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

[Navarre]

Coby looks over the group.

"Aldina, you're right to check out the castle. No one here knows arcane magic better than you."

"Moira, I know there's a spell to locate objects. Do you know it and have any way to fix on the Trust?"

Moira shakes her head.

"I am sorry, I do not. I could prepare it for tomorrow though."

Coby winces but nods.

"Sure thing. Thanks."

"We're completely conspicuous now after that free-for-all. All eyes are going to be on us. Best we can do is take advantage of that."

"Tren's hobgoblins and elves will only scare folk, same as the Sashca's Angels. I think the snipers and scouts should stay here as lookouts because they have sharp eyes."

"As for the Seraphim, well, I'm not tellin' no one what to do. But if it were me, it might be best if Nephros and her host returned to the Forest of Ages; maybe confer with the Elves on our behalf. We could use their help, or at least to avoid any more misunderstanding with them."

"That still leaves searching for the Trust. Until Moira gets her spells going, we'll have to do it the old-fashioned way."

"If Inoke, Liv, Rachel, and T'Ning all take to the air; with Azure circling, we can cover all four sides of the city. T'Ning, you and Rachel can use my and Aldina's rings."

"It's gotta be smoother than trying that...um, thing Rachel made. Gotta say, mighty clever bit of wishing there though, girl."

Rachel grins as Coby continues.

"I'll stay here and keep things coordinated. If any of ya spot anything, set off one of these flares I'm handing to ya and I'm sure one of the scouts up here will see it."

"If no one has anything else to add, I'll see ya all here at sunset. Best of luck, y'all."

[Navarre]

Bedlor, you take wing on Valiant, his great form moving with surprising grace through the air. Chaser watches you leave with a small whimper.

It is only a few short minutes until you find yourself over the western edge of Gallia Forest. The flare has faded but you, Aphra, and Vinnrog scour the area.

It is a few minutes but then you see Aphra flying quickly up to you.

"Tren's pacing in a clearing a quarter-mile from here. No sign of whatever made that flare, unless he did it for some reason."

[Gaumer]

"Damn! Sure'n trouble stacked on top o' trouble, eh, mates?

Somethin' be tellin' me that we be missin' out on whate'er this flare be. But missed it we did an' nothin' else to do 'bout it.

I thought Tren be back at the cloud...

Walkin' 'lone sure'n mean feelin' the same. Oi, let's be givin' 'im a check on.

Lead the way, mate."

[Navarre]

Aphra reverses course. Soon you see Tren, walking alone in the forest.

Tren, though your head is down and your heart even lower, you hear the beating of large wings. You look up to see Bedlor, Aphra, and Vinnrog flying to you.

[Gaumer]

"Vin; Aphra, ye two be makin' yer way back to the cloud. Be tellin' Coby o' what we seen, or not be seein'.

I'll be right be'ind ye, 'opefully not by meself."

Bedlor pushes his steed toward the ground and lands near Tren, giving him welcome.

"Tren. Ye out 'ere quite a ways out all on yer own. Sure'n ye know that not be the safest o' things to be doin' in such times."

[Strifeter]

Tren locks eyes with Enghart

"Do not make light of what has happened Enghart. You know yourself to be better without me."

Tren looks around the forest.

"I am leaving. I have lost what I held dearest and I hope my spectacle is West Wellington will remove the heat from the battle from the defenders back."

[Gaumer]

"Better wit'out ye?" Bedlor rubs his chin, pondering the idea

"Sure'n ye may be right, mate. But I not be willin' to find out.

Ye be too good a soldier to be lettin' ye go off on yer own to wallow away as ye see fit. We be knee thick in a war, mate, an' the sides be stacked 'gainst our side. 'Ear me words, mate, when I say our side. There be not 'nough o' us on our side to be settin' ye 'part from it. Ye be in this too deep to be leavin' now.

Ye fight in a war, ye be a soldier, whether ye wantin' the title or not. Soldiers be 'avin' different ways than others, else they not be soldiers anymore, they be...well...they be sad, old loners that wander the woods, hohoho. Ye either put off the worry an' grief an' continue the fight or ye beat yerself 'fore any enemy can be truly defeatin' ye. An' ye also be missin' out on the vengeance.

