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

[Gaumer]

Bedlor dismounts and rubs Valiant's muzzle, whispering softly to his new mount and friend

"Ye were mighty out there today, but don'ta be thinkin' for one moment that I be forgettin' yer loss on this battlefield in the skies. I be tellin' ye the same as I be tellin' the elf: We be soldiers in a war not o' our choosin', but soldier as a fact. Be knowin' yer fight an' seekin' o' vengeance now be MY fight an' seekin' o' vengeance. That I promise ye."

And regards the rest of the group

"Aye, keep a small group to be lookin' out but this day be wearin' on us all. This war be takin' its toll but the battle be won. The next battle we aim to fight I say we make damn sure we take it to those that be doin' this. Take yer grief an' 'old it for 'nother day but let that fire beg for vengeance 'gainst 'em that be 'urtin' us all in the air o'er West Wellington."

Bedlor heads inside a door he asks for and begins drinking from a summoned keg of beer from a requested pewter tankard molded into the shape of a pegasus in flight.

[Strifeter]

Tren looks around

"It was Lyric and she has a plan. She's working for someone who wants all the gods to start-up a war. She sent the signal to get some attention. We killed angels of illumian from a castle of another God."

Tren looks around.

"We need to sit down and rest and discuss things. I would appreciate it if Aerik, Kofi, Vinrog, Aphra, Liv, T'ning and Coby all meet with me before we eat."

Tren looks at Kofi.

"Aerik I want your men posted and high places scanning the skies. No more than three at a time. Work it in shifts everyone must be fully rested for tomorrow. Kofi likewise with your men but I want them mounted on the balistas."

Tren looks over at all the blood and remembers his place in the eyes of these two. He walks over and offers his hand

"Aerik, Kofi, I am sorry for your loses today. It was my failure to anticipate such a move. Please I offer my condolences to you both."

[Navarre]

Kofi furrows his meaty, haired brow.

"War is all life we know. Conflict is what tempers the spirit and makes one strong. Test comes when conflict tries to break spirit."

"Not sure me understand this 'peace' we fight for. What we do then? No conflict, no growth."

"Tree only grow so tall then it die. It is way."

"My snipers live good lives. Make much conflict. Now they do to Darkamma to grow more at side of Damrogann."

"More conflict. More growth. Die again. It is way."

"Me see you care so me thank you. But me not know what to do if we win."

Aerik listens and replies as well.

"I find myself agreeing with Kofi to some degree. Death is a state of being. It is neither the beginning nor end of existence."

"Existence is circular and eternal. It is only Life that is finite."

"I mourn for the loss of what I shared with my brothers in arms. But a day will come when I will stand with them beyond Sashca's Door."

"Until then, we do what must be done. We end this war because, on that, Kofi and I do not agree."

"Yes, our struggles can make us strong, but only if we learn from them. We can find growth in times of peace as well."

"It is what we do with our existence that matters, not the war Damrogann reveres. We stand with you, Tren, to see the Einshar War done."

[Navarre]

Aerik, Kofi, Vinrog, Aphra, and Coby all follow Tren into a council chamber as Tren's snipers and scouts take their positions as ordered by their leader.

Rachel slides up to you, T'Ning.

"Wot be goin' on wit' 'im I wonder? I know 'ow I felt when I t'ought ye might be 'urt or dead. Ye actually 'ad to see me die in anot'er lifetime."

"I imagine t'e Elf be only an ounce short o' drowning in 'is emotions aboot now. We 'ad enough o' crazies aboot 'ere."

"Seems Aphra and Liv be t'e only females wot be asked to join 'Lord Moonstride'. Not t'e Angel o' Death nor the sorceress wot keeps t'is castle flyin' nor t'e most powerful cleric in t'e land...and sure'n not a wee waif o' a Vaadjori."

"But go on, luv. I be 'ere when ye get back."

Meanwhile, Moira glances at you, Bedlor. Her eyes too drift toward Tren, showing much doubt over the solidarity of what remains of your friends.

[Strifeter]

Tren looks around at everyone and sighs.

"On second thought lets join Enghart. With everyone."

Tren moves into the pub and takes a seat beside Enghart. A small glass of some very strong smelling beverage appears in front of him.

[Navarre]

The Angels of Death do not seem inclined to sit within the confines of the castle. Nephros commands her Seraphim to maintain watch in the sky but she herself enters the drinking hall.

A large table with the required number of chairs appears, along with enough drinks for even Bedlor and Vinnrog. Everyone sits.

Some look to you, Tren, with great pity. Others with a small growing bit of distrust. But, regardless, all eyes are on you now.

[Strifeter]

Tren looks around the room at everyone. He takes the time to look each and every person in the eyes before speaking

"She's dead. You all know it. You have all seen death before. I spent ten years of my life fighting Hellsbeth and brought out of her clutches just so she could die.

Spare your condolences, we don't have time for it. When this is all said and done I'll leave and deal with this on my own."

Tren takes a drink and continues after a long pause.

"For now we need to decide what to do about Lyric. She is now using us to cause a war. When she was down there she mentioned that as long as we keep going along with what we are doing that her plan will work.

She is working for someone who would gain from having the gods fight each other. We have slain angels from Illumian while sitting with defenders. We have in present company angels and elves of Sacha. I don't need to tell you how that looks. She is making it look like we have aligned ourselves one way even it is not our intent."

Tren looks around the room.

"We need to make peace with Illumian or a war is at hand. Thats why she sent up the flare of Illumian.

