Shadow War campaign In-Game: Chapter 73- At Death's Door

[Navarre]

The Shadow War

Chapter 73
At Death's Door

Bedlor and Liv, you both open your eyes to find yourself laying face up on a cold grey marble floor. Above you is a domed cathedral ceiling.

You see figures moving about the ceiling; painted images that act of their own accord as if alive. You see your bodies painted in this forest scene, viewed from above.

Chaser stands over your body, Bedlor, growling at dozens of Elves who wove toward you. Liv, you see Donovan's body lying near your own. Not far away are Moira and Erika.

As you sit up though you see Moira with you, though neither Donovan nor Erika. Moira is staring at the ceiling as well, then at the remainder of the chamber.

It is small and circular, as if you are within a column of some sort. The walls are fluted and made of ivory with no decoration.

You sense a presence behind you and, still sitting, turn your heads. A woman...or at least you think it is female...

The figure is so gaunt that you can see every rib. It wears only a loin cloth and soft folded boots save for a strap across the chest that may or may not hide female breasts that are withered to nothing.

Her hair is long, white, and as fine as cobwebs; flowing about her head. A tattered grey cloak and an old scimitar is her only adornment save for the staff in her hand.

She twirls the long staff idly as it lays across her lap for she is seated in a throne made of the same grey marble as the floor. The staff whispers to you, a leering face that spins in and out of view as it rotates in ancient hands.

Behind the woman are the only two visible exits from the chamber; two arched double doors made of metal. One door is the color of honey. The other door is pink and grey.

You have seen the woman before, somewhere. Moira seems to recognize her instantly as you hear a slight whisper from her own lips.

"Sashca"

Sashca, Goddess of Death and Communion, looks at the three of you.

"Children of the Prophesy named. Welcome to the entrance to my domain."

[Gaumer]

"Oi, 'nother god? We be meetin' the lot o' 'em now...eh..."

Bed puts his hands on his chest, suddenly remembering the events of the past few moments, searching for arrow ends and blood.

He then regards the god again.

"I can'ta be sayin' it be nice to be meetin' ye. Maybe if'n the way o' our meetin' be different. Though, sure'n there be no ways to be meetin' the god o' death on any terms but 'em that be seein' bad times."

Bed climbs to his feet and helps the others up

"Well, alright, god. I ain't been meetin' one o' yer kind 'fore, an' be trustin' when I tell ye I be meetin' me share o' gods, an' not 'ad to 'ear their wailin's 'bout means to ends an' such; to which whims would ye be 'avin' us bend to yer power, god?"

[Navarre]

Sashca laughs. It is rather unexpected from the God of Death but the sweet sound of it does indeed seem to confirm that the deity before you is not only female but sounds as though youthful as well.

"You are irreverent, aren't you, Bedlor? I like that."

"No reason to take anything too seriously, is there? At least, may as well find some humor in your own death, as worrying of it will go no farther toward preventing it."

"I want nothing of you, as it turns out. You came to me, not I to you."

"You were respectful toward my mortal servants, which is more than I can say for most. You made every effort to overcome ignorance and fear. That is admirable and as much as I would expect from the Protector of Man."

"Pandia is right about you. You are a game-changer."

"But, as it turns out, she is not here and I am. I might ask that you help me but only in as much as it helps you as well."

"Unlike my husband, I believe that it is the spirit of the offer that matters, not the terms of the bargain nor its ultimate gain. So, in that spirit, allow me to consider an offer from you."

[Gaumer]

Bed "listens" for Warsong's presence.

"Don'ta be thinkin' me words a show o' me feelin's for all. Ye say ye know o' what 'appened wit' yer elves, yet do nothin' to stop it. Sure'n our endin' up full o' arrow 'oles an' 'ere in front o' ye was nothin' short o' good guessin' on yer part, eh? Yet now ye offer...sure'n the word fits no matter yer means, a bargain to fit your own ends.

