Shadows Calling

217WeShCa

The warm air that blew across the last of the marsh was enough to calm the nerves that had built up over the past few days since the Oni first appeared out of the mists. A shudder rippled down her back as they remembered the ruthless efficiency at which they killed indiscriminately before moving to the next target, passing by the seemingly lifeless body that crumpled under a man who had taken an arrow to the chest – her body, not lifeless just cowardly.

As the Oni rushed past the fields, torching the houses and building that nurtured them the feeling of guilt and relief mixed together like a witches brew in inside, maybe just maybe she would get out of this nightmare alive.

“Hey, pssst, do you need some help?” a voice said after what felt like an hour of listening to the sounds of distant battle. Daring to open an eye and look up at the source of the voice they were greeted by woman, wrapped in furs and cloth and huddled behind a wagon that had been turned on its side – the draft horse having been shot through with arrows when the Oni attacked.

“Yes, please.” she whispered her reply, nodding as the woman ran over and crouched next to the girl stuck under the body of the dead man before slowly pulling the body off and helping the girl to stand to her feet. “I-I-I don’t know where to go or what to do. The Oni are attacking the town now and I don’t think I can make it on my own in the woods.” the girl stammered as the sat next to her saviour who looked at her with a calculating stare.

“I have… no, sorry. I couldn’t do that to you…” the woman began

“No please anything. I need help I don’t know what to do or where to go” the girl asked.

The woman looked to the girl and sighed “I have this stone, a cursed object that makes it nearly impossible for someone to look at you even when you want them too. The catch is that you cant drop it or give it up until someone does notice you and then the curse is broken. You broke the curse for me, somehow, so I can give you the stone but no one will see you, truly see you even if they search for you until you find someone who can then the curse is broken.” the woman began “It’s a curse and a blessing as it could get you into the town if you are swift about it – but you will be cursed for some time and be alone with just yourself to rely upon..” she continued before the girl spoke up.

“I will take it, please anything to get me away from the Oni” the girl pleaded – her eyes searching for the stone that would be her salvation.

“There is something else…” she continued as she produced a black stone from a pocket. But by then the girl had snatched at it and the rock was gone. The woman’s mouth turned into a grin for but a moment before returning back to a concerned “The other thing is that you will owe one favour, but a small price to pay for your life. But when its called upon you will be magically bound to complete it. You will know the price of the stone when you see it, or hear it or even just feel what its asking and to ignore it means a painful death. – You will be unable to speak about this promise, this favour, until you complete it – much like I have just completed mine.

The girl stood up and stumbled back – looking upon the woman with both manic relief and panic, this sounded like the type witchcraft where the price was always too high for what it gave you.

As she ran away from the woman she stopped dead in her tracks as an Oni rounded the corner and stared at her, then past her towards the woman before taking off at some speed in that direction, running right past the girl. Amazed that the stone actually worked she ran to the city walls, where the piles of dead humans and few Oni were littered around the gate which was slightly open so people could rush in and out to retrieve their wounded or fallen brethren.

“Thank the ancestors you’re here. Plea..” she began but the solider she was talking to walked passed her – ignoring her completely even when he bumped into her.

“Private, bring those men in. Lieutenant make sure none of those Oni are living.” the man barked as she went from one Oni body to another – driving a short blade through their chest.

Stumbling through the gates the girl looked at the black stone that refused to fall from her hand, as if glued to her palm and she began to cry as people pushed past her carrying bodies or wounded, dying and dead men and women in from the outside of the ruined gates and walls.

Days later and after a week or so of hard nights of stealing to eat and survive a large red sailed ship moored at the docks and the people of Jade Point rushed onboard the ship. The girl stumbled towards the ship, determined to survive but the past week had crushed the hope she had as she was sure she was going mad. A day after the stone came into her possession – which she had worked out how to get it to be in a pocket rather than in her hand, it was all about intention – she had started to hear whispers, telling her where to find food, talking to her like an old friend or like someone who cared about her which she wrote off as just herself creating voices and friendliness in the space where she felt none of that.

As she stumbled onboard no one looked out towards her but there was rations, fresh water and a place that was far from the Oni – even now there was the sounds of battle could be heard from the raised ramparts on the hill as a group of people created a distraction to enable the town to escape – well those who survived.