I agree war may not be inevitable but we should at least try. We are here in West Wellington looking for the trust. The least we could attempt is to make peace with the locals."

[Navarre]

Moira replies.

"I am so sorry for your loss, Tren. I know you have faced so many tragedies but that does not make it acceptable, only familiar."

"That flare was a distress signal. Any servants of Illumian brave enough or loyal enough to follow it would travel to its source, but that was in the area of the forest claimed by the Elves."

Aerik nods.

"The Elves of Sashca have maintained an uneasy truce with Illumian's holding for centuries. They will have seen the signal as well and investigate."

"If any of Illumian's servants are found on our land there could be hostilities. But we would try to turn them back if possible."

"I do not see why Illumian's servants would have cause to remain on our lands should they investigate the origin site of the flare and find nothing. Likewise,the Elves are unlikely to become aggressive unless we believed Illumian's servants are involved in something nefarious in our forests."

[Gaumer]

"It be the gods warrin', not us. Freein' the elders be the key, an' I not be thinkin' us the 'avin' the time to be makin' friends wit' the all o' the world while we be doin' it.

We still 'ave what makes for two o' this worlds leaders in disguise an' can still be usin' that to be forcin' our way in the town. By my seein' we 'ave that goin' for us.

The West city be in a panic 'bout what they be seein'. Sure'n word'll be gettin' out o' us bein' 'ere. Just as sure'n the all o' the West city be KNOWIN' that word'll be gettin' out. So if'n we be needin' to be movin' quick an' the mood o' the town be off any'ow, I be seein' no reason Moira an' meself can'ta be throwin' 'round our weight...well, the weight o' the mirror versions o' ourselves to our gain.

We get in, get out. Simply claim we be thinkin' that one o' the folks be'ind the panic be 'din' in the town or somesuch, it don'ta really be matterin' much. We go in force, elves, goblins, the lot o' any we can be gettin'. Search the town as fast as we can be an' send patrols down both roads.

We be sure'n to get another visit from some wantin' to see our end soon. We should be actin' sooner."

[Navarre]

Moira ponders.

"We have myself, 'Lord Commander Enghart', and an Angel of Illumian in Liv. Tren meanwhile has decried Illumian and virtually declared himself the opponent of the Lord of Light."

"Perhaps we could use Tren's sudden presence to our advantage. It would explain why we would arrive in West Wellington."

"We might even consider using the citizens of the city to our ends. If we say we need the Trust to prevent the killing of more Angels of Light and the overthrow of Illumian at Tren's hands, I am quite sure the entire city's populace would become our search team."

[Lutharian]

T'Ning takes a sip of his drink and regards Tren.

"Tren, you know I'm not one for tactics, hell i'm not that good at talkin with people either.  From what I can gather, we need the Trust.  Lyric wants us to keep doing whatever it is we are doing, as it seems to be helping her.  Why don't we just kill 'er?  I mean..it seems easiest to me."

"Ackshully, whatever it is you decide, just tell me what to do.  Maybe this time I'll actually listen."

T'Ning chuckles to himself and sips his drink again.

[chrysalis]

"That is an interesting idea, Moria. Forgive me everyone, for my mind has been wondering while everyone ponders on our next step. I can't help but wonder, since I'm supposed to be protecting the Primordial and all... if there isn't some kind of way that I could sense the Trust? Or somehow feel it? Does that make sense to anyone?"

[Strifeter]

Tren raises an eyebrow at T'ning for a second but let's the moment pass.

"Rule number one T'ning never sell yourself short in any situation. My strength is not comparable to any other of this group and yet I was still able to fell an angel known as the tormented."

Tren looks over at Moira.

"Let's settle one thing. It was a faceless assassin that landed in West Wellington. Not me. Second, that individual declared he was tired of the evil of this world and vowed to end. You may use that in any method you see fit because that is my goal. My aim is to start an organization of information. With any and all races who worship any or all gods, I do not care. Aerik and Kofi are the first to join me to this goal because I am tired of being behind my enemies. They attack us and we are forced to react instead of prevent

If we were better prepared we may not have lost......"

Tren takes a moment to regain his composure.

My effort will always be for the better of this group and my allegiance stands here. I vowed to bring peace to this world and that is still my aim. I am building a guild to help us and to one day be able to prevent further loss of life. This what the three of us have vowed and why we have been speaking together.

Now you all know.

Tren stops and looks to Liv.

Liv I cannot begin to comprehend your power but I trust in it. If you believe you could feel such a thing I will not doubt you.

Also.....thank you for before.

[Gaumer]

Bedlor takes note of the discussion, giving Tren only a slight, hesitant glance at the words of his building a secret underground organization and the conspiracy surrounding it.

"Sure'n I know ye should be tryin', Liv. We could be endin' this all right now an' gettin' that...'preventive' upper hand we be lookin' to get."

[Navarre]

Liv, you extend your spiritual sense to their maximum. You first strain then try to relax, hoping some method will allow you to sense the sacred rings of the Primordial.

You sense nothing.

Moira speaks.

"I suppose it was not likely to work. We know Ximon created the lining for the Trust from the aperture through which Bronwyn first appeared. The entire purpose of the box was to isolate and hide the rings from even the gods."

"It seems even the Nexuses cannot penetrate that barrier. Otherwise, Marcus Moonshadow would have found the Trust long ago."

"But the aperture is tied to the Nexuses, as I understand it. The Nexuses are a tear in the fabric of reality, the same as the rift."

"If we had something that could locate a Nexus, maybe it could also locate the Trust. But I suppose we have nothing of that sort."