopped. Nothing moves.

Envoy ventures to peek over the top of the altar, only to see the stain. "Ewwwwwww… ," she whimpers, and eventually stands up when no slimy monsters slither through the ruined passage. "Ooo, dolls!" She goes over to the figurines and admires them, even daring to reach out and poke one with a finger.

A figurine of a scantily-clad Eeee (but, granted, what costuming she is wearing looks rather fancy and pretty) wobbles on its base at little Envoy's touch. It's obviously not affixed into place.

"Is someone there?" calls out a voice from the rubble pile. "Are you lost, too?"

Turning around quickly, and trying not to look guilty, Envoy stares at the rubble. "No!" she blurts out. "I mean, yes! Maybe. Are you a monster?"

"Who is there?" cries out a voice, more distant. "Show yourself!"

Envoy grabs up the pretty doll, and runs back to her hiding place behind the altar, hugging the figurine out of fear.

A voice calls out, louder, "I … I request you identify yourself! It is, only proper to identify oneself!"

The little Aeolun chews on her lower lip, then slowly raises up the statue until it's face is peeking over the altar. "It's just me," she says, trying to mimic a grown-up Eeee lady.

"Who are you?" comes back the other voice. "Do you know where we are?"

"I would appreciate some help," continues the voice, "and … I would like to know why there would be such sounds of chitin chains moving if there is only you… "

Envoy peeks up over the altar again. "Okay, I'm Envoy. An Exxxx… plorer! Yeah! Who are you, Mister Monster?"

There's the sound of clinking chitin chains somewhere in the distance, probably beyond the jumble of broken rocks.

There's a sigh, and then, "I am Lady Elise de Bellefeuille, cadet of the Rephidim Officers' Academy. I … seem to have had some sort of accident and came here somehow. Also, I do know you, Mage Envoy, but you sound different today. Regardless, can you help me?"

Envoy blinks, and scampers out from behind the altar. "You must be the hero Reynard was singin' about!" Looking over the rubble, she asks, "Did the ceiling fall on you?" She tests the stability of the pile by tapping on it with the Eeee figurine.

There's a muffled voice from beyond the rock pile, but Envoy can't make out the words. The pile appears to be fairly stable right here. In fact, it looks like little Envoy could squeeze through to the other side if she wanted to. The Dragon, however, would be too big.

Envoy sets down the figurine, and tries to crawl through what's left of the passageway.

As Envoy crawls through, she hears, "Hero? No, I am not a hero. I am just lost. That fox, Reynard was his name? I have seen him before. And no, no ceiling fell upon me. Although Envoy, or at least someone who identifies herself as Envoy, seems trapped in another room with Babelite statues."

Envoy can now see that she is in a new location…

Toward the east, Envoy can dimly see the outline of a poodle girl in Temple garb. She's facing the other way.

Suddenly, Envoy spots a bit of movement in the dark chamber beyond Elise…

Envoy peeks around the corner into the other chamber, trying to see who Elise is talking to.

For a moment, Envoy sees what looks like a tall and gaunt bat … with bony, sharp claws. It rakes Elise across the face!

"Gah!" cries the poodle as she staggers backward in shock, reaching for her cheek with her left hand as her right moves to unsheathe her sword. "You! Whatever you are, how dare you strike me from the dark! Show yourself!"