Aye, ye lost yer love, an' I'll not be puttin' any less on that loss by claimin' the animals I be losin' can be comparin', though I be thinkin' they do. I be knowin' 'ow those not as close to the World Spirit be thinkin' o' such things. Ye not be knowin' the one who 'eld my 'eart. An' the 'ardest part be she not e'en be knowin' who I be. By my seein', 'er dead be far better than 'er 'live an' the love we shared bein' dead. But we both be 'avin' those memories...

Oi, I not be one to tell ye to feel one way or another, but this IS a war an' whether ye like it or not ye BE a soldier, 'ell, ye be a general, in that war, an' that war not be o'er. If'n ye live through it we can be cryin' on each others shoulders an' droppin' tears in our ales, but that time NOT be now.

I can'ta be doin' this wit'out 'em I can be trustin', an', though yer ways be yer own an' reckless too often than not fer me own taste, I can be trustin' ye.

Now be suckin' it up like the warrior I know ye to be, an' come back wit' me to the cloud so ye can be orderin' 'round yer smelly goblins.

I'd 'ate to be 'avin' those elves o' yers 'unt ye down fer desertion, hohoho."

[Strifeter]

Tren nods at Enghart.

"Enghart even if you can trust me our enemies are going to use me to their advantage. I may be reckless but it is usually to put myself in danger than someone else.

It may be because in the heat of battle it may only be my own ability I trust. There are so many variables I am not even sure where to begin."

Tren shakes his head.

"What good is a general who can't trust in his mens ability. I couldn't even keep the woman who may have been bearing my child alive.

Theres two many of us. One elf won't make or break your defenders."

[Gaumer]

"Ye look for perfection in a world that ne'er has found it. Ye aim to be the best ye can be, aye, but sure'n the bumps on the road not be too much for anyone.

This be the path that ye chose, mate, sure'n ye be seein' that. Yer woman be makin' that same choice. But ye want to be seein' others make sure she not not be dead for nothin'? An' what o' the elves an' goblins in yer charge an' the town ye be puttin' the fear o' god into? Ye'd 'ave others take that role an' clean up after ye?

Nah, this be nothin' more than a slump ye be in, mate, an' I be wishin' ye 'ad time to be workin' it out, but ye don't. The world be at the edge an' I be needin' yer 'elp to be pullin' it back from the edge. Ye think our enemies be usin' ye 'gainst us? Aye, an', by me seein', they be doin' a good job o' that right now. But yer quittin' o' the fight o'er what ye THINK instead o' fightin' the fight ye KNOW be needin' ye be the wrong choice, mate, an' ye be knowin' it.

The Trust be close, an' then we finish this, but ye be needed an', if'n ye be anything like meself, ye be needin' the allies just as much."

[Strifeter]

Tren sighs and looks to the sky.

"Fair enough Enghart, I don't know if completely understood but your logic is sound, I think. If you think you need me that much then I will honour that pact we made a long time ago. Let's head back then."

Tren looks to his hands and then at that winged creature.

[Gaumer]

"Aye, an' if our enemy be out to use ye 'gainst us better I be keepin' ye close, eh?

War be 'ell, mate. Sure'n ye be 'avin' 'nough o' that for both our lifetimes. But, as it be seemin', 'ell not be done wit' ye.


Let's be off to the cloud. After ye, mate."

[Strifeter]

Tren nods.

"We go together. Lyric is around here somewhere. She put out the signal into the sky. It's sure to draw lots of attention."

[Gaumer]

"That bitch be 'ere, at the cloud? I fear that one be lost. We should be endin' 'er if'n the chance offers itself.

Sure'n the cloud an' the West city be in danger. Let's be off."

Bedlor urges Valiant into a run and to the air.

[Strifeter]

Tren runs after him and activates his flight ring.

"Yes....let's be off."

.

[Navarre]

Bedlor and Tren, you arrive back at the cloud castle some distance behind Aphra and Vinnrog. Coby is waiting as all your allies reconvene.

"What was that flare? I don't see no Priest o' Light though I see an Elf I'm glad ain't gone fer good."

"Nothin' so far and it's gettin' dark. Can't imagine a scared human traipsin' about the woods at night but we could maybe put some hobgoblins down to watch things."

"Think we need to call it for today. Rest up. Things're just gettin' started."