The East was crumbling.
So were the rumors and speculation to the citizens of Blackstone Keep and surrounding areas.
Some scattered few citizens of the great empires in the ancient eastern parts of the continent had made their way to the embattled stones of the keep. Most lived in obscurity, or sought out membership in one of the worthy guilds of monastic or arcane orders.
Those newcomers knew the rumors were true. The understood the destruction that had been left in the wake of the Cult of Shalnath and the evil demon's domination of the lands.
But they would not speak of these tragedies for fear that there would be retaliation. The destruction of the city of Marvale was commonplace for cities that had stood through the course of the eons.
Some brave few citizens of the east took up arms in battle against Shalnath's forces and were eradicated from the planet. Others saw the hopelessness of battle and fled, cursing Vor and Kazra alike.
Ishido was one such warrior.
He journeyed the length and breadth of the land in order to find a pocket of resistance against the demon's forces. The keep appeared to be one such bastion of rebellion.
Ishido embraced this resistance. For in the battle and training of it all was FOCUS and FOUNDATION. FORM and FUNCTION were his gods, although he still paid homage to the eleven minor deities. This battle against the demon excited him at the same time it gave him a desire to seek power and retribution for his fallen comrades in the east.
Kage-buyou (The Dance of Shadows)
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Kage-buyou (The Dance of Shadows)
Last edited by viobane on Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:47 pm, edited 4 times in total.
He wandered the keep, working to mostly keep out of others way and averting his eyes when needed. Ishido kept to the shadows and had no desire to interact with the strange citizens of the keep.
He received some sidelong stares and curious glances, not realizing that his bare chest was uncommon in the sometimes inhospitable weather. It had begun to rain and Ishido relished in its smell and taste.
His elven heritage gave him an almost mystical connection with nature, and despite his decades of training and discipline, when he saw the ancient oak he felt the urge to leap into its branches like a youngster.
As with all urges and base desires, Ishido kept this one at bay. After spending hours noting the various shops and areas of the small citadel, he decided to journey outside the walls and see what sort of countryside clashed with the stone and iron keep.
A tiny hamlet was just beyond the gates, and Ishido smiled at its quaint appearance. He heard screaming up ahead and raised an eyebrow in curiosity as he journeyed forward.
He received some sidelong stares and curious glances, not realizing that his bare chest was uncommon in the sometimes inhospitable weather. It had begun to rain and Ishido relished in its smell and taste.
His elven heritage gave him an almost mystical connection with nature, and despite his decades of training and discipline, when he saw the ancient oak he felt the urge to leap into its branches like a youngster.
As with all urges and base desires, Ishido kept this one at bay. After spending hours noting the various shops and areas of the small citadel, he decided to journey outside the walls and see what sort of countryside clashed with the stone and iron keep.
A tiny hamlet was just beyond the gates, and Ishido smiled at its quaint appearance. He heard screaming up ahead and raised an eyebrow in curiosity as he journeyed forward.
Last edited by viobane on Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
The battlefield was covered in arrows, bones, gore and worse. Ishido was unsure if he was back at home in some sort of god-sent flashback or if he was still near Blackstone Keep.
From his side, a pile of bones became animated and rose to attack him. Ishido easily dodged and placed a well targeted pair of knuckles through the undead's sternum, shattering bones in all directions.
For some reason the screaming had stopped, but Ishido noticed a slightly ajar door to a crypt jutting out of a small hill to his side. He was not positive, but it seemed that the screams had been echoing from deep within the catacombs below.
He casually entered the crypt, his elven eyes quickly adjusting to the dim light. sunlight from the outdoors filtered in and showed that a fair quantity of dust had recently been disturbed in the entryway.
As he walked deeper into the corridors of the crypt, he heard a light moaning at his side and turned in time to avoid a vicious slash by a dessicated zombie hand.
Ishido pirouetted on the ball of his left foot and his right heel made a satisfying thump against the monster's head. As he regained his footing, he noticed the zombie was still attempting to attack him despite its head being at an unnatural angle.
He smiled slightly wondering why an unnatural angle of a zombie's neck could seem more unnatural than the fact that the creature was an animated corpse.
He chopped with his left hand and followed though with a left kick to its midsection. As it went down, its clawed hand grazed his bare chest, drawing a thin stripe of blood. Before the beast could rise again, Ishido ended its undeath by completely smashing its skull, causing ichor to cover his reinforced boot.
He decided that it might be best to avoid the zombies, and he began to stick to the walls, choosing his path carefully.
From his side, a pile of bones became animated and rose to attack him. Ishido easily dodged and placed a well targeted pair of knuckles through the undead's sternum, shattering bones in all directions.
For some reason the screaming had stopped, but Ishido noticed a slightly ajar door to a crypt jutting out of a small hill to his side. He was not positive, but it seemed that the screams had been echoing from deep within the catacombs below.
He casually entered the crypt, his elven eyes quickly adjusting to the dim light. sunlight from the outdoors filtered in and showed that a fair quantity of dust had recently been disturbed in the entryway.
As he walked deeper into the corridors of the crypt, he heard a light moaning at his side and turned in time to avoid a vicious slash by a dessicated zombie hand.
Ishido pirouetted on the ball of his left foot and his right heel made a satisfying thump against the monster's head. As he regained his footing, he noticed the zombie was still attempting to attack him despite its head being at an unnatural angle.
He smiled slightly wondering why an unnatural angle of a zombie's neck could seem more unnatural than the fact that the creature was an animated corpse.
