Shadow War campaign In-Game: Chapter 73- Crisis on Infinite Asheareas

[chrysalis]

"You think you know me, do you? You think I won't lay a finger on you, don't you? Wait until I get my hands on you, you little brat."

(How far am I from Lyric?)

[Navarre]

You are about thirty feet away from Lyric. She looks at you with rising hatred.

"All you do is bully me! You say you want to help me and then you threaten to hurt me in the next breath!"

"You know why your people are dead, Liv? Because you're not a good leader. You're just a stupid farm girl with a sword!"

[Navarre]

Lyric turns slowly in place, assessing her options.

"It doesn't matter now. Milord knows all that needs to be known."

"This universe is all wrong. You can see that. But I'm going to make it right."

"No more Moonshadows. No Ravager. No warring Einshar. No Primordial."

"No more gods and would-be gods telling us what to do. From now on it will all be about our choices."

"You should be thanking me. The Prophesy was only partly right. 'Betray' should have read 'save all'."

"I..."

Her words are cut short as she suddenly vanishes into thin air. The effect seems to have come a bit unexpectedly to her, catching her in mid-sentence.

The Elves, far enough away that they could only see the girl's shape but no details, can only look about in confusion from their side of Cold Creek.

St. Caelun growls as Chaser returns to the clearing. She looks defeated, with no sign of her prey in her jaws.

[Gaumer]

"An' 'way she goes...'gain. This one be as slippery as a spring toad."

Bedlor shrugs

"Oi, she was just startin' to be talkin' wit' a bit o' sense.

Still, if'n she be set 'gainst the gods are we sure'n that's who she be speakin' to?"

[chrysalis]

"I don't know, Bedlor. I thought she was talking to Maldomkin. Maybe she was talking to this worlds Hyde?"

[Gaumer]

"Either way, we be knee deep in trouble, as always, an' nothin' to be showin' fer it save a walk in the woods an' a plan set by 'em we not be trustin' any more than the one who just be slippin' out o' our 'ands.

Least'n we be knowin' more o' enemies that be aimed on us.

Sure'n there be some who be likin' us in this twisted world. I almost be agreein' wit' the lil' brat on settin' things back where they be. "

[chrysalis]

"Bedlor, whoever this was, they knew we would be coming here. We need to get back to our world."

[Gaumer]

"Aye, I be agreein' wit' ye, whoe'er this be be knowin' that an' that be more than we be knowin'.

I not be set full on gettin' us back to the 'ome o' our own. Come on, mate; ye not e'en be givin' this world the time to be growin' on ye, hohoho.

Sure'n the maniacs out to get us 'ere be just as interestin' as 'em seekin' to kill us in our own world. I not be sure'n we be givin' the maniacs o' this world a fair shake in it all, eh. Hohoho."

[Navarre]

Rachel steps out of the woods into view as she approaches. But, once in the clear, you see her head immediately snap up toward the sky.

"Speakin' o' maniacs...Wot t'e nine 'ells be t'at?!??"

Following her extended arm and pointing finger, you look into the sky to the southeast. Nearly a quarter-mile above you, among the canopy of wispy clouds, one cloud move against the others.

As large as Forest Falls, a voluminous golden yellow and azure blue cloud crosses against the wind as it flies on its own accord. Glinting in the bright summer sun, you see an expansive castle perched atop the cloud as if it was built on the most solid of ground.

The castle has spires that rise toward the heavens. The walls extend in eight different directions like a compass, making a somewhat squarish star-shaped pattern on the cloud's upper surface.

The tops of the spires are shaped into bulbous peaks and the entire castle looks to be made of brass. It shines brightly in the sun, casting amber rays across the sky.

To your west, the Elven archers draw bows but seem uncertain on making any other action. They glance at each other, their expressions hidden beneath their camouflaging cloaks.

[Gaumer]

"Oi.

Ye be knowin' what? I be changin' me mind. The villains in this world be travelin' fine. Much more class than 'em in our world.

Ye can be givin' me a ride up there, Liv, if'n ye be able."

[Navarre]

Rachel readies her sling as she shakes her head.

"Och! T'ey be comin' out o' t'e woodwork aboot 'ere! ... Fallin' from t'e sky too!"

Even as she speaks her last statement, you see a lone figure drop over the edge of the cloud. Dark and thin, like a dagger from space, it falls toward the ground in a suicidal dive.

Suddenly, with little more than a twitch seen from your vantage point, the black figure swoops northward toward you from its free fall. It rockets across the sky without any sign of wings or propulsion, making a line straight over your position.

It gains a bit of altitude, as a soaring eagle might before making a dive-bomb attack on helpless prey. Then, directly over you, it launches itself toward the ground at great speed.

St. Caelun crouches, ready to attack, as the Elves think of firing their bows. But, as this all occurs east of Cold Creek, they only hold position as the dark form hurtles down toward the very spot where you last saw the assassin.

At the last moment it rights itself, spinning along its vertical axis to land feet first in the clearing...

Tren Moonstride touches lightly and effortlessly to the ground, his shadowy cloak drifting out behind him like the cape of some super-powered hero of illustrated lore.

[Strifeter]

Tren shakes off the death leap he performed and whirls towards the elves with one finger pointed upwards.

"If so much as one arrow is shot towards my comrades you will never see your fingers again."

[chrysalis]

"Guess you don't need that life up now, hey Bedlor?"

[Navarre]

The Elves stare incredulously at you, Tren, showing no recognition of you specifically but certainly surprised to find you arriving on the cloud. Uncertain, they slowly release the tension on their bowstrings.

They are too far away to make out clear details of anyone's identity. Curious, they approach as far as their side of the creek.

This places them now close enough to examine details of your features. But they of course look to each other, shaking their heads, as they do not know you. They stand at the ready on the western side of a large creek, listening to whatever they can hear of any conversation.

[chrysalis]

"Bedlor, tell your buddies to put their arrows away."

"Tren, how... I mean what they... is it really you?"