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

[Strifeter]

Tren turns back to where he last saw Coby.

"Alright I'll talk to him."

[Gaumer]

Bedlor grabs the beautiful women in his arms and sweeps her up, planting a fiercely passionate kiss upon the Moira's sweet lips.

[Navarre]

Moira, sitting on the bed, tries to allow herself to be swept into your arms. But you stand only a bit taller than she is sitting and she ends up in sliding from the bed onto her knees.

In characteristic clumsy fashion, she ends up off-balance, falling onto you. Despite her weight and position you hold your ground like a true Dwarf, catching her up into your arms as you rely on the magical immobility provided by Warsong to ensure you remain steady.

It is at that critical moment, where Moira's body provides maximum leverage against you, that Warsong betrays you. You can almost feel the click in your mind, along with what would be a laugh if you did not know better, as the great legacy weapon turns off its protective magics for a single second.

Moira makes an "Eep!" sound as you both tumble backwards. You land on your butt then fall to your back on the bearskin rug.

The tall priestess ends up straddling you, one long leg on either side of yours. Her hair, so red in the firelight, surrounds you like a shimmering canopy as her lips meet yours in the kiss you first intended.

A warmth delivered by far more then the fireplace sweeps over you. The woman may not be terribly experienced but her lips move over yours as if they were made only for this.

She settles onto you, savoring that kiss for some time. Her lips come away from yours almost as moist and glistening as her eyes as looks onto your face, eliciting an easy and genuine smile from her.

"I think you just taught me the meaning of the word 'divine'," she sighs breathlessly.

[Navarre]

Tren, you and Aldina enter back into the castle. You follow the sound of a voice, carrying through the halls. It leads you into an inner courtyard.

You find Coby, standing on a small stage you are sure was recently wished into existence. Around him is the rest of your party except for T'Ning, Rachel, Bedlor, and Moira.

Coby is singing a song. It is a boisterous song, a tale of old friends who are gone but whose spirits walk by the side of the living.

The young bard is acting out an odd Half-Folke dance to accompany the tune when he sees you. He looks at the expression on your face and smiles.

"Long day, my friend. C'mon, have a sit and join our comp'ny. Friends always ease the ache."

[Strifeter]

Tren looks to everyone and then back to Coby

"My apologies Coby for the interuption. I do have a matter to attend to but I do not wish to interupt. Please continue and we can deal with my problem later."

Tren turns to leave.

[Navarre]

Coby holds out his hands.

"Don't have ta leave, friend. Sadly, not a thing I can do about how things went today. But our friends ain't gone and I was in the middle of singing a song about that. Hoping to make folks feel better."

"Ya look like you could stand a bit of consolation yourself. Come sit with us, Tren...unless there's somethin' ya need to talk about?"

[Strifeter]

Tren looks out at everyone again.

"Very well I'll stay."

[Navarre]

Inoke reaches out a hand to you, offering you a seat. You find a spot next to her.

Next to her, Aphra looks up at you and shrugs. She alone seems uncomfortable here but waits for you.

[Strifeter]

Tren moves to seat and sits down.

[Navarre]

Coby smiles in an attempt to ease your suffering and then resumes his song. The words speak of how the departed are never gone from the living but walk next to them.

His ballad seems to console most. Aphra leans into you, speaking lowly.

"We all made our choices, Tren. Never know where a path will lead."

"But this thing needs to get finished. She didn't die for nothing and I'm not going to die for nothing either."

"I'm with you. Whatever it takes."

[Strifeter]

Tren looks at Aphra and nods.

"Tomorrow we take further action on these rings and from their we decide. I am debating taking a stroll around the streets tonight in West Wellington to find someone who is interested in joining our cause. I can't stop."

[Navarre]

The Hound shrugs again.

"I don't sleep anyway; I nap. Curling up for sound sleep is a sure way to get your throat ripped out."

"I'll go down with you if you want."

"I've followed Bedlor as Alpha this whole time. But we're still picking up the pieces of that."

"I don't think we've even found who's behind all this yet. Skip the Packs and go right for the Alpha Dog, is my feeling. All we have to do is lure him out."

[Strifeter]

Tren nods.

"The back up would be appreciated. And I agree we need to know who is behind everything.

Enghart has his place in all this. He keeps these people together and thats what they need. I do not need a leader I know what I must do and usually how to do it. I may ask Aerik to come aswell. His eyes are used to this world and his bow would be useful.

I need to speak to Coby about my powers though before we go."

[Gaumer]

Bedlor enjoys the woman for quite some time before relaxing to talk on pillows. Over a plate of summoned fruits and a flagon of sweet wine, Bedlor changes the current subject <Subtly skipping X-rated posts since 2010>

"What do ye be thinkin' o' Tren's plans for this world, love? Sure'n 'is aims be 'avin' good thinkin's be'ind 'em but I be fearin' the ground in this place be too dry an' soured by fear an' 'ate to be buildin' toward 'is end from the roots o' the grass."

[Navarre]

Moira lies back on her own pillow, resting her arms under her head as she stares at the ceiling and considers your question. Your appreciation of mountains has never been greater.

"Tren worries me. He is not the first person who has decided he knows the best and only way to make the world right."

"His method of gathering all who believe in the common call of peace is admirable. But I fear that means that all others will soon be declared the 'enemy'."

"We saw how Marcus Moonshadow nearly ruined Ashearea with just such a 'noble' motive."

"We can't bully people into toeing the line of peace. We have to cultivate a society built on tolerance and gratitude for what each person can bring to the world. That isn't going to happen overnight, even after we defeat those who would hold the world under their sway."

"I fear his grief and past experiences are on the verge of creating one who is more noble at heart than the Moonshadows but no less dangerous."