Shadow War campaign In-Game: Chapter 76- Shadows in the Sun

[Navarre]

The bald man tries to move away as you strike at him. But your dagger slips between his flesh and bites silently into his heart.

There is only a slight gurgling sound, both from the man's throat and the new wound, as he slumps dead into your arms.

In the darkening shadows of the alley, no one sees.

[Strifeter]

Tren quickly tries to change into the clothes of the temple of the lone pine and cast disguise to look the the man he just killed.

[Gaumer]

"Ye speak o' the actions o' those ye be reachin' out to wit' swords an' daggers. Ye seek to change that which refuses to fit in what ye see as needin' changed. Would ye not fight any who would be forcin' ye to turn yer very way o' life if'n that life be peaceful? Those who not be standin' wit' ye an' movin' their eyes to yer way o' seein' be pushed. Pushed to the point o' 'avin' to 'ide 'emselves in the forest or raid camps for food for their own young. An' ye try to tell the people that these diplomats could speak louder than the swords an' bows o' yer armies? I be thinkin' not.

An' I wonder, pontiff, where the dwarfs would fair in your opinion should they 'ave chosen the same path o' freedom as the elves an' orcs an' others ye be so easy to discount yerself. I'll not be judgin' a dwarf for 'is own doin's 'cause o' the doin' itself, but let me be askin' ye, Commander: 'ow many o' the 'onorable dwarven leaders that be comin' 'fore ye be 'avin' shaved beards? An' on the words o' who did ye do the deed? Would yer alliance be seein' the elves leave their woods an' the orc tribes disband to better fit yer twisted vision o' some new world?

Would we move this world to war so easily on nothin' but differences we not be takin' the time to be knowin' full? Sure'n, by my seein', leaders be the ones who make ends to find peace, an' ye two be makin' more the plans to set off to war. What be yer end? A true peace for all; or just a veil o' peace o'er what ye deem proper for this world?

Sure'n if'n some intruder, as ye claim me to be, can be makin' the ends to peace ye be seein' in the group that stand 'fore ye, an' in the crowd I 'ave gathered wit' mere words, the joinin' o' the two o' ye could gather a council o' any ye'd 'ave a mind to be gatherin'. If'n unity not be includin' the all o' the world bein' 'eard it not be a true unity. 'Elp me understand, yer pontiffness, the aims ye 'ave sought to find peace for all."

[Navarre]

Tren, you strip the man of his items. On him you discover a ring made like flame beneath a shield you are sure is magical and unlike anything you would expect a monk to own.

Your beliefs are fortified as you also discover a Scroll of Reverse Gravity. You also realize his robes are double-sided, the interior of which is black. Within his pack is a mask similar to the one you wear.

You quickly disrobe the man and assume his appearance with your arcane magics.

[Navarre]

Pontiff Rashai smiles; a smile so devoid of humor or kindness it is chilling.

"Yes. Of course."

"We should all sit as equals at a table and build the road to unity together, shouldn't we? We should listen as often as we speak, learning of each other and sharing in our common goal even as we discover the commonalities between us."

"Oh, but what will become of us when we open our hearts and gates to peace, laying down our arms, while those who do not believe as we do raise theirs?"

"Can you tell me why our Lord's Angels lie dismembered about our fields while the Angels of Death circle above?"

"Can you explain to these good people why you travel on a cloud stolen from a region populated by the Efreet and now serving under the auspices of Einshar such as Pandia and Fjod, who have yet to bring this 'peace' of which you speak in a thousand years?"

"Why was a contingent of Priests of Light ambushed and murdered last night by Elven assassins? We found them in the western woods, felled by Elven arrows, but not before one of them cast a distress signal to warn and summon us."

"Where are these souls who only attack if provoked, sir, for I do not see them?"

[Strifeter]

Tren moves quickly to the ally of the man he killed and attempts the mans voice.

"Tren looks at the man. There has been a change in plan. Urgent. Warn the others. The demon is making a move the jepordizes everything we have worked for. Tell everyone. We must abort the plan immidately."

[Navarre]

The "monk" in front of you blinks, looking at you suspiciously.

