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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wraithdrit" data-source="post: 960164" data-attributes="member: 10820">Outskirts of TethyamarMarpenoth 1, 1372SunsetDrena looked down at the city and shook her head. “What are they doing here?” She motioned at the far off contingent of dwarves working on one of the central buildings._Navar grinned at Drena, “They don’t look like Thayan dwarves.”Drena shot a glare at Navar and growled, “So where the heck is Lurkhaus?” She turned back to the city and studied the ruins some more.Navar, unable to let the two sit in silence for long, finally spoke, “Shouldn’t we just go ask if they have seen him?”“Of course we are going to go ask. As soon as I know it’s not a Thayan trap.”Navar grunted, “How are you going to know that?” He did so love baiting Drena at times. The mage just glared at him then turned back to the city. Finally something seemed to satisfy her and she stood up.In truth she had just grown as impatient as the berserker and had decided it was time to find out what was going. The two scrambled down the hillside and into the ruins.City of ShadeMarpenoth 1, 1372SunsetDelorian paced in his room. He knew one of the others would come for him soon. The practice run they had a couple of days prior had proved to him his companions were capable warriors, and soon the time would come that he would be forced to kill them all. He trusted Clariburnus completely but still did not feel right about killing his fellow Shadovar.Knowing he had to clear his mind of all the conflict that boiled within it, the monk knelt in front of the small window. He shifted the latch and let the window swing open in front of him. The hazy fog that covered the city was doing a decent job of keeping the setting sun from penetrating into the city. The result was a dim filtered light undulated with the thickness of the cloud cover.A symbol to Shar was carved in the windowsill. Delorian reached up to slide his fingers gently across the carving. He whispered a soft prayer to the dark goddess, asking for her to watch over him and keep him shrouded in shadows. As if to answer his prayer, a single ray of sunshine cut through the moving clouds. It landed atop his outstretched hand, lighting the gray dusky skin. Delorian’s first instinct was to pull back from the sunlight, but something kept him from doing so. The light did not actually hurt, but instead it just seemed to drain him. As if to test himself, the monk kept his hand in the beam of light and turned his hand this way and that, letting the light play of his fingers.The shade swallowed. It had been a long time since he had been out in the sun for more than a few short hours. He knew that his trip would expose him to many dangers, not the least of which was sunlight.Finally he pulled back from the light and closed the dark stained window. The room fell back into near darkness and the monk turned toward the door. He heard the footsteps long before the knock. “Enter.”The door slid open and on the other side stood Lieutenant Siln. “Sir, we are preparing to leave.” As a human, Siln was automatically beneath even a non-ranked monk in the city’s rigid social structure. Thought most of the cities inhabitants were actually human, their power paled in comparison to the ruling class of shades. Unlike many rigid societies, there was an opportunity to climb into the higher ranks. Humans who proved themselves strong and capable could catch the eye of one of the more powerful shades and soon find themselves tested to enter the ranks of the dark ones.Delorian nodded, “Very well. I’ll be right along.” Delorian turned to snatch up his cloak and small pack. The cloak was absolutely huge. Like most shades, Delorian never left the city without wearing plenty of layers of protective cloth.  Delorian was just thankfully he did not have to add armor to the layers. That would prove far to bulky for the monk’s mobile fighting style.Delorian stopped in the doorway and looked back. He knew it would be a very long time before he saw the room again, if ever. He studied the chamber a few more moments then let the door shut behind him as he stalked off into the darkness.Dagger FallsMarpenoth 1, 1372Late EveningSerin stepped out of the barracks and did not look back. Her bow was strapped across her back, and her quiver was full. They were gifts from Morn for the length of time she had served the city faithfully. He had urged her to reconsider her resignation, but nothing would dissuade her. Serin turned and walked down the streets. The battle of the previous day still haunted her. So many men were dead, and for what reason?“You look terrible.” Serin looked up at the familiar voice. It was Will, one of the heroes of Tethyamar.“Will, what are you doing here?” Serin looked confused. The mage must have moved swiftly and taken the northern route around the mountains in order be in town so soon.Will motioned at a floating disk behind him. It was laden down with bags, mostly perishable items and other things Serin could not even begin to recognize. “Supply run. You learn to teleport and suddenly everyone has somewhere they want you to be.” He smiled and patted the young former sergeant on the shoulder. “How are things with you? You don’t look so good…”Serin tried to smile, “Thanks.” She folded her arms in front of her, “I quit the militia. My idea of forging a new path through the mountains was an abysmal failure. Over half the patrol was wiped out.”Will winced, sensing the frustration she felt. “What happened?”Serin shuffled one food in the dust of the road beneath her feat, “Orcs. If it hadn’t been for the Banite, the whole patrol would have been lost.” She bit her bottom lip, knowing what Will would ask next.“So what happened to the Banite then?” He rubbed a hand down her back, trying to comfort her a little.“Gone. In order to get her aid in healing my men, I had to release her.” She looked to Will, “Will, I’m sorry. I know you, Durgaden and the others were relying on that money, but I couldn’t just let my men die. I…”“Hush Serin. The money is not all that important. Lives are always worth more than money. So now that you’ve quit the milita what are your plans?”Serin shrugged. “I don’t know… I want to try and find some way to pay you all back for what I lost… you could have gotten thousands for the Banite and her sword.”Will cocked an eyebrow. “She took the sword as well? I suppose that is to be expected.”Serin looked at Will, desperate to make things right. “I’ll find work and repay Tethyamar for ever copper that I cost it. I swear it. I’ll guard caravans or something.”Will laughed out loud. “Serin, you will be working till you die to pay that debt off if you try to do it with caravan guarding. Maybe we can work something else out.”Serin narrowed her eyes at Will and took a half step back. Jokingly she pointed at the mage, “Hey now… I’m not that kind of girl!”Will laughed and shook his head, “I mean in Tethyamar…”Serin screwed her face in disgust, “With the dwarves? Ugh. Fun to drink with, but that… never.”The two laughed for a few moments then Will finally took on a more serious tone, “Seriously Serin, consider it. We need all the help we could get. You seem proficient with your bow, and have shown yourself to be a survivor. You could come to Tethyamar and help the dwarves and us.”“Will I don’t know.” Serin shook her head a bit.“Sure you do. You quit the militia, you have nothing better to do right now.” He stepped a bit closer and held out a hand.“Fine, when do we leave?” She placed her hand into his and squeezed gently.Will grinned, “Now.” The mage lifted his free hand and closed his eyes. Arcane words spilled from his mouth.Serin recognized what was about to happen and yelped gently. Holding the mage’s hand tightly she cursed and muttered, “One of these days Will… one of these days.” Their world warped inside out and the two disappeared from the street, the floating disk disappearing with them.</blockquote>

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