The next morning the ship stopped to let the adventurers who faced the Oni alone back on board and as she lent across the railing with the warm breeze as a chorus of cheering and celebration took place she managed to smile for herself for the first time in a few days.

“I was awestruck too the first time I saw what they could do” a voice said next to her. “These adventurers from across the sea – they are pretty amazing don’t you think” the friendly face said to her with a warm smile.

“Yes” she replied back, the stone dropping like a heavy weight in her pocket – no longer bound to her. “Yes it is pretty amazing. Thanks for rescuing me – I have a something I want to give to you…”

Broken Omen

216WeBrOm

Click, Click, Click. Flint and Steel clicked as momentary bursts of light burst forth in the dark room. Jake stirred slowly, his head throbbing as he became increasingly aware of the gooey warm mess of matted hair and drying blood forming on the back of his skull.

“Ah, so he is finally awake” a voice, definitely Oni, said from behind the flash of sparks and smell of burning tinder. “We didn’t think we would come up with a way to get you, but our pawn made good on his bargain.” The Tinder took and a fire started to spread just in time for Jake to gaze upon the broken and beaten body of Yu, the man who had struck him and who had single handed led to his capture.

Jake went to talk but his face hurt and a groan came out. “Tsk tsk, don’t push yourself Captain.” the Oni said as he stepped into the light, her short sharp tusks, pointed ears and red skin only seemed to highlight the broad flat but sharp nose that was the defining feature on her face. “Yu pushed himself too much and disappointed us. We have a long night ahead captain and I hope that you can last longer than the body you are replacing”

Jake watched with horror and mild panic as Yu opened one eye slightly, the other swollen shut, and looked at him, a single tear swelled and trickled down his face as two burly looking Oni; or half Oni – it was hard to tell in the dim light from the one fire, cut Yu down and carried him out of the area he was kept in.

“Now, let’s start with the easy stuff. Why do you defend the port, what are you expecting?”

---

The party watched a dark mist flooded the lower recesses around the gap between the rampart and the dock town with morbid interest – memories of the mist and the creatures it bore from Daye still fresh in their minds. As they looked towards the town they noticed two people stride from the town, from this distance they were just two small figures like ants but it was very evident that something that wrong when the one in the back moved suddenly and the front figure collapsed onto the ground. The mist approached the two hungrily and soon it engulfed them, the vapour collapsing around the wall before alarm bells tolled and figures buzzed around the towns crudely constructed barricade like ants defending their nest.

The mist retreated and bodies clad in a grey clothing – or armour, the distance was really doing a disservice to those watching this unfold, were left in its wake – but the two figures that left the safety of the walls were gone.

Taking that as a sign the party made haste down the slight hill from where the jungle grew and head towards the town but they were stopped by the clack of crossbows and the whistling of bolts as projectiles rained down upon them. Tall, vicious grey armour clad humanoids rushed at them as another volley of bolts whizzed around them and landed at their feet. The humanoids had red skin, pointed ears and large flat features that reminded them of goblins and some orcs from their home continent and as the warriors got closer they snarled, revealing their sharpened short tusks and murderous intent in their eyes.

Shamans Request

215WeShRe

Varda, the name given to her by the last of the elves, looked upon the four adventures in front of them, each of them showing some form of distress and injury. “Well don’t just stand there, come in” she said in near perfect Elven. She then croaked a few deep and rising notes to the toad-kin boys near the humans. “Where did you find them? They have the look of the star-blessed” she nodded and ushered the party, who bad to crawl inside the hut under the roots, barely big enough for them all to sit together side by side.

After shuffling around; an amazing feat considering there was barely any room to stand let alone walk around with one foot, Varda handed a small bowl of the goop she was cooking from her pot.

“So you are looking for a way for you to travel through the marsh safely? Hmm.” She pondered as she sat down and stared at the party as they moved the slop around the tiny bowl. “I can produce a charm that will assist but I will need some components” she began glancing around the party.

“I need the petals of a Longsnout Sharptooth, the feathers of a Mirestrider Kookastem and a drop of star light. The two toads with you, Kiri and Trip” she gestured to the two toad-kin who croaked in response to indicate who was who, “can show you to the two creatures but the drop of starlight I believe you already have the answer to that.” When the party looked confused she nodded and spoke to Kiri and Trip.

“I believe you already met the longsnout and the Mirestrider is easy enough to find if you know the marsh” she said “as for the drop, if you don’t know I may have a solution.”