He chopped with his left hand and followed though with a left kick to its midsection. As it went down, its clawed hand grazed his bare chest, drawing a thin stripe of blood. Before the beast could rise again, Ishido ended its undeath by completely smashing its skull, causing ichor to cover his reinforced boot.
He decided that it might be best to avoid the zombies, and he began to stick to the walls, choosing his path carefully.
Last edited by viobane on Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
Ishido looked around corners before proceeding into corridors and rooms. Much of the wall space was dedicated to coffins and beds of rotting remains. Occasionally as he walked past the bones inside alcoves would stir and he would hurry on to the next area.
He managed to avoid a number of encounters in this way, eventually descending a short set of stairs. On the next level he became lost during one turn to avoid zombies and came to a small chamber with a large stone statue.
The statue radiated with power, and Ishido was certain that it was not made of normal stone. The eyes glistened and appeared to be alive.
He edged closer to the monument and detected that the shadows in the crypt were being absorbed into its granite-like surface. Curious, he laid a hand upon the stone to feel its surface.
As soon as he touched it, however, it simply disappeared. Ishido was concerned that the item had been a trap and quickly turned around. He noticed a few skeletons lumbering toward him, so he quickly dispatched them with a series of sharp kicks and punches and continued stealthily on his way.
He managed to avoid a number of encounters in this way, eventually descending a short set of stairs. On the next level he became lost during one turn to avoid zombies and came to a small chamber with a large stone statue.
The statue radiated with power, and Ishido was certain that it was not made of normal stone. The eyes glistened and appeared to be alive.
He edged closer to the monument and detected that the shadows in the crypt were being absorbed into its granite-like surface. Curious, he laid a hand upon the stone to feel its surface.
As soon as he touched it, however, it simply disappeared. Ishido was concerned that the item had been a trap and quickly turned around. He noticed a few skeletons lumbering toward him, so he quickly dispatched them with a series of sharp kicks and punches and continued stealthily on his way.
Last edited by viobane on Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
He eventually discovered a passage linking to another lower level. This next catacomb was not like the rest. It was evenly laid out with halls stretching to the north and west.
He heard an almost electric crackling coming from somewhere down the halls, but saw no undead. Cautiously, he went up the north passage and turned to the left at its end.
Down a small hall, he noticed a door that was bordered on each edge with a reddish light. He walked up to the door and realized the electric cackle was beyond that threshold.
He pushed open the door as quietly as he could. Inside the large chamber was a glowing globe of energy. Every so often, the orb would shoot a stream of lightning toward alcoves in the walls. The alcoves would begin to writhe in movement, and numerous zombies and skeletons would come tumbling forth.
Stranger than this, however, was a small creature running in circles around the orb. The creature had a spiked tail, but the appearance of a humanoid.
Ishido wondered if the creature was some sort of demon in league with the necromantic orb, but then noticed the creature would occasionally attack a zombie that strayed into its path.
Ishido decided that investigating further would necessitate entering the chamber and he did so, choosing a moment when a zombie was close enough to strike as he entered.
The zombie was soon on the floor, no longer moving, and more of the undead turned toward him.
He rushed them all, knocking ones head off with a solid kick, and knocking another to the ground with a forceful one armed shove.
As he battled the zombies, the demonic creature hissed out a warning, "Destroy the orb, fool!"
Ishido was blocked from the orb by a throng of skeletons. Using a tactic he had learned from a monastic order during his travels, Ishido raised on arm over his head, creating a arch resembling the letter C. His other arm pointed at the throng, and when they were within striking distance, he swung his curled arm in a strong circle as he pivoted on his front leg.
His other arm swung in the same arc, causing a wave of skeletons to fall in his wake. In the quick clearing, he was able to run to the orb, but how would he attack a ball of energy?
He heard an almost electric crackling coming from somewhere down the halls, but saw no undead. Cautiously, he went up the north passage and turned to the left at its end.
Down a small hall, he noticed a door that was bordered on each edge with a reddish light. He walked up to the door and realized the electric cackle was beyond that threshold.
He pushed open the door as quietly as he could. Inside the large chamber was a glowing globe of energy. Every so often, the orb would shoot a stream of lightning toward alcoves in the walls. The alcoves would begin to writhe in movement, and numerous zombies and skeletons would come tumbling forth.
Stranger than this, however, was a small creature running in circles around the orb. The creature had a spiked tail, but the appearance of a humanoid.
Ishido wondered if the creature was some sort of demon in league with the necromantic orb, but then noticed the creature would occasionally attack a zombie that strayed into its path.
Ishido decided that investigating further would necessitate entering the chamber and he did so, choosing a moment when a zombie was close enough to strike as he entered.
The zombie was soon on the floor, no longer moving, and more of the undead turned toward him.
He rushed them all, knocking ones head off with a solid kick, and knocking another to the ground with a forceful one armed shove.
As he battled the zombies, the demonic creature hissed out a warning, "Destroy the orb, fool!"
Ishido was blocked from the orb by a throng of skeletons. Using a tactic he had learned from a monastic order during his travels, Ishido raised on arm over his head, creating a arch resembling the letter C. His other arm pointed at the throng, and when they were within striking distance, he swung his curled arm in a strong circle as he pivoted on his front leg.
His other arm swung in the same arc, causing a wave of skeletons to fall in his wake. In the quick clearing, he was able to run to the orb, but how would he attack a ball of energy?
Last edited by viobane on Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
Ishido's hesitation only lasted for a moment. The demonic creature was continuing to run in circles, and a number of zombies would swipe at it as it ran past.
The monk tried a quick jab at the orb. Despite its luminescence and seeming lack of solidity, his fist connected with a solid "thunk". The light wavered for a moment, then blasted a new necromantic blast in the opposite direction causing more disturbance among the walls of crypts.
