Shadow War campaign In-Game: Chapter 76- Shadows in the Sun

[Gaumer]

"Oi, now we be set to seek out yet 'nother need while keepin' the Trust safe? I not be thinkin' it wise.

We be settin' things into motion, an' that motion not be slowed soon, e'en if'n our enemies be 'oldin' the nexus. If'n they be needin' both the Trust an' the nexus we be 'oldin' at least 'alf o' the needin's, an' maybe the all o' it. We not be knowin' for sure'n if Faerun be safe or in the clutches o' an enemy. The motions we 'ave set be puttin' an army made up o' those that we aligned wit' 'gainst those who already be aligned 'gainst us.

All we be needin' is time to let those forces be joined. But if'n we stay out o' the shadows we be makin' the odds o' our failure at joinin' those forces less.

If'n we move to the forest I be findin' while runnin'...er, flyin' from the enemy in the West City we can be safe. That forest fought off the all o' our combined enemies an' won wit' ease. Not only do we find safety there but we can be addin' to that force we aim to gather.

It be seemin' like a win - win for our cause. We need safety, protection, time, an' more soldiers for our army. By my seein' we find all o' that in the wood o' the great bear o' Pandia. I not see any other move that puts us at an advantage o'er our enemy. Once our army is formed an' gathered we can be keepin' the Trust safe through our powerful numbers an' makin' ends to attack our enemy on our own terms."

[Navarre]

Moira nods.

"I agree. We need powerful allies and none are more powerful than the Primordial."

"It may well be that Celestryn and Aurora can at least be freed with the Trust if we were in their presence. Then we have all the power and Maldomkin's forces only hold a key to other doors."

"But we are now without our cloud castle or sustainable flight. How would we cross all of Gallia Forest back to Forest Falls without being discovered?"

[Gaumer]

"We run. We run fast an' stay to the shadows an' rough path as much as we can be. Sure'n the lot o' us can be figurin' a quicker way once we get on the the way."

[Strifeter]

Tren shakes his head.

"I can take a small group of us there via teleportation but I can't take a castle. My shards power is not infinite to my knowledge. I knew the whole thing could control an entire planes dreams but it ran on souls. Which in this case seem to be missing from everywhere running in something this big won't work. Just coming here we were attacked three times.

I don't like putting all of our bets in one place. I do not doubt the power of the primordial but I don't think our enemies will be so easily beaten. I told you I could find the group and get Faerun back. Even if I had to take him by force. Do not forget I took his soul once already."

Tren pulls out the mirror that he was given that fateful day the world changed forever.

"I can find them."

[Navarre]

Moira shakes her head.

"But we've been divided for so long. Of course I want to find Faerun but we need you with us. If you get captured as well, we are all the worse for it."

[Gaumer]

"It be two needed, but our thinkin', though, mate, eh? Both the Trust an' a nexus be needed. We 'ave one for sure'n; the other was left wit' a group we trusted an' o' 'is own choosin'. That be in our favor by my seein'.

If'n the gnome be captured, where be 'e? Wit' what guards? Sure'n if'n our enemy be puttin' as much stock in the gnome as we be doin' they 'ave 'im in a box buried deep in the earth an' protected by a thousand armed soldier an' archers. Wit' our enemy's resources, it could be just that. But both be needed.

An' we be 'avin' the one, an' we 'ave no army o' a thousand soldiers; we 'ave US. Protectin' what we 'ave while our army gathers is our wisest path. I need ye 'ere guardin' this."

Bedlor pulls out the box from his vest.

"I not e'en be openin' the thing, tellin' true. For all my knowin' we could 'ave a box full o' ragweed."

[Strifeter]

Tren frowns slightly but nods.

"You speak truth although I do not like a powerful entity like Faerun in the hands of our enemy."

[Gaumer]

"I not be likin' the thought o' it either, mate. But we not be knowin' 'e be in that deep for sure'n, an' what if'n 'e be? I be thinkin' it best to be puttin' faith that our friend be keepin' to the path that be best for all.

If'n we can't be findin' a way into Forest Falls wit'out the eyes o' our enemy fallin' on us, followed soon by their blades an' arrows, I say we make our way to the forest I be findin'. There may be a way to meet our ends to be found in the wisdom o' the beasts that be livin' there."