As she moved around the small hut she eventually found two small vials before giving them the the most trust worthy looking of the party. “Use these for the drops after you have the petal and the feathers, but before you leave I have a question.” She paused as she blinked and gazed upon the humans before her. “Where is the fallen star and can you take me to them?”

Star born

214WeSB

As countless bodies leapt from the marshy bank just as many fell over the edge, their bodies burn, cut, pierced or crushed by the defenders of the ship. The loud, large croaking voice of the war chief pierced the shrieks of the toad people and the cries of pain and alarm from the humans and vanara onboard the boat.

Kiri prepared himself to begin his attack, Trip standing next to him looking jittery, with energy or nerves he could not tell. ” This is it old friend,” he began as the ship came within leaping reach, “may the stars embrace you. I dare say we will join them soon” he said, blinking his bulbous eyes once as he attempted to Swallow his nerves away. Trip just nodded before leaping onto the side of the boat along with dozens of other toad kin.

As their clawed, padded fingers expertly found hand and foot holds they scaled the side of the ship amidst the flow of bodies tumbling over the side. Their hands reached the edge of the ships railing and the volume of creatures fighting on-top of the ship was staggering, there was a wave of greens, browns, yellows and the occasional white toad as they stabbed, cut, bashed and leapt towards towards the humans. As soon as a toad fell their comrades would grab the body hastily and throw them overboard, the wounded feeding the marsh or recovering in the relative safety of the waters and reeds.

As room opened up on deck Kiri and Trip pushed up over the side of the ship helping their clansmen push a injured toad over their shoulders and into the water below. The smell of blood was ripe in the air, the sticky sweet of their kind and the harsh metallic of the humans and monkey kin. As the toads pushed forward, their ranks swelling and moving as one living mass of bodies one of the humans received a spear to their thigh, crying out their allies pulled them back behind their closing ranks as the clink of metal and the scent of death approached. A group of humans unlike the others strode forward, getting where they walked from the pile of dead toads was so many that their people were simply unable to clear the deck. The scent of fear and increase in bodily secretions grew where ever the group moved and when they did bodies lay on their wake.

“Liz! We need you!” Cried out a voice from somewhere and a door burst open a few moments later revealing something that terrified the toads more than the death bringers. A emissary of the ancient ones. Fangs, claws and a touch scaled hide of shimmering gold caused lesser toads to jump overboard. But behind the emissary is what stopped the fighting.

A fallen star walked forward, light radiating from it as if bringing warmth, hope and life to the night. The toads as of single organism dropped to their knees and bowed low on reverence as nothing was more sacred to them as the stars above.

Kiri trembled. Ancient stories spoke of stars walking amongst their kind and where they walked life flourished. That was before the great uprising where the oni attempted to enslave all life on this land and the stars vanished. Ot was during this time of war, death and fear that the shadow brokered its pact with his kind and they survived the oni somehow.

Silence and confusion littered the boat and Marsh and only the croaking of several chiefs, and the deep reverberation of the war chief could be heard as confusion stillness moved across the ranks of toad kin.

“Well. I don’t know what spell you cast Liz but they don’t seem to be attacking us any more” one human said and, risking a glance up Kiri looked towards the star and his eyes flew wide, it was a human.

Walking Shadow

213WeWS

Running through the tall stalks of grain Rohun he called out to Ling who was lagging behind him “We’ve got to run, now! We will lose them!” he called, eagerness in his voice as he pushed the stalks and reeds away with his shield as the voice called out to them “Help” from somewhere up ahead.

As the voice came louder the more uncertain of its origin he became, eventually coming to a stop a few dozen feet from the wall that separated the next paddock and the mountains beyond. As Ling walked in front of him he was glad, not for the first time that he had her by his side when things by the fringe got weird or out of control. As the voices started to pickup, repeating words back to them Rohun was so focused on the noises and looking for a person speaking to them that he didn’t notice his own shadow elongate, slither up his body and wrap around his mouth.

The moment the shadow clamped down around his body, constricting him stronger than any creature he had encountered could, binding his arms to his sides, his spear to his arm and holding his mouth shut. It was impossible to move and when he felt a tug on his legs he fell forward on his face he was whipped back into the reeds with such speed that his only chance at survival and freedom was Ling noticing. As he stopped moving and he looked up through the reeds, blinking trying to clear the dirt that had been flicked into his eyes he stared with confusion then horror as he saw himself standing next to Ling in the patch of reeds he was just standing in.