Ishido decided to use a more forceful attack and kicked the orb. Another solid hit caused minute fractures of darkness to appear around the orb.
Knowing that the elbow is one of the most useful parts of the body to attack with, Ishido jumped high into the air, easily as high as he was tall, and came crashing down on the orb with his elbow, using his full weight.
The orb was pushed down a foot or more and stopped spinning. Suspended in the air. Ishido stepped back to see what damage had been inflicted, and was about to attack again when the orb began to implode.
The supernatural light that had radiated from its core began to be sucked into its center. It appeared like a dark black spot surrounded by light and made a loud popping sound as the chamber went momentarily dark.
When the light returned, Ishido found that all the undead had fallen when the orb was destroyed. The creature had stopped running in circles and walked up to him. "Nice hit!" it said with what could only be described as a smile.
The monk tried a quick jab at the orb. Despite its luminescence and seeming lack of solidity, his fist connected with a solid "thunk". The light wavered for a moment, then blasted a new necromantic blast in the opposite direction causing more disturbance among the walls of crypts.
Ishido decided to use a more forceful attack and kicked the orb. Another solid hit caused minute fractures of darkness to appear around the orb.
Knowing that the elbow is one of the most useful parts of the body to attack with, Ishido jumped high into the air, easily as high as he was tall, and came crashing down on the orb with his elbow, using his full weight.
The orb was pushed down a foot or more and stopped spinning. Suspended in the air. Ishido stepped back to see what damage had been inflicted, and was about to attack again when the orb began to implode.
The supernatural light that had radiated from its core began to be sucked into its center. It appeared like a dark black spot surrounded by light and made a loud popping sound as the chamber went momentarily dark.
When the light returned, Ishido found that all the undead had fallen when the orb was destroyed. The creature had stopped running in circles and walked up to him. "Nice hit!" it said with what could only be described as a smile.
Last edited by viobane on Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Are you a demon? What sort of beast are you?"
The creature balked, opening and closing its mouth in indignation. "I am no beast! Why would you accuse me of that?"
Ishido could tell that the creature was not happy with his question, but he could not understand why. "I noticed that you are not human, nor elf or any other humanoid creature. Sumimasen," he bowed toward the creature. "I meant no disrespect. In the east, creatures such as you are called beasts."
"Well that's not very nice," A second creature walked into the room holding a large two-handed sword. It sported large leathery wings and wore a large metal helmet. The first creature turned to the second. "You think we should eat him?"
Ishido considered his options. He could fight the creatures, but was truly unsure of their heritage. If they were indeed demonkin, there was no way that his martial arts skills were adequate enough to penetrate their evil hides. He was aware that innate abilities of the lower planes required great magic to disrupt.
"Again, sumimasen. I meant no insult. I shall take my leave now. Oyasuminasai."
Ishido quickly walked away while the two watched him go. Fortunately for the monk, they did not seem to follow, and he went into the shadows at first opportunity.
The creature balked, opening and closing its mouth in indignation. "I am no beast! Why would you accuse me of that?"
Ishido could tell that the creature was not happy with his question, but he could not understand why. "I noticed that you are not human, nor elf or any other humanoid creature. Sumimasen," he bowed toward the creature. "I meant no disrespect. In the east, creatures such as you are called beasts."
"Well that's not very nice," A second creature walked into the room holding a large two-handed sword. It sported large leathery wings and wore a large metal helmet. The first creature turned to the second. "You think we should eat him?"
Ishido considered his options. He could fight the creatures, but was truly unsure of their heritage. If they were indeed demonkin, there was no way that his martial arts skills were adequate enough to penetrate their evil hides. He was aware that innate abilities of the lower planes required great magic to disrupt.
"Again, sumimasen. I meant no insult. I shall take my leave now. Oyasuminasai."
Ishido quickly walked away while the two watched him go. Fortunately for the monk, they did not seem to follow, and he went into the shadows at first opportunity.
Last edited by viobane on Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
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.Stinky Pete.
- Baron
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 4:49 pm
Born Tigl'tia'ies Ny'dena he had a happy childhood. His family was part of a large nomadic clan made up of all races. They called themselves the Torga'alith, the Blowing Leaves. Others called them thieves, vagrants, idlers, and gypsies. While as much an elf as he had ever met, a sparse goatee indicated human blood somewhere in his ancestry.
He travelled the great continent far and wide in the back of his father's wagon. They earned gold by fixing housewares, telling stories, and most often, bringing news from one kingdom to another. Sometimes it was just him and his father, most other times many families came together and their numbers swelled into the hundreds. Their caravan would make camp near a large city and business (of all sorts) would flow. They would stay a few days and when the spirit moved them, they picked up their mobile city and found a new direction to travel.
On one journey, while travelling in unfamiliar lands, far from their traditional routes, they saw the spires of a magnificient city rising in the distance . As they approached, they realized the city was beseiged by a large army of humans. Strangely enough, it was just what they were looking for. War was usually profitable. Soldiers and their officers would pay for extra hands to repair gear and for news. At night, when the ale ran, they would pay for stories around the campfires.
They set up camp a safe distance from the army and made their presence known. After a brief inspection to ensure they were no threat, they were open for business. During the day, there were many odd jobs for them. At night he would sit and listen to his father tell stories to the soldiers. They were there for about a week when he started hearing rumors of ghost warriors coming out of the city at night, entering the camp, and slaughtering their comrads-in-arms. At first he dismissed the stories as there had been nothing amiss in his camp. However the rumors persisted and he saw a change in the soldiers, even the veterans. He decided to investigate by staying in the army camp overnight and keeping an eye out.
