Shadow War campaign In-Game: Chapter 72- Gallia Forest

[Gaumer]

"Aye, I be meetin' ole Aracil 'fore. It be a great 'onor for me to be doin' so.

Yer words can'ta 'elp but be worryin' to me. Thinkin' ye an' the ones ye be speakin' o' be the only ones able to be feelin' this...traveler, as it be, be unwise. Attacks made upon us at our arrival be tellin' o' such. An' who else be movin' 'bout like that save a damn nexus, or worse?

Ye already be showin' yerself to be a great ally, mate. Tell me, 'ave ye told others o' yer knowin's? Did ye bring that other group to us followin' this feelin' ye get?"

[Navarre]

The great tiger rumbles and replies with a nod of its head.

"I did. I believed Anani to be of the Prophesy when she told it to me upon meeting her."

"Therein, I may have made a grave error in judgement."

[Gaumer]

"None be perfect, mate. Ye couldn'ta known. Yer tellin's now be makin' up for any wrong ye feel.

So tell me, did ye bring the other group to us wit' thoughts o' chasin' this traveler thinkin' our comin' be the same? That be a wise thing to be doin', tiger. Keep sharp should ye feel such 'gain.

What be yer thoughts on this traveler movin' as 'e does while others magics not be doin' the same? Does Pandia whisper in yer ear on that, Saint?"

[Navarre]

St. Caelun ponders aloud.

"Would you know a secret, one even Her Radiance would not divulge to you were she here?"

"The planes and all travel between is sealed, as you know... But the power of whatever prevents it even affects the gods."

"Even the Einshar cannot use the planer pathways. By thinking on this, I come to the conclusion that they are thus trapped on whatever plane they were on when the planes were sealed."

"Pandia does not walk Ashearea, only those servants to whom she touches. Neither do any of the gods I know, save perhaps Ximon. He is said to have preferred the company of mortals so much that he was likely on this world when it was isolated."

"But that still begs the question of what could be so powerful as to seal the planes from the gods. And, as you say, I cannot imagine how anyone, especially a mortal, could traverse the planes based on what I have said."

"I ... Oh. Lunch!"

The tiger suddenly crouches and slinks into the shadows of the trees. Following his gaze, you see a plump doe grazing ahead.

She has not seen any of you and the tiger's quick glance behind him suggests you'd best not interfere with his hunt. But, as it has now passed the hour of noon, you find your own stomach demanding sustenance as well.

[Gaumer]

"Hohoho, a wise beast but beast all the same, eh, mates?

Anyone else be thinkin' what I be thinkin'? Power o'er the gods an' the planes; bouncin' all 'bout creation like I bounce to taverns on a good night. I be smellin' a nexus. By my seein' things be goin' on 'ere same as they be in our world, aimed at the same ends, walkin' different paths.

I not be willin' to be losin' gains o' knowledge. We should be 'avin' the cat tell us o' these feelin's 'e be 'avin' an' puttin' a fight to whate'er this thing be. Sure'n the places Saint be speakin' o' this traveler goin' an' the goin's on when we be gettin' 'ere be leadin' to thinkin's that this traveler be an enemy.

What do ye all make o' such?"

{Bed does tell everyone what Saint said. Just making sure }

[Gaumer]

"If'n Saint's words be true, than he tells o' one travelin' from the lands o' giants an' meetin' us when we arrived...giants in tow."

[Navarre]

Moira nods.

"It would seem."

"It sounds as if someone else - someone who can teleport when even the gods cannot - arrived months before us and set the stage to attack us before we even arrived."

"But who could do that? How would they know where we would appear? And what did they hope to achieve?"

[Navarre]

You continue to walk as St. Caelun hunts.

It is past noon now and the heat is stiffing. It is even worse among the trees where, despite the shade, little fresh air is to be found.

Your journey otherwise continues.

[Gaumer]

Bedlor takes in all that World Spirit has given

"Oi, I be wonderin' why it be so damned 'ot. Sure'n the lack o' a moon not be 'avin' such a way wit' the 'eat."

[Navarre]

Rachel looks at you.

"Ye mean t'e green moon, t'e one from me dreams? I dinna know 'ow t'e moon might 'ave anyt'ing to do wit' it all."

"But sure'n it be gettin' 'otter and 'otter t'ese past few years. I 'avena seen snow ev'n in t'e mountains fir ages."

"Some say it be Illumian, scorchin' 'is enemies wit' 'is 'oly light. I be sayin' if it so 'e be roastin' friend as well as foe."

"Ot'ers say it be t'e death o' t'e whole world. T'is t'e price we pay fir t'e gods cursin' again' t'e gods o' sun and sky fir so long."

[Gaumer]

"In our world the seas not be as 'igh. When the black moon come to be o'er'ead the waters raised more. I be outside 'nough in me life to see the patterns o' the clouds wit' seasons, an' sure'n that balance be workin' both ways, such be things wit' the World Spirit. There be less clouds in the summer; clouds be made o' water; less seas be meanin' less water an' less clouds, so more summer. By my seein' any'ow."

{Bill Nye, he is not.}

"Sure'n it be 'otter tho."

Bed covers his eyes and looks toward the sun, to see if its any different from the ones he remembers.

[Navarre]

You stare upward, trying to examine the sun. It looks more white than the yellow sun you recall. It also looks larger as well.

For some reason you cannot explain, the sun feels more like a great glowing void in the universe. Something about it makes you ache slightly.

You hear a snap of a branch and see St. Caelun walking toward you. An entire deer is clenched in his mouth, its head and hooves dragging the ground.

He drops it on the ground at your feet with what seems to be a look of pride on his face. He walks around it one time and opens his mouth to speak to you.

You hear various feline sounds, mostly purring and a few meows.

[Gaumer]

"Oi, Saint, ye be a mighty 'unter, aye."

Bedlor pets the cat on the head

"I can only be usin' words wit' ye from time to time, mate, but not all the time. Sure'n ye feel me meanin's wit' such senses as those blessed to ye by the World Spirit.

What o' the sun, mates? Do stories be told 'ere o' anything that can be explainin' its difference in this world?"

[Navarre]

Rachel shakes her head.

"I dinna know. I nev'r t'ought aboot it."

"Me dreams aire sparse and sure'n I dinna be doin' t'e sun stare too much. Redheads burst into flame in direct sunlight, ye know," she grins.

St. Caelun looks at you. He seems more than willing to share his catch with you for lunch.

[Gaumer]

"Aye, mate, a fine idea.

We should stop an' rest for a bit."