[Navarre]

Though with many reservations in some of your hearts, you all return to the clearing of which Bedlor spoke. There you find the forest's creatures, both animal and sentient plant, gathered.

The bodies of Luminators and Angels litter the ground like so much detritus. The animals mill about the corpses, many waiting only for a word from Aracil Starborn before feeding themselves as nature requires.

The mighty Aracil regards you as you approach. Looking about the dire bear, you do not see either Pontiff Rashai or Lord Commander Enghart.

Aracil greets you.

"Welcome back, Entrusted One. I see you have brought friends," she says, in an animal voice that only Bedlor understands.

[Gaumer]

The dwarf pats the bear on the head

"I thank ye, 'gain, my friend, but ask for more from ye. We seek the safety o' these woods for time. We need to be 'eadin' to Forest Falls but only after we can protect what we carry."

Bed looks to the bodies of the fallen and gives them a search

[Navarre]

You find several useful and powerful items among your fallen foes.

From Dark Tomorrow:

Scroll of Break Enchantment
Scroll of Rary's Telepathic Bond
Scroll of True Seeing
Scroll of Chain Lightning
Scroll of Stone to Flesh
Scroll of Drawmij's Instant Summons
Scroll of Delayed Blast Fireball
Scroll of Charm Monster, Mass

All scrolls are at 18th caster level.

From the Luminators:

Seven Breastplates, +5 with the following abilities: Max Dex bonus +8, Armor Check Penalty -2, Arcane Spell Failure 10%, Considered as light armor, weight 20 pounds, casts Light at will, can Fly at will, caster level 15

Seven keen Sunblades: bastard sword damage, short sword weight, +2 hit/damage, , +4 vs non-lawful, double damage and x3 Crit vs negative energy creatures/undead, casts Light once per day in 60 foot radius for 10 rounds, Crits on 17-20

From the Angels of Death:

Scroll of Circle of Death
Scroll of Slay Living
Scroll of Destruction

All scrolls are at 20th level.

You also find a total of 3000 Crowns of platinum.

[Navarre]

You also examine the Trust itself. The very touch of the wooden box causes you to tingle from flesh to core. You find the Trust calls to you gently, as if waiting to be found and opened.

As you release the catch on the box you open it to a soft mix of golden and silver light. Within a lining of a purple so deep it is almost black, you see the fabled rings of Celestryn and Aurora.

Only the lining seems unnatural. You recall that it was formed by Ximon from the aperture over the original Forest Falls. It was that aperture through which the Primordial came to the unreality they would shape into Ashearea but also contained the very essence of the Moonshadows.

The energy from the rings emit a low-pitched whine that all can hear. Aracil frowns at the sound.

"The rings call for their true masters. But those of the divine, such as the Einshar, can hear it as well. Our time is short; quickly, close it."

[Gaumer]

Bedlpor closes the box quickly

"Are we in danger, Aracil? Can we be tracked by these things?"

[Navarre]

Aracil replies.

"In danger...Yes. You have made yourself the target for all who would see the Primordial never reclaim their rightful place."

"Tracked? Not so long as the Trust remains closed, no."

"The very purpose of the Trust was to prevent anyone, even the gods, from being able to sense the location of what lies inside of it. The lining is made from a rift between universes."

"It cannot be defined or located, even by divine senses. It is an anomaly, as the Nexuses are."

"But that it has been opened here has let loose a pulse that the Einshar will sense. It will only be a matter of moments before..."

As the great dire bear of Pandia is warning you, some shadow moves across your face. You look up, thinking it to be perhaps a waving branch of a nearby tree or a passing bird in flight.

But the shadow is now coming from something obscuring the sun. It comes from a darkness within the sun itself!

Aracil stares upward, her large brown eyes growing even wider.

"It takes unimaginable power to breach the planar barriers. Even the Einshar remain in their chosen planes, ruling from the shadows."

"But those shadows are breached and betray their presence now. The First Children use the seething power of the sun itself to penetrate the planar walls as they sense that for which this world has been at war for 1500 years."

"The shadows in the sun are the Einshar; come to claim the Trust!!"

{End of Chapter 76}

{Level Up!}