Just before dawn it happened, from out of the dark a dozen of them came using the shadows to conceal and aid them in battle. He had never seen anything more unnerving than these dozen warriors, chanting, appearing in the midst of the camp, injuring many of the soldiers and vanishing, like smoke, back into the night air. Three times they came and three times not a one of them was injured in the slightest. Behind them they left 5 score dead or grievously wounded. He had never seen such warriors. They excelled at quick movement, easily dodging and evading blows that would easily cleave through an average fighter. They were also just as quick with their own weapons, prefering to use two weapons to quickly hack away at their opponents.
Three more nights this happened before the mass desertions began. Another week and the seige was over and it was time to go. It was the first time he did not look forward to the next stop. He could not forget the battle he observed and the ones he described as smoke warriors. He wanted to be like them. Not to kill but to have the grace and skill they had should he ever have occasion for it. When the caravan packed up and left he decided to stay and find out more about them. There were no long goodbyes or guilt. There was nothing wrong with riding the wind and going ones own way. Before the last wagon moved out of sight, he began walking toward the gate in the wall of the city.
One moment he was walking alone, wondering how he would find these warriors, and the next moment a hand out of nowhere grabbed him and spun him around. He found himself face to face with five smoke warriors. Torn between fear, awe, shock and happiness he opened his mouth and started babbling. He would not have thought it possible to summarize his life to that point in 2 minutes but he did. From his first memory, to what he witnessed in the army camp, to wanting to join their ranks, he said it all. More than a few smiles were hidden under gauntlet and glove but in the end, they brought him to the city to their captain. They recognized him from their raids and remembered the captain mentioning a gypsy lad who followed his movements even when the humans did not.
He stayed with the captain as a recruit for the Shadowsong Knights for almost 3 months, a blink of an eye to an elf but an eternity for a Torga'alith. This was made even longer by the lack of any clanmates and the ceaseless marching. March, eat, march, work, march, rest, march, eat, march, sleep. He could no longer take it. Not one mention of blending into shadows. There had to be another way. So, one day that began marching, ended with acting on a whim and stowing away on a ship to a place called Bleakstone. Not a very encouraging sounding place but at least he'd not have to march there.
After a long journey filled with hunger and muscle cramps the ship tied up at a port. He observed the hustle and bustle on the docks and had little trouble leaving the ship unnoticed. A short walk further and he heard the sounds of children playing. He approached them and asked if they knew where he could find food. They agreed to tell him if he retrieved their kite that had become entangled in a tree. He smilingly agreed to the deal and even threw in a sleight of hand "magic trick"or two. They were the first appreciative audience in some time and even asked if he was a bard. He smiled and said he was just plain Tigl'tia'ies but had seen many things in his journeys. A couple made a face when they heard the name and another asked if he had any stories of great warriors and fantastic battles. He told them some ofthe stories his father would tell around the campfire and added the story of the seige he witnessed and that he had trained with the smoke warriors. the smallest child insisted they were better described as smoke weavers.
Giving in to hunger, he finally left his little friends in search of something to eat. As he walked, some of the children followed asking for more stories. Just as he was going to tell them to go back to where he found them, a voice called out to the children to return and not to follow anyone that just happened by. He was about to apologize when the smallest called out, "It's alright mama. This is our friend Tig. He's a shadow weaver and he just got here." He smiled.
Indeed ... Tig Smokeweaver had just arrived.
He travelled the great continent far and wide in the back of his father's wagon. They earned gold by fixing housewares, telling stories, and most often, bringing news from one kingdom to another. Sometimes it was just him and his father, most other times many families came together and their numbers swelled into the hundreds. Their caravan would make camp near a large city and business (of all sorts) would flow. They would stay a few days and when the spirit moved them, they picked up their mobile city and found a new direction to travel.
On one journey, while travelling in unfamiliar lands, far from their traditional routes, they saw the spires of a magnificient city rising in the distance . As they approached, they realized the city was beseiged by a large army of humans. Strangely enough, it was just what they were looking for. War was usually profitable. Soldiers and their officers would pay for extra hands to repair gear and for news. At night, when the ale ran, they would pay for stories around the campfires.
They set up camp a safe distance from the army and made their presence known. After a brief inspection to ensure they were no threat, they were open for business. During the day, there were many odd jobs for them. At night he would sit and listen to his father tell stories to the soldiers. They were there for about a week when he started hearing rumors of ghost warriors coming out of the city at night, entering the camp, and slaughtering their comrads-in-arms. At first he dismissed the stories as there had been nothing amiss in his camp. However the rumors persisted and he saw a change in the soldiers, even the veterans. He decided to investigate by staying in the army camp overnight and keeping an eye out.
Just before dawn it happened, from out of the dark a dozen of them came using the shadows to conceal and aid them in battle. He had never seen anything more unnerving than these dozen warriors, chanting, appearing in the midst of the camp, injuring many of the soldiers and vanishing, like smoke, back into the night air. Three times they came and three times not a one of them was injured in the slightest. Behind them they left 5 score dead or grievously wounded. He had never seen such warriors. They excelled at quick movement, easily dodging and evading blows that would easily cleave through an average fighter. They were also just as quick with their own weapons, prefering to use two weapons to quickly hack away at their opponents.
