Shadow War campaign In-Game: Chapter 74- Where It All Began

[Strifeter]

Tren thinks quickly.

"You and two men should be enough. But Enghart I do not have a way to communicate if there is trouble. It is a shame the coins no longer work."

[Navarre]

Nephros regards you.

"If Liv is going with you, why does she not use Soul Touch on this Bedlor should you find yourselves in peril?"

[Navarre]

Aerik nods to you, Tren.

"Then I will bring my two best while the other nine stay with your hobgoblin snipers on the eastern trail."

Moira looks around.

"Then if only I had a disguise I could go into the city with you. But, if not, I think it best I stay out of sight with Bedlor's party."

[Strifeter]

Tren nods to Aerik.

"Moira, leave your disguise to me. I think I as well will use one. But of a more magical nature. I will do it before we are ready to leave. For now I need to confer with Kofi and Aerik the best strategy to watch the road. I will be back soon."

Tren looks to Aerik and Kofi as well as Serena and then wishes for a war room.

[Navarre]

The outer wall of the castle suddenly forms a new door. It stands open, a war room visible within.

The walls are lined with map of both the world, general region, and current locale. Even a map of West Wellington itself can be seen on the wall.

Serena smiles at you. "Nice."

You, Serena, Aerik, and Kofi enter the room, which promptly closes behind you.

Moira ponders outside, "I wonder what sort of disguise would look best on me? I've never done this sort of thing before."

Vinnrog smiles helpfully.

"Girls with flat noses and tiny lower tusks are sexy, uh-huh."

Moira smiles back politely then looks to the rest of you for ideas.

[Navarre]

Rachel lets go of your arm, T'Ning. She walks away from you a short ways to stand by herself, looking not toward the city now but quietly off into the clouds.

[Lutharian]

T'Ning looks curiously at Rachel and walks over next to her.

"Is everything ok?"

[Navarre]

Rachel nods, but the tension in her lithe form betrays her.

"Aye."

"No..."

"Och, I dinna know."

"I be t'inkin' o' wot be settin' to do. Seems evr'one want to be changin' t'e world back to wot t'ey once knew. Even our enemy, Lyric Blackt'ere, 'olds 'igh 'opes fir such."

"T'at world you and I only remember because o' t'at strange crystal Ximon sent to yuir Master Ng-Lau. T'is a world we see in our dreams yet nev'r knew fir real."

"But t'ey want to make it real. Make it t'e only reality, or at least ours. And sure'n ye loved me t'ere so much. I feel it ev'ry time I close me eyes to drift to sleep."

"So...why do I be so uncertain? I... T'is 'ard to say."

"No. I know wot it be."

"I died in t'at ot'er world, T'Ning. So did ye."

"Sure'n I be glad I fell to me death on t'ose rocks fir, sure as I be breat'in' now, I couldna 'ave lived 'ad I seen ye get butchered by yuir own fat'er."

"Is t'at wot we go back to? Wot if...Wot if while all our new friends go on to glory and peace and love, you and I just...vanish?"

She looks up at you, tears forming in her soft green eyes.

[Lutharian]

T'Ning smiles softly, lovingly at Rachel, gently cups her cheek in his hand, and nods.

"Aye, your words speak truth.  Ackshully, this is the first time it's truly dawned on me.  What shall happen to us?  I know that no matter where I go, as long as I'm with you I'd be happy..."

He trails off momentairly, eyes glistening over as he remembers those memories from that crystal..his death at the hands of his father, and Rachel's upon the rocks.  Sadness washes over him for a moment, as a tear trails down his cheek.

"Perhaps the future that will come of all this...maybe it will be one where what we saw in the crystal isn't true.  That's what I'll hope for.  I don't want to be gone...to vanish..."  He trails off again.

[Navarre]

Rachel bites her lower lip, as she does when she thinks very hard. She glances up at you.

"Ye 'ave to be askin' yuirself who be 'avin' t'e right to be decidin' wot sort o' universe we all be livin' in. T'is it to be t'e Primordial? Do we really be puttin' all our souls and lives in t'e 'ands of powers wot couldna keep t'e world safe ev'n from t'eir own children?"

"Sounds to me like t'is exactly wot Bedlor plans to do. 'E believes in t'is 'World Spirit' and t'at it all magically works out some'ow. But it be magic wot got us all in t'is fix."

"I be listenin' to Coby and 'is lot talkin' aboot t'e Faerie Kingdom. Sounds to me like anyone could make all reality any way t'ey see it if t'ey 'ad t'e power to do it."

"A Nexus be t'at power, eh wot? Maybe t'e Trust itself, seein' as it be t'e sacred totems of t'is universe's creators."

"I dinna know wot 'appened to Faerun and sure'n t'at be a danger to us. But t'e Trust be, I 'opin', fallin' in me 'ands and yuirs maybe t'is very day."

"I dinna...I dinna know wot I be suggestin'. Maybe naught. ... But, still, I canna lose ye, T'Ning."

[Strifeter]

Tren takes a seat and waits for everyone to do the same.

[Navarre]

Serena, Kofi, and Aerik sit. Each looks at you, waiting.

"You have secret plan?" asks Kofi.

[Gaumer]

"Are we ready to be takin' to the air? Sure'n we not be needin' more talkin'..."

[Navarre]

Aphra nods.

"Vinn, Inoke, and me have our flight rings. Looks like you've got yourself a pegasus."

"Let's do it."

With two quick steps, the Hound launches herself over the side of the cloud. She soars easily over the city before banking west, her eyes scanning the land below.

[Gaumer]

Bedlor jumps on Valiant, works his way into a settled position

"Mount up!!

Oi, I always wantin' to be sayin' that."

And urges Valiant forward

"To the sky, Valiant!!

But be takin' it a bit easy, eh, mate, it be me first time, hohoho."