"The demon is here? How??"

"Why do you not give the silent hand signal yourself if there is cause for alarm?"

[Gaumer]

"Hohoho.

Ye take moments o' time to make a point that years o' 'istory 'ave defined.

I be not tryin' to understand the will an' doin's o' the angels, nor can any that be standin' 'ere 'mong us. Sure'n by my knowin's, they fight for their gods, gods who only see the bickerin' an' fightin' o' the races an' people o' this world an' use 'em as trophies an' reason 'nough to stoke those fires e'en 'otter. No, we are not merely playthings o' the gods like angels, an' to know the reasonin' be'ind an angels doin' is to know a god's will, an' I lay no claim to such knowin's. Do ye, pontiff?

I be knowin' nothin' o' any battle between priest an' elf, pontiff, but I be sure'n to ask the question o' 'ow a group o' elves layin' in wait in ambush would e'er allow any warnin' beacon to be fired, or take the chance o' leavin' arrows as proof o' the attack be'ind so as to bring down the full force o' 'er pontiffnishes armies down an' burn that forest. I be knowin' elves to be wiser than that, but sure'n such an attack wit' all the evidence needed for war be a grand way o' bringin' 'bout such a 'orror. This be exactly what I be tellin' the people o' the West city. Lies upon lies to reach an end.

Aye, I ally wit' those who live in a castle in the sky, made o' clouds an' made iin this region ye speak o'. But I know nothin' o' no stealin' bein' done. Tell us, pontiff, where ye be 'earin' such rumors?

As for there bein' those who represent Fjod an' Pandia on that castle ye speak o', well, that be a truer statement than any. There be more on that floatin' island that follow other gods, an' they all be welcome on it as they all seek the same peace I ask for today. But 'gain, pontiff, I 'ave to be askin' ye: 'Ow do ye know so much 'bout what ye not be 'avin' any way o' knowin'?"

[Strifeter]

Tren furrows his brow.

"You think I give a damn about the signal. It is a DEMON. Move your ass now or die with the others here."

Tren attempts to bluff his way through.

[Navarre]

Pontiff Rashai seems a bit taken aback as she glances over the crowd. You see all eyes upon her now, waiting for her reply.

The crowd rumbles with expectation. A few brave souls call from within the depths of the crowd.

"We want to be heard."

"We're tired of war! Bet the others are too."

"Have to make the first move. Stop all the killin'!"

"My brother done died bringin' taters to Hallow Hold. Didn't even get a nod from the Church!"

"Yeah! What about David? We got killed by them goblins but y'all attacked them first. Makin' it worse is all!"

Pontiff Rashai looks furtively over the crowd. This is clearly not the support she was expecting upon her arrival.

Lord Commander Enghart bristles and turns red in the face. His pale chin does not bear the pink of his cheeks, making for a humorous sight if it wasn't for his fury and the gravity of the situation.

"Oi! The rats be stirred in the well by this one!"

"A Dwarf can 'ammer in the dark o' the mine all 'e will but it not be makin' the night a day. Sparks in the deep only set the gas fires a'burnin' and sur'n this one be strokin' steel on granite!"

He glares at you, Bedlor, and his hand reaches for his axe though he does not draw it.

"I not be knowin' the devil that a'cast ye in me fine image but I sure'n be seein' 'is and yer head on the spires o' the Hold a'fore ye be spinnin' me own servants like driftwood in Challenger's Folly!"

As his Dwarven retinue prepare to draw their own axes at their Lord Commander's word, the crowd retorts back to your dark mirror.

"We ain't your servants, Dwarf!"

"Seems quick on the draw. He scared?"

"Let them have their say!"

Pontiff Rashai looks down at Lord Commander Enghart as he grits his teeth so hard they may break. You see her mouth silent words to him.

"You are not helping, my love."

She looks back to you, smiling patiently.

"We want no more bloodshed. Everyone, please forgive us. We all have lost so many good souls over the years and none are expendable."

"Sir...Enghart, shall you be called? Please, let you and I sit down and break bread while we forge bonds."