Three more nights this happened before the mass desertions began. Another week and the seige was over and it was time to go. It was the first time he did not look forward to the next stop. He could not forget the battle he observed and the ones he described as smoke warriors. He wanted to be like them. Not to kill but to have the grace and skill they had should he ever have occasion for it. When the caravan packed up and left he decided to stay and find out more about them. There were no long goodbyes or guilt. There was nothing wrong with riding the wind and going ones own way. Before the last wagon moved out of sight, he began walking toward the gate in the wall of the city.
One moment he was walking alone, wondering how he would find these warriors, and the next moment a hand out of nowhere grabbed him and spun him around. He found himself face to face with five smoke warriors. Torn between fear, awe, shock and happiness he opened his mouth and started babbling. He would not have thought it possible to summarize his life to that point in 2 minutes but he did. From his first memory, to what he witnessed in the army camp, to wanting to join their ranks, he said it all. More than a few smiles were hidden under gauntlet and glove but in the end, they brought him to the city to their captain. They recognized him from their raids and remembered the captain mentioning a gypsy lad who followed his movements even when the humans did not.
He stayed with the captain as a recruit for the Shadowsong Knights for almost 3 months, a blink of an eye to an elf but an eternity for a Torga'alith. This was made even longer by the lack of any clanmates and the ceaseless marching. March, eat, march, work, march, rest, march, eat, march, sleep. He could no longer take it. Not one mention of blending into shadows. There had to be another way. So, one day that began marching, ended with acting on a whim and stowing away on a ship to a place called Bleakstone. Not a very encouraging sounding place but at least he'd not have to march there.
After a long journey filled with hunger and muscle cramps the ship tied up at a port. He observed the hustle and bustle on the docks and had little trouble leaving the ship unnoticed. A short walk further and he heard the sounds of children playing. He approached them and asked if they knew where he could find food. They agreed to tell him if he retrieved their kite that had become entangled in a tree. He smilingly agreed to the deal and even threw in a sleight of hand "magic trick"or two. They were the first appreciative audience in some time and even asked if he was a bard. He smiled and said he was just plain Tigl'tia'ies but had seen many things in his journeys. A couple made a face when they heard the name and another asked if he had any stories of great warriors and fantastic battles. He told them some ofthe stories his father would tell around the campfire and added the story of the seige he witnessed and that he had trained with the smoke warriors. the smallest child insisted they were better described as smoke weavers.
Giving in to hunger, he finally left his little friends in search of something to eat. As he walked, some of the children followed asking for more stories. Just as he was going to tell them to go back to where he found them, a voice called out to the children to return and not to follow anyone that just happened by. He was about to apologize when the smallest called out, "It's alright mama. This is our friend Tig. He's a shadow weaver and he just got here." He smiled.
Indeed ... Tig Smokeweaver had just arrived.
As he exited the catacombs, Ishido was considering the wonders he had just witnessed. The undead were not especially new to him as Shalnath used forces of undead to attack his people many times over the decades.
But the necromantic orb? When it was destroyed it appeared to suck the shadows out of the room. That was indeed one of the old demon's tricks, or at the very least a trick of one of his followers. The strange creatures? They could have been agents of the evil lord, but he was not completely certain. After all, they seemed to be in league and the one had seemed intent on destroying the orb.
Were there other nefarious plots at play in this region?
Ishido was considering returning to the keep when he noticed another sight he had never witnessed. A smallish creature, reaching about three feet tall, was attacking a zombie with small curved knives (although in the small creature, the small knives themselves looked relatively large).
He was unsure if he was seeing an animal that had been morphed into a humanoid or a humanoid that had been cursed into being an animal. She (and he assumed it was a she as the creature had feminine features) had the head of a white tiger.
She noticed Ishido watching her and stopped slashing at the zombie for a moment to wave at him. "Hiya!" the monk was concerned as the zombie used the momentary distraction to slash savagely at the tiger-woman's throat. But instead of being hit, the creature vanished into wisps of shadow.
Ishido blinked, but she did not return. He was wondering if the last few minutes of his life were some elaborate hallucination when she rematerialized behind the zombie and cut it to shreds.
But the necromantic orb? When it was destroyed it appeared to suck the shadows out of the room. That was indeed one of the old demon's tricks, or at the very least a trick of one of his followers. The strange creatures? They could have been agents of the evil lord, but he was not completely certain. After all, they seemed to be in league and the one had seemed intent on destroying the orb.
Were there other nefarious plots at play in this region?
Ishido was considering returning to the keep when he noticed another sight he had never witnessed. A smallish creature, reaching about three feet tall, was attacking a zombie with small curved knives (although in the small creature, the small knives themselves looked relatively large).
He was unsure if he was seeing an animal that had been morphed into a humanoid or a humanoid that had been cursed into being an animal. She (and he assumed it was a she as the creature had feminine features) had the head of a white tiger.
She noticed Ishido watching her and stopped slashing at the zombie for a moment to wave at him. "Hiya!" the monk was concerned as the zombie used the momentary distraction to slash savagely at the tiger-woman's throat. But instead of being hit, the creature vanished into wisps of shadow.
Ishido blinked, but she did not return. He was wondering if the last few minutes of his life were some elaborate hallucination when she rematerialized behind the zombie and cut it to shreds.
Ishido gazed in wonder as the tiger-woman walked up to him, stuck her knives in the soft ground to clean them off and held out her hand to the monk. "I'm Darza. Pleased tameetcha!"
Ishide bowed. "Hajimemashite, nekko-spirit. How may I serve you?"
She laughed. "Gazunteit! No, really, what did you just say?"
Ishido was embarrassed about his use of his native tongue, and bowed quickly to cover for the slight blush that ran up his face. "Simimasen, Nekko-sama. I forget sometimes to use the native tongue of this region. I said welcome to you. You are an animal god, are you not?"