“Run Ling. It’s all we can do now. Go now!” the imposter yelled as he took off, away from the reeds and shadows. Rohun strained against his bindings, moving and straining against the shadows themselves. That’s when he felt them moving him again, pulling him towards the wall and the mountains beyond. He cried out but the shadow around his mouth squeezed tighter, making sure to not hurt him or damage him but keep him quiet as his feet hit the stone of the wall. Then, after a moment of pressure on his feet he felt his legs lift and he started to move over the wall, turning around using what little control he had over his body he looked with terror filled fascination as short little creatures moved with the shadows to attack Ling, but not savagely enough to hurt or harm her seriously but enough to drive her away. He strained, pushed and shouted – praying to his ancestors to seek their assistance – just one noise, one movement enough to get Lings attention so she would turn around and see him.

He felt his feet flick over the top of the wall, then his calves, thighs, hips and lower back. The entire time straining so hard to try and get Lings attention. Pop! his efforts rewarded him with his right shoulder dislocating causing his cries to help to turn into cries of pain and shock. As he felt his shoulders reach the top of the wall he glanced once more at his friend as she stopped, paused and looked back at the wall just in time for him, engulfed in shadows to fall over the wall and land hard. Creatures, bald and naked with exaggerated features stood around him, their forms cloaking in shadows like cloth would be worn by humans. As they walked so did the shadows that bound him move as they headed off in the directions of the mountains – a strange garbled language being spoken but each of them holding a weapon, token, or something of the people of this land – victims from previous abductions no less. As he banged his head on a rock and his should smashed into something else hidden amongst the vegetation beyond the wall his mind wandered as he contemplated what his next move was – how does he escape to save Ling from the doppelganger and warn his people of the shadowy threat this close to their villages.

That which nests in the dark

212WeNeDa

As the last of the sail and the weathered but salvageable planks came down from the beached ship the party looked over their work from the last day. As they walked away from the ship and down the beach they couldn’t shake the feeling that had nestled within their heads that they were being watched. Shrugging as they helped the few crew that remained with them take hold of the bundles of planks, wrapped up sail and other bits and pieces the party continued down the beach, dragging and carrying their pilfered goods and materials down the beach towards the row of trees they had walked through initially. To intent on their task they did not notice the rustling in the grass or the long thin bodies moving in the underbrush nor the distant screams and cries for help that the wind whisked away and the trees muffled to the point of silence.

Moving towards their ship there was no movement from the crew that had remained behind to continue their search for food, fresh water and materials as they had left to investigate the broken ship. As they drew closer to where they had set up a temporary camp, the lack of movement and people moving about the canvas tents set off alarms in the party’s minds and they dropped their heavy burdens and looked around for their travelling companions.

The astute and observant members of the party looked around in the ground and noticed many signs of a struggle and several sets of large, deep drag marks that indicated people were dragged off towards the forest not far from the waters edge.

As the party followed the drag marks and disturbances in the sand towards the forest edge a short figure darted out and grabbed a hold of the lead Party members arm.
“Don’t go in there,” the little wild looking girl said, “you will end up like the others trapped… trapped in the dark waiting for your fate as the never ending hiss comes from the cavern below.” She spoke in hushed tones and looked around nervously as if expecting to see something more.

“The forest is too thick you won’t be able to find the way to where they’re keeping them. Anyway there’s to find the tracks and avoid avoid the scouts that will be keeping an eye out above the monolith, there is no way in or out not out of the dark not where the great beast nests.”

After a few moments and realising that the party would could not be decided from following their friends and trying to save them the little wild girl ran off into the forest disappearing amongst the trees and the bushes. As the party set foot leaving the crew members that help them with the salvage operation behind, they followed the drag marks and tracks as far as they could before the jungle Swallow the air tracks. After an hour of travel they eventually came to a large roughly hewn path in the side of the mountain leading up towards the spire.

The trees with sparse at the base of the mountain except for at the waters edge of the large freshwater lake that appeared to be fed from a stream coming down from the mountain.