Sure'n ye not expectin' me to grovel? I not be unwise to the end o' the paths o' all, includin' yerself at some time, be it far off, god. Death be nothin' else than 'nother path to make in an unknown wood. Let me be askin', do ye meet all who die in the world face to face as ye do us now? I be 'avin' doubts, but either way, ye be 'ere now, an' sure'n in need o' aid. What'll be the world wit'out Bedlor Enghart? It not be for Bedlor Enghart to be sayin, by my measure.

So, from my seein' o' things, it be ye who be needin' me, or others 'ere wit' me. Aye, that be my seein' o' things.

So, I'll be askin' ye, god: What is it ye require from me? What wish can Bedlor Enghart grant to ye, god?"

[Navarre]

You try your best to sense the presence of Warsong but no longer feel the familiar voice in your mind. Sashca smiles patiently.

"Why so mistrusting, Bedlor? If you hold all us Einshar to be filled with nothing but petty ambition I could not fault you. But we are not all so blinded as Illumian and Maldomkin."

"I simply believes that, as they say, 'things happen'. There is no reason. No divine purpose, despite my divine nature. It is simple cause and effect. Choices made and the consequences thereof."

"So far be it from me to demand Illumian relinquish in his quest for power. Far be it from me to command my servants to either riddle you with arrows or to refrain from the same. These are their choices, as yours belong to you."

"Every moment begets near infinite possibilities. They merge and diverge in the time stream like, well, a Weaving."

"While my mind can accommodate the knowledge of such a thing, alas, a mortal mind such as Bronwyn's could not. She was never meant to be born with a mind that saw the endless paths but she was. Such is fate and the fate wrought by her own choices."

"My Elves tend to follow my precepts, to a point. Thus they have stayed rather far from the mortal conflict over the centuries, allowing it to run its course."

"But they still see things as 'mine' or 'theirs', thus their actions against you. The World Spirit would see us as more than that, I believe."

"Why does my Totem, instead of instantly slaying the wearer or their foe, instead allow one to sense the location and condition of any soul? Because I am the goddess of communion as well as death."

"In my mind it is not so different, for we are all ultimately leading to the same demise. Nothing is immortal nor eternal. Not even the multiverse."

"So, no, I will ask nothing from you unless there is something you wish to offer. Does that restraint in fact lead to the offering I may wish anyway? Yes and no, depending on in which universe you stand."

"Instead, I answer the question of my presence here. You are correct that I do not take the effort to appear before anyone who comes to Death's Door. As you see, Donovan Jett, Erika Dean, and St. Caelun are not here with you."

"But you are of the Prophesy named, Bedlor Enghart. I cannot say from where the Prophesy truly comes, only that it is. And, as you are named, I grant you a choice."

"Behind me are two doors. The one leads to eternal peace, for you have earned that."

"In so choosing, the Weaving will balance itself by its very nature and some new aspect will be moved into the world you knew. Who might it be? I cannot say. Perhaps someone very unlike yourself."

"Maybe it will be a wizard or some such, I know not. Why, you might even have a toad as your companion instead of hammers and wolves."

"Or - You may choose the alternate path. And, in that, I will return you to any universe you prefer where a 'Bedlor Enghart' belongs."

"It might be lying on the warm leaves of the forest floor you last remember. Or perhaps you step from a simple doorway in the house of Liv Eia in Union Point."

"These are your choices, not mine. I simply unlock the door of your choosing."

[Gaumer]

Bedlor leaves no pause of silence between the end god's words and the start of his own

"Send me back where I was. An' I want the cat back.

But sure'n it not be as easy as that. Is it the Prophecy 'lone that drives ye?"

[chrysalis]

"Donovan was part of the prophecy as well, so why is he not here? Where did he go, do you know?"

[Gaumer]

"Liv. We be dead, girl. Sure'n if'n Donnie not be 'ere 'e be livin' or we be mistaken on our readin' o' that riddle.

But sure'n, if'n 'e be dead, an' I be guessin' this god'll be able to speak to as much, ye can be choosin' to follow 'is path, that path we all be takin' sooner or later. I not be speakin' any ill toward ye should ye be choosin' that road, an' I'll see to it no others do the same wit'out a fist to their face to follow. Yer burdens in life be a mighty measure. Ye earned e'ery bit o' what waits fer ye.