Darza laughed again. "I don't think so. My papa made me, though."
Ishido was confused at her comment, but before he could say so, a skeleton burst from the ground nearby. Darza smiled as he performed a rapid roundhouse kick, knocking the skull from the skeleton and causing it to crumble to the ground.
"Sumimasen, Nekko-san, but if you are not a god, how did you disappear and reappear so suddenly?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Sumima-what? I just pulled the shadows around me so they could distract the zombie enough for me to reposition and destroy it easier. It didn't work too well, though. Those things must see me some other way."
"Pull the shadows around you? What do you mean?"
"If you'd like, I could demonstrate? It's a little survival trick I learned when I was forced to live on my own. We probably better do it somewhere else, though. These undead do not seem to be too happy to see us, but even with that they see me anyway! Let's go to the north and I'll see if you can figure it out!"
She vanished before Ishido's eyes and he again was shocked. He stood unmoving when she reappeared twenty feet to the north and waved to him. "You coming?"
Ishide bowed. "Hajimemashite, nekko-spirit. How may I serve you?"
She laughed. "Gazunteit! No, really, what did you just say?"
Ishido was embarrassed about his use of his native tongue, and bowed quickly to cover for the slight blush that ran up his face. "Simimasen, Nekko-sama. I forget sometimes to use the native tongue of this region. I said welcome to you. You are an animal god, are you not?"
Darza laughed again. "I don't think so. My papa made me, though."
Ishido was confused at her comment, but before he could say so, a skeleton burst from the ground nearby. Darza smiled as he performed a rapid roundhouse kick, knocking the skull from the skeleton and causing it to crumble to the ground.
"Sumimasen, Nekko-san, but if you are not a god, how did you disappear and reappear so suddenly?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Sumima-what? I just pulled the shadows around me so they could distract the zombie enough for me to reposition and destroy it easier. It didn't work too well, though. Those things must see me some other way."
"Pull the shadows around you? What do you mean?"
"If you'd like, I could demonstrate? It's a little survival trick I learned when I was forced to live on my own. We probably better do it somewhere else, though. These undead do not seem to be too happy to see us, but even with that they see me anyway! Let's go to the north and I'll see if you can figure it out!"
She vanished before Ishido's eyes and he again was shocked. He stood unmoving when she reappeared twenty feet to the north and waved to him. "You coming?"
The small village reminded Ishido of some of the eastern hamlets decades in the past. Since Shalnath had arrived on the scene, most of those hamlets were desolate ruins or nothing at all. He felt a sense of sadness overwhelm him.
"There's a monestary up above. We should get some rest before heading out," Darza walked up a hill which led to a small circle of stones Ishido had noticed in the keep. "Here's a portal that you can use to get around. In a way, it absorbs you in light the way you can absorb the shadows into yourself."
Ishido nodded. "I see that the way you use shadows, there are ultimate form and function to their features that when properly utilized can offer their bearer great power."
Darza laughed. "You're funny! What is your name, by the way?"
"Sumima... Oh, I am sorry, Nekko-san. I am Ishido. In my region it is polite to add -san to the end of other's names."
"Okay, Ishi-san," they had come to the monestary and Ishido looked up at the large marble structure with awe. The east did not have buildings made from stone in this sort of fashion. "Well, here we are. Let's go in and see if there's a good place to rest."
Darza walked in, and Ishido began to follow. As he stepped over the threshold, a powerful force shoved him back to his knees. He was dazed and blackness began to come into his vision. He shook his head madly attempting to maintain his consciousness.
Darza waslked back out, saw the disabled monk and ran to his side. She put a hand to his shoulder and he flinched, but looked up at her. "It appears this building has some sort of magical protection about it. I am unsure why I am repulsed."
Darza shrugged. "This is some sort of temple that house some sort of monk order or something. I thought they were all good people."
Ishido shook his head and grunted deep in his throat. "Such good people are not inclusive of everyone, obviously. I do not know why the magic attacks me. I am not opposed to them. Perhaps they are afraid of my people to the east."
"That could be," Darza smiled and shrugged again. "Oh well, there's a house down below that a friend of mine lets me use. It even has a fireplace!"
Ishido nodded, nursing his humiliation brought on by the monestary and sorting it away for later contemplation.
"There's a monestary up above. We should get some rest before heading out," Darza walked up a hill which led to a small circle of stones Ishido had noticed in the keep. "Here's a portal that you can use to get around. In a way, it absorbs you in light the way you can absorb the shadows into yourself."
Ishido nodded. "I see that the way you use shadows, there are ultimate form and function to their features that when properly utilized can offer their bearer great power."
Darza laughed. "You're funny! What is your name, by the way?"
"Sumima... Oh, I am sorry, Nekko-san. I am Ishido. In my region it is polite to add -san to the end of other's names."
"Okay, Ishi-san," they had come to the monestary and Ishido looked up at the large marble structure with awe. The east did not have buildings made from stone in this sort of fashion. "Well, here we are. Let's go in and see if there's a good place to rest."
Darza walked in, and Ishido began to follow. As he stepped over the threshold, a powerful force shoved him back to his knees. He was dazed and blackness began to come into his vision. He shook his head madly attempting to maintain his consciousness.
Darza waslked back out, saw the disabled monk and ran to his side. She put a hand to his shoulder and he flinched, but looked up at her. "It appears this building has some sort of magical protection about it. I am unsure why I am repulsed."
Darza shrugged. "This is some sort of temple that house some sort of monk order or something. I thought they were all good people."