The rough uneven ground of the path leading up the mountains enabled the parties to traverse it without much difficulty the bumps grooves and uneven rocks although creating trip hazards enabled enough footholds and they would not sleep further down the mountain. After further our of travel are they eventually came to a Plateau I’m high above the treetops of the jungle around the mountain and from this point they could clearly see several other wrecked ships positioned around the island each one of them nestled amongst the sand except for the Dancing Drake. Ahead of them lay more purposely carve out steps that lead to a large archway leading further towards the spire at the centre of the mountain.

Although vigilant in paying attention as they traverse through the jungle and the mountains and seeing no humans or humanoids on the journey the feeling of them being watched never left them and the further they climbed up the carved steps the more ghostly shed skins of snakes did they find.

As they passed passed underneath the intricately carved archway that depicted snakes coiled around bound humans that supported the large archway above. One hundred feet past the archway, at the base of the spire they could see the beginnings of a building much like a temple from back home carved into the side of the rocky face of the spire and from within its murky depths a penetrating cold feeling clutched at them greedily.

Trials at sea

211WeTaS

As the wind hit the sails the crew knew that they were in for a hard ride regardless of the ship that was now close enough that you could see the individual people running about the top of the deck, weapons and ropes in hand. As Kyoko barked an order ropes went taught, sails drifted across the deck and the ship turned abruptly as a large wave loomed on the side of the ship and Kyoko heaved on the wheel turning the ship at the right moment to use the wave to push them further away from their pursuer.

The party were less lucky as the sea water spilled freely across the deck, the crew moving rapidly across the deck dragging ropes, sails poles and other implements to keep the ship floating on the waves the right way up.

---

So the first test we have here is going to be the standard ability checks to see if they can remain on their feet and move around the deck of the ship. DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or to fall and hope they don’t fall pass the rail or at least have a rope tied to them. If the party member has a background that saw them on the sea previously then they would make the check at advantage and, DM discretion, if they had water vehicle proficiency then they would also make the roll at advantage.

---

With a yell a few of the crew fly overboard when they lose their grip on the ship. Within a moment several crew jump to grab the rope to pull up the crew members that flew off the edge.

“Somebody pull that sail, I need someone to help me with the wheel, get those men back on deck!” Kyoko bellows from the helm as she puts her weight behind the wheel trying to keep the ship on course as a wave threatens to push them aside.

---

Ok, so we have a Water vehicle check (to pull the sail), strength or athletics check to bring the overboard crewmen back on deck, and then a one of either check to help Kyoko with the helm. If the party don’t help with one of the three items then it may lead to negative affects.

• Sail, Water Vehicle check DC 13 – If fail the party member is knocked prone and is pushed in a random direction 10ft.
• Crew, Athletics check DC 12 Strength check DC 13 – if Fail the crew members are eventually dragged up but they have breathed in a lot of water and 1 or 2 crew members are effectively unconscious (not dead though) for the rest of the day. Any further checks to keep the ship going on course are made at +1 DC.
• Helm, Base DC is 14. Water vehicle check at Base, Strength at base +2 and Athletics at base +1 – if Fail then the ship doesn’t turn in time and the the party need make a Dex check DC 14 or fall prone and if they fail by more than 10 they fall overboard.

If the party fail at 2 of the above three then they will be boarded by 1 or 2 members from the ship behind them that the party will need to fight..

---

As the ship rock and comes down from a swell it stops suddenly with a resounding crash as it connect with the pirate vessel who had come on the inside of the Red fleet Ship. As Kyoko starts to bark orders ropes, boarding planks and grappling hooks fly across the rail and go taught binding the ships together as men and women rush onboard from the other ship.

Crew members from the parties ship rush to meet them but the attackers have a manic crazed look across their face as a scarred dragonborn stands next to the helm loading a crossbow and barking orders at the people rushing across to take over the other ship.

---

Well – This is mainly combat but the party can remove the boarding planks, cut the ropes try to separate the ships.

To separate the ships it would require a series of successful Vehicle handling rolls. DC12, DC 13, DC14 and DC15 across 4 rounds.

To push the planks it would be a DC10 Athletics or strength check if there is no one on the plank or DC14 if there is one person, DC16 if there are two or more people on the plank as they go to remove it.

To sever or remove the ropes it would require a sharp weapon. The role has an AC of 8 and 10 HP (they are rather thick ropes). To remove them without cutting them then the party would need to make Strength or Athletics checks DC 14.

