Shadowfall

[Battal]

"Truth be told, I really don't know very much.  All I know is in my book.  But I do know that unless we act quickly, we are all going to die."

 

Azcar then picks up the book and flips to a page.

 

"The​re are places in this wretched world

​Where even Maxwell dare not tread, 

Places where the darkness seethes

​And all living things have fled,

 

​For there is something evil here

​Something ancient, something foul,

​The darkness has but one name,

​ We call it Shadowfall."

[Blewcheese]

*Joseph shivers as he hears the poem*

"Hmmm... That doesn't sound good. And there's that Maxwell fellow again... But what does this Shadowfall have to do with us?"

[Battal]

Azcar sighs.  "I forget how little you know about this place."

He then settles deeper into his chair.

 

"A long time ago, there was a shade of immense power.  Shades are shadow demons-very nasty, very deadly, and very short tempered.  But this shade was supreme in it's lust for power-so extreme was its thirst, that it started a war that almost destroyed humanity, just to get a book.   However, it finally achieved it's goal, and created a form with which it could destroy entire civilizations, a monstrous shadow beast.  Ever changing, ever growing, it devoured whole cities until finally, it was stopped."

[Blewcheese]

*Joseph blinks in surprise*

"Stopped? What can stop something that destroys entire civilizations? And what kind of book would let someone do that?"

[Battal]

"The demon wasn't killed.  It was locked away.  Here, in fact."

 

Azcar says this as indifferently as if a small, harmless puppy had been trapped instead of a world destroying monster.

 

"That's why I need you.  You see, Shadowfall is on the brink of escape.  And if it gets out, it will destroy humanity.   That's why we need to find it.  That's why we need..."

 

Azcar slurps up the last bit of his soup, then puts down his bowl.

 

"...to kill it."

[Blewcheese]

"Wait... What?"

*Joseph stands up*

"We were dragged into this deserted hell so we could do someone else's dirty work? Why us? Why not someone who actually knows what they're doing?"

*He fumes with rage, trying to stifle an outburst*

[Battal]

Azcar growls.  "Do not blame me!  I didn't bring you here!  You know how long I've waited?  To get revenge for what Shadowfall did to my sister?!?!?"

 

Azcar breathes deeply.  "Apologies.  I should not have snapped...but I understand your anger.  Would you like to hear my plan now?"

[Blewcheese]

*Joseph, who is still annoyed, nods his consent*

"Very well. Go ahead and tell us."

[Battal]

"Currently, Shadowfall is not in it's civilization-destroying form.  The spell requires huge amounts of energy and a lot of time.  If we can kill it before the spell is complete, we can end this at last and avenge all those Shadowfall has killed."

[Blewcheese]

"Alright, at least that's some remotely good news. So how do you suggest we do this?"

[Battal]

"Well, first we need to find out where it is kept.  There's only one person who knows that-Maxwell."

 

Azcar walks over to a shelf full of rolled-up papyrus.  He sifts through them for a bit,  then pulls one out.  Written on it's surface is a map, some diagrams, and what looks like a farewell note.  He places the papyrus on the table, then spreads it flat.

 

"A few of my old compatriots know how to get to Maxwell.  We parted ways some years ago-a few of them are dead, from what I've heard.  A girl named Abigail, and a strongman by the name of Wolfgang...but a few of them are still with us.  You can find them in Hammerfall Canyon.  It's some way from here, but I think you can handle the distance."

 

Azcar rolls up the map again, then hands it to Joseph.

Edited September 20, 2013 by Lord_Battal

[Blewcheese]

*Joseph takes the map and looks at it*

"Very well. And specific dangers we should know about?"

[Battal]

"Hammerfall canyon is home to quite a sizeable amount of tallbirds.  They are very territorial...be on your guard."

[Blewcheese]

"Right, tallbirds. As if I have a clue what those are."

*He snorts*

"Are there any weapons you can give us? I mean, I can telekenize (made up words are cool) large objects, and Jakob's tends to go... A bit overboard with the fire stuff. Anything you can give us?"

[drako125]

"Ohhh... So I was right! I don't know how a strongman would get killed," *remembers the experiment* "Oh, I remember."

[Battal]

Azcar thinks for a couple of seconds, then takes back the map and draws a line alongside the canyon.  He then marks an X at the lines end.

"I have a weapons cache hidden there, if you're up to it.  Hope you're not afraid of heights..."

[Blewcheese]

"Afraid of heights? We're on a mountain, aren't we?"

*Joseph looks around at the group*

"Well, if there's no more wise words of advice you can give us, I suppose we'll be on our way..."

[Battal]

"Oh, and one more thing...you remember Abigail?  She had a sister, and apparently she is...rather strange.  Just a warning."

[Blewcheese]

"I'm sure she can't be much stranger than what we've seen already."

*Joseph takes one last look at the map before putting it away*

[drako125]

"I hope with the fact of how weird things have gotten, it's not a ghost..."

[WhispNcat]

Whisp gets a little anxious about this feeling she's getting.

"Strange girl... well that's a little... nice."

She sighs thinking that she is also somewhat, strange for any other person around her.

[Blewcheese]

*Joseph snorts and walks out of the cavern, muttering*

[Battal]

"Alright, let's go!"

OOC:  Someone get The Hobbit's theme song going xD

[gloryKAT]

Shard snorts, after remaining quiet for a long time. She peered around before looking to the front again, following the group.

[Battal]

The group climbs back down the mountain, and then begins their journey.  Beyong the mountain is a small valley, with a sizeable river flowing through it.  Crossing the river is quite uneventful, except for Jakob having to knock down a tree and go over the water.  "I'll die!  I'm too connected to fire!"  After fording the river, they come across an area full of hills and scattered trees.  The group begins their walk across it.