Ishido shook his head and grunted deep in his throat. "Such good people are not inclusive of everyone, obviously. I do not know why the magic attacks me. I am not opposed to them. Perhaps they are afraid of my people to the east."
"That could be," Darza smiled and shrugged again. "Oh well, there's a house down below that a friend of mine lets me use. It even has a fireplace!"
Ishido nodded, nursing his humiliation brought on by the monestary and sorting it away for later contemplation.
The duo walked down the hill toward the Skara Brae village. Darza filled up silent time with various comments and questions. Ishido stumbled between common and his regional language, occasionally turning their talk into a lesson in linguistics.
They passed a man leaning against a barn with a sprig of grass between his teeth and Darza waved. "That's Cranston. He's always got a few jobs that need doing. Maybe you should speak to him about some ogres causing problems in the area. I've already seen them and they're BIG! I'm always happy for shadows when I'm around giants like that!"
Ishido grunted and walked to the man, who described the task of killing the leader of the ogres. Ishido accepted the task, even though he thought to himself about the futility of killing beasts like that. After all, their nature was to spawn a new leader as quickly as the first fell.
But if this Cranston-san was willing to give him money for such a task, he was willing to accept it.
Darza pointed to the building with a chimney and said that it was a fine spot to stay when necessary. Ishido thought these western style homes were strange, all made of brick and straw.
He was used to rice paper walls and bamboo ceilings wit strong timbers for support. All these heavy materials had to be a major disturbance in the resident's ki. He shrugged as Darza led them north out of the village.
"We're going to be seeing some gnolls out here," Darza mentioned as they crossed a small bridge. "They're hyena headed beasts. There are some that like to use magics. Watch me as I use the shadows to conceal myself until I attack! I like to rush up and surprise them from behind!"
Ishido nodded, and the cat-creature stuck to her word and vanished in a whisper of darkness shed by a nearby pine tree. Ishido was amazed at her ability to become so completely concealed.
It was then that he spotted a strange creature skulking the region just beside the pathway. It was obviously waiting to ambush unsuspecting travelers. If Darza had not said they were gnolls, he would have again assumed they were a form of animal spirit. In fact, he began to wonder if, in fact, he truly had crossed into the spirit realm.
He did not have time to further contemplate that thought. The cat-spirit Darza appeared behind the gnoll, shadows scattering like sand in a storm. Her arms slashed at the monster's legs and it howled in pain and fell to the ground as Darza made quick work of it.
Walking quickly up to the carnage, when Darza looked up at him, her face broke into a feline grin, and she shook her head back and forth very rapidly as he had seen cats do hundreds of times before. On a humanoid, it was particularly odd.
"That was a mighty blow, Nekko-san," Ishido half expected Darza to begin to eat the beast or growl over its corpse, but she wiped the blood off of her curved blades and put them into sheaths at the small of her back. "I am indeed looking forward to seeing more."
They passed a man leaning against a barn with a sprig of grass between his teeth and Darza waved. "That's Cranston. He's always got a few jobs that need doing. Maybe you should speak to him about some ogres causing problems in the area. I've already seen them and they're BIG! I'm always happy for shadows when I'm around giants like that!"
Ishido grunted and walked to the man, who described the task of killing the leader of the ogres. Ishido accepted the task, even though he thought to himself about the futility of killing beasts like that. After all, their nature was to spawn a new leader as quickly as the first fell.
But if this Cranston-san was willing to give him money for such a task, he was willing to accept it.
Darza pointed to the building with a chimney and said that it was a fine spot to stay when necessary. Ishido thought these western style homes were strange, all made of brick and straw.
He was used to rice paper walls and bamboo ceilings wit strong timbers for support. All these heavy materials had to be a major disturbance in the resident's ki. He shrugged as Darza led them north out of the village.
"We're going to be seeing some gnolls out here," Darza mentioned as they crossed a small bridge. "They're hyena headed beasts. There are some that like to use magics. Watch me as I use the shadows to conceal myself until I attack! I like to rush up and surprise them from behind!"
Ishido nodded, and the cat-creature stuck to her word and vanished in a whisper of darkness shed by a nearby pine tree. Ishido was amazed at her ability to become so completely concealed.
It was then that he spotted a strange creature skulking the region just beside the pathway. It was obviously waiting to ambush unsuspecting travelers. If Darza had not said they were gnolls, he would have again assumed they were a form of animal spirit. In fact, he began to wonder if, in fact, he truly had crossed into the spirit realm.
He did not have time to further contemplate that thought. The cat-spirit Darza appeared behind the gnoll, shadows scattering like sand in a storm. Her arms slashed at the monster's legs and it howled in pain and fell to the ground as Darza made quick work of it.
Walking quickly up to the carnage, when Darza looked up at him, her face broke into a feline grin, and she shook her head back and forth very rapidly as he had seen cats do hundreds of times before. On a humanoid, it was particularly odd.
"That was a mighty blow, Nekko-san," Ishido half expected Darza to begin to eat the beast or growl over its corpse, but she wiped the blood off of her curved blades and put them into sheaths at the small of her back. "I am indeed looking forward to seeing more."
"So, Ishi-san, do you want to go try out some tougher foes? The ogres are pretty nearby and they're a lot of fun to dance around!"
Ishido bowed toward Darza. "I would be honored to see these 'ogres'. Ikkimasu."
"Ikki-mouse?" Darza crinkled her brow, and her sharp teeth showed. "Why are you talking about mouses?"
