Shadow War campaign In-Game: Chapter 75- Midnight Mission

[Navarre]

The Shadow War

Chapter 75
Midnight Mission

The day has barely turned beneath the silvered moon as Tren, Aphra, and Aerik fly from the mass of the cloud castle. The warm summer air nips at your ears and flutters your cloak as you glide toward West Wellington below.

The clouds have gathered, promising much-needed rain for the farmers of this agricultural city. Lumina is even more obscured as you drop groundward, leaving you as shadows in the half-light.

You examine the city, looking for anything that would raise concern. By now the bodies of the Angels, Jackson, and Valor have been cleared from the western field.

You see patrols on the low stone walls that surround the city. Alerted now to the presence of aerial beings, they frequently look upward to scan the skies.

But they are unaccustomed to flying creatures such as yourself. And, though you are unaccustomed to flying as well, the three of you are able to navigate along the least conspicuous routes between guards.

As you drop lower, the Hound and Scout look to you for direction.

[Strifeter]

Tren looks around for the most densely grouped housing to pick as his landing point.

We aim for a roof with the least amount of candles lit around but the most densely populated spaces.

[Navarre]

Aphra points toward a small collection of city offices. Though not far from the city constabulary, the alleys make for a good landing position.

The three of you land on the roof of one such office. Aerik peers over the side at the hanging sign, reading it upside-down.

"The 'Office of the Writ Master', whatever that is."

[Strifeter]

Tren nods.

"This is our point of reference then. Should we need to split we meet here. Now lets look for those up to mischief tonight."

Tren looks around the roof tops to gauge the security as well as if he sees anyone running around.

[Navarre]

You see the guards on the tops of the wall but they are facing outward. You do not believe them to be a concern so long as nothing draws their attention back into the city.

You do see a pair of City Guard walk by on the main street. A market place can be seen from your position, no doubt teeming with activity by day but now closed down.

Across that thoroughfare you see a three-story building rising above the rest. It looks to be the inn. No doubt whatever activity may be going on publicly is happening there.

Looking for more clandestine activities, you see nothing suspicious from your current vantage point as the city stretches off eastward to your left.

[Strifeter]

Tren looks at Aphra and Aerik.

"Aphra I want you with that powerful nose to try and sniff out anything that strikes you as odd in this town.

Aerik can you take a higher vantage point maybe look around the more general areas. Maybe someone is trying to rob a meal from somewhere.

I am going to follow those guards down there and try to find out if anything is happening around the town that could help us.

We meet back here in ten minutes. Try to keep that time."

Tren moves to follow the guards from the rooftops until he sees a place he can drop down quietly.

[Navarre]

Aerik hovers then floats close to the walls as he gains elevation. He watches for a moment when he can move to a higher vantage point.

You see him target the only other three-story building in the city, the Temple of Illumian. Though his face hardens with disdain, the temple is at the center of the city, thus making it an excellent location to see in all direction. Though this would make the Elf a target as well, you trust your Scout can hide better than a human can spot.

Aphra takes a moment to sniff the air. She allows herself to levitate slightly over the roof, turning to gain her bearings.

She seems to sniff something worth following. Without a word she flies eastward to investigate.

Meanwhile, you skulk into the shadows as you hug the rooftops and head west, following the two City Guard. You spy them ahead of you and to your left.

Their royal blue tabards and shields are familiar. You have seen them on the Erika and Samm Dean of this world as well as your own lost friend, Erika.

Their longswords clink as they walk their rounds. Dropping into the shadows of a nearby alley, you are able to hear them talking lowly.

"...some say the end times, with Angels falling from the sky and all. The faithful are always protected by The Light though."

"I don't know," comes the reply. "What about that Moonstride that appeared from the sky? Sounds to me like the gods have been put on notice by a power greater than theirs."

The first man shakes his head.

"I don't know. I mean, I'm not going to argue with anyone who can fly and speak out openly against the gods. But the gods are so busy fighting among themselves, I sometimes think we mortals are left to our own."

"Yet, even if that's true, this Moonstride had better watch himself. It's one thing for him to stand in our west-field and proclaim himself both watcher and law. But he might not say that so openly to Her Radiance when she gets here."

[Strifeter]

Tren follows along and hides in the shadows lingering a little longer to see what else these guards have to say.

He thinks to himself that Her radiance coming may be a perfect target. His plan was working.

[Navarre]

The guards continue.

"... Should be here tomorrow, I hear. It's a long way from Hallow Hold. Must have known something's going on to have been traveling this way. It takes a lot to get the Pontiff from behind her walls with the way the war is out here."

The other guard nods.

"Did you see that holy beacon that went up this evening though? That'd be right about where Rashai's party would have been at the time. Think she's in trouble?"

The first fellow shrugs.

"If she is, nothing anyone here could do to help. She'll be okay. She's not traveling alone, after all."

The guards walk on, changing the subject to the crops that wither in the relentless summer heat.

[Strifeter]

Tren moves back to the spot designated earlier to meet and watches the skies for his comrades.

[Navarre]

It is a few minutes before your compatriots return. Aerik reports.

"The city seems quiet enough. The only unusual matter that has drawn my attention is a small collection of men and women camping in a field on the eastern side of town. I do not know why there is a grassy hill within the city walls but there is, along with a single old house perched over the other side of the rise."

"The men and women are not near the rise though but instead just beyond the most urban part of the city. They travel with no tents nor visible armaments save walking staves. They are sitting quietly or sleeping at the moment."

Aphra looks around and asks, "Aerik, where were you perched? I didn't see you."

The Scout replies, "On the steeple of the Temple of Light. Why?"

The Hound replies.

"When I left here I thought I smelled dead bodies. Figuring it was Jackson and the others, I followed my nose."

"The problem was, the bodies were on the move."

"I lost the scent though, just before I got to the east side of town. I looked around but found nothing."

"Yet I could have swore I smelled an Elf. Wasn't you though and I doubt any Elf would be too welcome in this city."

[Strifeter]

Tren ponders on the reports.

"Hmm the elf has to be Lyric. She is trying to set something up with the dead bodies I am sure of it. She wants to use us as a catalyst to start a war. It is part of the reason I came down here in the first place. If the gods have something to come together to fight then a war between them may seem useless. In any case dead bodies moving can be dangerous. Hopefully you meant not on they're own Aphra.

The people congregating near a mountain is strange also. Unfortunately my knowledge on West Weillington is limited even in the old timeline.

I think we need to take what we have and go my friends. We will inform the others of what we have found out. I know the Her Radiance is coming tomorrow in light of everything that has happened here. I may require to make another appearance as the God defying lunatic. Hehe. In any case let Enghart do what he does best and we will work to aid him and stop this war."

[Navarre]

Three shadow-cast figures soar silently upward into the nighttime sky. Soon your feet go from slate to solid mist as you touch down on the cloud that has become your temporary home.

But "home" holds neither meaning nor appeal now. There is only what remains and, saved or not, it feels like nothing.

Sleep finds you restless in a room conjured from your wishful mind. It is the room you last shared with Serena and it takes all you can do to not wish it away to blank and barren walls as you stare at the unused pillow next to you.

{End of Chapter 75}

{Level Up!} ... {Just kidding.  }