I be 'eld to a 'igher standard wit' the title laid on me. An' I be seein' most save the god I be wantin' to be meetin'. No 'arm meant to ye death goddess.

I not be done wit' me life yet, Liv."

[chrysalis]

"Bedlor, no offense, but if I'm dead I want to spend my afterlife with the man I love. Not you and Moria. No offense, Moria."

[Navarre]

Sashca looks to you, Liv, with a tilt of her head.

"Whoever said Donovan Bryce Jett was one of the Prophesy named?"

"His soul has passed to the afterlife. The one thing upon which the Einshar can agree is that we require the souls of those worshipers who have passed from the mortal coil."

"To that end, we have created a temporary 'place', if you will, where those souls may reside until such time that the planes are reopened and one of us holds dominion over the universe. It is a peaceful place, a 'waiting room' if you will, with the promise of blessed eternity."

"Donovan is there. If you wish to join him I promise you safety and peace as you reunite. Once the Einshar War has been won, the victor-to-be has promised to care for all within the new domain."

"If you wish to join Donovan and all others who have died in this universe you need only choose the honey-colored doors behind me and your time will be done."

"If you instead wish to return to Ashearea, the pink and grey doors await you. Through them you may return to the body you knew or I have the power to insert your soul into an equal but different form of your choice."

"I await your decision."

Sashca looks to Moira.

"Moira Mary Raven Elizabeth Ballou Rashai, the same choice awaits you as well. You have served faithfully in life and, as one of the Prophesy named, deserve the choice I give you."

The Goddess of Death lastly turns back to you, Bedlor.

"The Prophesy does not dictate my actions nor my intent. It only provides you this single opportunity to choose between Life returned or Death eternal."

"St. Caelun is not within my purview. Pandia and I have exchanged many words over her servants, most especially you."

"It took some time to even convince her you deserved a choice of fates. But we both agree that you are perhaps the most significant of all the World Spirit's manifestations. Not a more significant soul, no, but a walker of a path that determines the path of many others."

"St. Caelun will no doubt be returned to you by Pandia if you choose to return to Ashearea. There I can guarantee you nothing but the life you choose to live."

"Is that still your decision then?"

[Gaumer]

"Long as ye be pluggin' up the arrow 'oles.

An' one more thing.

What's to be stoppin' yer elves from makin' a whole new set o' 'oles wit' their arrows, in yer name I remind ye? I'll be needin' somethin' from ye makin' damn sure'n 'em elves be on my side when I be sittin' up in the grass an' speakin' when me last breaths be watched as I take 'em."

[Navarre]

Moira looks directly at Sashca with no hesitation.

"So long as I can help others I will never take the easy road. My life has merit and purpose because I give it that and my faith in a better world sustains me."

"If I still have a say as to when my time is done, then my time is not done. Send me back."

Sashca nods and then glances, somewhat arrogantly, back to you, Bedlor. She smiles.

"You ask for Life. It has no guarantees."

"Good luck, Bedlor Enghart."

That, Bedlor, is the last you recall of Sashca and Death's Door.

{I return you now to Chapter 72.  }

[chrysalis]

"Sashca, I do not wish to go to a holding place even if Donovan is there. If you think we are the key to restoring the world as it should be then I need to go back. I will have my time with Donovan some day."

"I am curious though. I want to return this world as it should be. Do the other Gods feel as you do? That we are the prophecy that can fix things?"

[Navarre]

Sashca nods.

"You are of the Prophesy, Liv Eia. There is no doubt."

"You and the others named will be the ones to determine the fate of this universe and, likely, many more besides. The other Einshar know this as well, though you will find most not so agreeable to the idea."

"That you are of the Prophesy likely makes you the friend of those such as Ximon and Pandia. It declares me at least respectful to your place in the scheme of Death. But there are others, such as Damrogann and Maldomkin and Illumian, who see you as their greatest threat."

"For all their power, they fear you, for you are the ones who may be their undoing. I have played my part in both their Ascension and now the continuation of the Prophesy."

"I now return you to the living, Liv. Make the most of every moment in Life, for the wisdom gained is the peace enjoyed after Death takes you."

{You remember nothing else. You too can resume with Chapter 72.  }