"I wish to hear all you might say but let us do so in a place where tempers are calm and distractions are few. Perhaps the temple behind you?"

[Navarre]

Tren, you see the man next to you sigh then concede to the threat of danger. He wipes his left hand across his brow, nothing unusual considering the summer heat. Then he wipes the palm of that hand on his right shoulder slowly; once, twice, three times before placing his hand down.

Keeping an eye on the other monks of the Lone Pine, you see all of them repeat the sign and begin to fade away from the crowd. You are about to act yourself when you see Aphra catch your eye from across the way. She motions with her bronze eyes from beneath her commoner's cloak, toward a monk approaching you from behind that she has apparently followed through the crowd.

She shakes her head at you, indicating something is wrong. At the same time, you see Aerik look upward where Azure can be seen gliding over the city.

She tilts her wings, a sign of warning to something besides the monk behind you or the contingent from Hallow Hold. As Aerik moves toward the back of a building where he might gain elevation to survey the scene, the monk of the Lone Pine speaks to you.

"What are you doing?" he demands, his voice sounding higher-pitched than you would expect from such a virile man.

"Why have you signaled for a stand-down? Everything is proceeding perfectly."

"What is your name?"

[Gaumer]

"Sure'n the...distractions as ye be callin' 'em be the ones wit' the temper. I not be callin' the cares an' worries o' the people o' the West city a distraction, pontiff, I be callin' it the reason for this meetin' in the first place.

But if'n ye be tired, sure'n a table an chairs can be brought out to ye. Or does she seek the shadows, 'idden 'way from the view o' the very people she needs to keep the power she 'as taken from 'em? No more, pontiff! I'll not 'ave see the people put under a dark blanket o' yer knittin' while ye claim to shed the light o' Illumian on 'em.

Aye, Enghart be me name, but 'Sir' be no title I be earnin'. Same as I be earnin' no land an' no 'onor 'mong any people I could be callin' ruled by meself. Unlike so many leaders that DO live an' worry in this world.

Ye be wantin' to meet? Be puttin' the chieftains o' the tribes o' orcs on yer list o' gatherers. As well as the elf leaders, an' the 'alf folk, an' the minotaur an' any else in this world that seek to share it wit' e'ery other who sits at the table. Sure'n 'mong the great artisans o' the West city there be a carpenter who can be buildin' ye such a table. An' just as easy as it would be to fill its chairs wit' those I 'ave spoken o', could this table be built: wit' a simple word from ye two."

[Strifeter]

Tren slowly turns as he begins to cast modify memory.

"My name is Tren Moonstride and I lead the guild of the Ark Moon."

Tren looks to see if his spell has taken hold before implanting the new memory.

[Navarre]

Pontiff Rashai opens her mouth to reply but hesitates. She considers her words.

"Well said, Mister Enghart. A proposition I cannot deny, is it not?"

Rashai looks to the assembled crowd, now as much vexed as intimidated, and speaks in a clear voice that carries over the city.

"I have traveled far from Hallow Hold for the first time. I regret not having the luxury of visiting with the loyal believers in Illumian's Light."

"But I have heard of great trouble near your homes. Sadly, I see that has been a truth."

"All about us we have murdered Angels, both of Illumian and of Sashca. We have what seems to be an unprovoked Elven attack on our good priests, though Mister Enghart rightly questions the circumstances of that."

"We have a great cloud fortress, with followers of various Einshar, hovering over your city; with even more of Sashca's Seraphim circling it. These are all troubling things indeed."

"But let us hear what each side would say. Let us embrace a motion for peace and take that first step ourselves."

"Mister Enghart, tell us, how might we gather those whose voices represent their various people and whose decisions will carry across this great land to ensure a lasting peace? I will have this table built, right here in the very street if need be, if you can fill the chairs about it."

[Navarre]

Tren, the face of the monk before you turns pink at the mention of your name. He remains silent for a moment but you see a spot of blood appear at the corner of his mouth. You see that the blood is caused because he is biting his tongue to keep from replying on instinct.

Your mind touches his, just barely a nudge, and you believe your spell will work if you properly apply a subtle modification to this man's memories.