The face of benevolence

210WeFoB

Siu watched anxiously as the adventurers and Priestess Lizbet approached the ship, seeing his cousins great granddaughter months ago when he left the shores of his homeland hadn’t been a shock since he had always tried to make sure that she was doing well but the having to confront her was something that still made him anxious, after all he never did get to make amends and reconcile with his cousin.

As they strode forward he could feel the magic leaving his body and the nails on his hands and feet started to darken and elongate into the dark and menacing claws that he had carried since the time he was transformed. Gulping and meditating to calm his nerves he looked up and smiled, trying to put on a brave face.

“I am glad that you decided to come, I believe you know Kyoko Harimasu and I have a request for both of you, for the good of our homeland.” he paused, feeling a surge of magic trickling through his body, sighing he stood slowly and outstretched his arms as a show of peace. “Unfortunately this body, as much as it is mine, is a deception. I was cursed quite some time ago by the dragon Huangdi to take a different form other than my normal due to me betraying my family.” as he spoke his body started to shift, his limbs elongating and growing a layer of dark fur. “Despite my curse I have been a servant to the dragon that changed my form and my only wish is to see their salvation from the darkness that encroaches upon their land.” A tail sprouted from the end of his spine and curled around his feet as he felt his bones shift in his face and torso – an painful and unpleasant process that dropped him to his knees.

After a few moments he stood up on his legs and felt the familiar prick of a blade on his neck. “An interesting tale. I can’t know how you know about my the issues beyond my families borders but I have heard tales of creatures of the shadows tricking my people” Kyoko said pushing the blade harder against the creatures neck and the sound of a metallic clink resonated forth.

As the sound came forth form the blade the hair on Siu’s body began to drive down off his form revealing a pale gold layer of metallic scales had covered his body, after a moment a few patches of fur remained around his joints, neck and the tip of his tale but a layer of draconic scales had taken up residence over his body. After a moment of shock Kyoko’s blade retreated from Siu’s neck and the scrape of it returning to its sheath could be heard. “Golden dragon scales. It is as you say, you are the servant of the gold dragon.” When Siu looked back at his cousins descendant he could see the wonder and confusion on her face.

“I am not sure why I look like this – but will you help me in pushing back the darkness?”

Elizabeth

209WeLizbet

She stared up at the man in front of her who had stopped so suddenly, a steady flow of sweat beginning to flow from his brow like rains across the meadows of her farm.

“You,..” he breathily said, “you will be a guiding light, a beacon for life, fertility and growth. Chauntea walks with you and her hand guides you on the path that will lead you to the light of day.” he said, his head turned to look at her, eyes rolled back to look towards the back of his skull. “But… This is not your fate, you will be a beacon of light and warmth amongst the darkness in the shadows after flying on the red, wooden dragon. Chauntea smiles on you child as you are the one to bring her light to the dark”

The man shivered blinked a few times before looking around “Oh, is there something on my face?” he asked sheepishly as he dabbed his white collared robe on his face “No? Hmm. Well how do I look?” he said, his bulbous nose the perfect accessory for his wide grin. “I’ve been told that I have potential to be a great seer you see and today is my test.” he looked up from the girl at the girls parents who were looking at him as if he was a venomous insect. Realisation struck “Oh, Tyr bless me. Did I reveal when your pet would die? no worse, when you will die. I am so sorry young child. Tyr blesses me with the truth and I the visions he sends me are rarely directed or controllable when they flow like a giant water snake flying down the river and I’m trying to hold on with a rope.” the man made a dramatic show of being dragged behind this invisible beast – grinning to himself as he did so. Elizabeth thought he should have been a bard rather than a cleric of Tyr but she could not shake the feeling of a light on the back of her hand guiding her, moving her forward towards where she needed to go. When the man shrugged, apologised and walked off again she turned around to her parents who looked down at her with a look that was equal parts fear and reverence.

---

As Lizbet ran to the figure on the ground she looked at the young man who was spread out, naked, deep slashes on his ribs that seemed to sprout a river of black moving under his skin and up his neck. Looking over at Katya she gripped her hand “I will need your strength here Katya if we are to save him. Why he is here and who he is does not matter. He is living but on the cusp of death if we don’t save him. To breathe life and light into this world is our duty as daughters of Chauntea and our powers, our divine magic that she blesses us with are to be used in her name to heal the sick and wounded.

Katya nodded and squeezed Lizbets hand – a warmth spread between them as she had felt when they had first met – kindred souls meeting, two daughters of Chauntea both equally blessed and loved by the deity of fertility, life and bounty. “Now follow me and repeat what I say” Lizbet said as she began to pray to Chauntea for healing, life, and the removal of blight and poison.

As the final words of their combined prayer left their lips – which Katya realised only too late that she was no longer following but speaking along with Lizbet, a golden glow pulsed forth from their palms that were either side of the naked mans chest, having rolled him onto his back to better access his torso. The glow spread through the mans body pushing back the rivers of black and a dark mist oozed forth from the wounds and seemed to combust into a golden flame as it almost reached towards the priestesses as their magic surged forth. The man beneath their touch wept as his face contorted in pain, screaming words that had no sound or meaning as a sweat drenched his brow. As the magic left his body he wept more muttering a single drawn out word before falling unconscious, “Siu…”

Siu woke in a bed with a fresh white linen tunic on. Turning his head he looked out the window to see that the sun was setting and looking down he was still in his human form, his magic still held but for how long he needed to find who had healed him.

“Feeling better then?” a voice said from behind him – turning she noticed the raven haired girl that had radiated the same magic as the priestess from yesterday. “Lizbet will be back shortly with some more dressings for your wound, despite our prayers we couldn’t heal it all – can you remember what happened to you?”

“how long” Siu said as he looked around for a place to hide.

“Pardon?” Katya asked a bit confused as Lizbet entered the room with some more bandages.

“How long since you found and healed me?” Siu asked, relief showing on his face when Lizbet reached the side of his bed.

“We found you at noon, it is now dusk.” Lizbet responded as she grabbed a damp cloth and gestured for him to sit down.

He had a bit over half a day left, he signed in relief and sadness as he stood from the bed, his magic infused body being the epitome of strength, grace and fortitude. The ability to revert to his human for was a gift from his master when he had saved his family in war once. The ability to return to his human self for one full day once every ten years.

“forgive me in advance for any deceptions you realise but I have grave tidings” he said as he knelt and prostrated before them “I have a warning that I have to give to you” he spoke his voice stressing his urgency.

“Come now sir, you and we are safe here in this temple. If you could just stand..” she grunted as she tried to lift him “Katya I don’t believe we purged all the poison, or disease. What ever it was from last time – I will lead you in another prayer and we will try and cure his delirium” Lizbet said tugging on Siu’s arm trying to get him to stand.

“That was not poison but shadow from a fell beast – a beast of shadow that has possessed the body of a creature, in my instance a cat” Siu said as he knelt before the priestesses.

Katya laughed “A creature of shadow…” she began before seeing a look of genuine concern on Lizbet’s face.

“Logan!” she called out and a moment later a brother of their temple appeared next to them.,

“yes Lady Lizbet?” he asked, Logan was a warm hearted man and his smile spoke of compassion and years of service.

“Can you go and find the adventurers who saved this city from the Shadow-mist creature, and rescued Lady Katya.. I fear we are not able to let them rest just yet..” she sighed.

“Mr.. What did you say your name was?”

“Siu…” Siu began but he winced as the painful memories flooded his mind of his cousin. “My name is… Siu..” he said, a tear streaking down his face “I am a servant of the Dragon protector of my family and I need to warn you. The fell beasts are forming an army and I believe they are after your light – with it gone the darkness in my home land across the sea will be complete and the rot and discord will spread through that land and the next until all are consumed.” Siu winced, lying was not something he condoned but a half lie, such as this, only caused him moderate amounts of pain and guilt. It may add a year or dozen onto his sentence but if his plan worked then the years may not be relevant soon any way.

“A light.. amongst the darkness” Lizbet mumbled – her memory flashing back to the prophecy from the wondering cleric of Tyr. “Katya, we have much to prepare for. You will find mother matron in her room, ask her to bring the codex. I only hope that Siu, ” she paused staring into his golden irises “is wrong and we wont need the knowledge within but after this past month I am not sure what to expect any more.” she sighed as she finally convinced Siu to stand and sit on the bed again.

“Tell me what you know” she asked Siu as Katya ran off.

Siu sighed, here goes nothing “A dark mist on every street, creatures stalking in the shadows controlled by shadow and magic and you two,” he nodded towards the hastily departing Katya, “were their obvious prey”.