Ishido was perplexed by her response. He had no idea what she was talking about, then it dawned on him that he had again lapsed into his regional language. "Again, my apologies, Nekko-san, sumimasen. Ikki-ma-su. It means 'to go' or 'we go,'" He smiled. "I will need to remember to continue to practice my common language."
Darza laughed in a cat-like way, a half-cough combined with a small voiced giggle. "I would love to learn to translate for you, Ishi-san! Ikki-mouse we go!"
Ishido shook his head slightly and followed the small creature deeper into the woods.
Ishido bowed toward Darza. "I would be honored to see these 'ogres'. Ikkimasu."
"Ikki-mouse?" Darza crinkled her brow, and her sharp teeth showed. "Why are you talking about mouses?"
Ishido was perplexed by her response. He had no idea what she was talking about, then it dawned on him that he had again lapsed into his regional language. "Again, my apologies, Nekko-san, sumimasen. Ikki-ma-su. It means 'to go' or 'we go,'" He smiled. "I will need to remember to continue to practice my common language."
Darza laughed in a cat-like way, a half-cough combined with a small voiced giggle. "I would love to learn to translate for you, Ishi-san! Ikki-mouse we go!"
Ishido shook his head slightly and followed the small creature deeper into the woods.
They came into a mossy region composed of large stone pillars jutting out of the ground. All of them formed mini-plateaus, and Ishido thought the landscape was quite strange. It was almost as if mountains used to be in this part of the forest, but they had been mashed by a large godly hammer.
Darza whispered for Ishido to tread lightly, so he crept through the shadows, careful to avoid sticks and piles of leaves. A strange beast with a mushed face approached from the west. It was hairy and carried a rusty bastard sword.
"That's an ogrillion, Ishi-san," Ishido was startled that she was so close and he could not see her. "They're pushovers, really. Let's move on and save our energy for the big brutes."
Ishido could not see Darza, but followed the path ahead of them. It turned sharply to the north and he continued on. He trusted that the cat spirit would let him know if he was off course.
When they passed a bubbling brook, Darza appeared like she was always there and smiled at him. "You're pretty light on your feet, Ishi-san! I think you'll be fine at hiding once you can manage to pull those shadows around you. Think of them like a warm blanket. They want to be used, just reach out and let them hold you tight!"
Ishido pondered her description of shadows. If she was correct, shadows were in fact a living thing. "Hai, Nekko-san. I believe I am beginning to understand. The shadows function is to serve us, if only we know how to manage their forms. You choose to use their form to hide your presence, even when someone knows exactly where you are. I believe I can also accomplish this task."
"Good," she shook her head in another feline sort of way. "Let's give it a try, shall we. Think fast!"
As she disappeared, Ishido saw a large sword snap down where she had been standing. A large brute of a creature stood before him, looking quite confused.
"Konbawa, forest spirit!" Ishido bowed and began to attack the ogre.
Darza whispered for Ishido to tread lightly, so he crept through the shadows, careful to avoid sticks and piles of leaves. A strange beast with a mushed face approached from the west. It was hairy and carried a rusty bastard sword.
"That's an ogrillion, Ishi-san," Ishido was startled that she was so close and he could not see her. "They're pushovers, really. Let's move on and save our energy for the big brutes."
Ishido could not see Darza, but followed the path ahead of them. It turned sharply to the north and he continued on. He trusted that the cat spirit would let him know if he was off course.
When they passed a bubbling brook, Darza appeared like she was always there and smiled at him. "You're pretty light on your feet, Ishi-san! I think you'll be fine at hiding once you can manage to pull those shadows around you. Think of them like a warm blanket. They want to be used, just reach out and let them hold you tight!"
Ishido pondered her description of shadows. If she was correct, shadows were in fact a living thing. "Hai, Nekko-san. I believe I am beginning to understand. The shadows function is to serve us, if only we know how to manage their forms. You choose to use their form to hide your presence, even when someone knows exactly where you are. I believe I can also accomplish this task."
"Good," she shook her head in another feline sort of way. "Let's give it a try, shall we. Think fast!"
As she disappeared, Ishido saw a large sword snap down where she had been standing. A large brute of a creature stood before him, looking quite confused.
"Konbawa, forest spirit!" Ishido bowed and began to attack the ogre.
The confused ogre grunted as Ishido kicked it soundly in the face. It recovered quickly, and readied its weapon to attack the agile monk. Before it could deliver a blow, Darza appeared between its legs and cut both of its knees from behind.
The ogre howled and tumbled backwards as the cat-creature grinned. Ishido noticed that the sky became darker suddenly. Darza stopped smiling and disappeared into the darkness moments before shattered ice pounded to the ground.
Ishido's honed reflexes allowed him to avoid a brunt of the damage, but the ice chunks were too dense to completely miss. He felt battered as the ice storm abruptly ended.
An ogre he had not noticed before howled to its fellows and pointed at the monk and began to make gestures with its arms. Ishido became very calm. Spellcasters could be very deadly, but had a difficult time matching the speed of a well trained practitioner of martial arts.
As a second barrage of ice his where he had been standing, Ishido avoided all the chunks of ice and ran quickly toward the mage. As he got closer, the ogre mage made a few hand movements and vanished.
Ishido made his way to where the monster had been standing and quickly looked to the ground. He noticed a number of pine needles and dirt, then noticed a branch move of its own accord about five feet from his position.
He leaped forward, and raised both hands over his head, forming a two-handed fist. When he landed, his fists hit the ogre solidly on the head, knocking it to the ground.
At the same time, Darza appeared and chopped at the mage's hand, effectively ending its ability to cast spells. Ishido finished the creature with a chop to its neck, causing it to gurgle and collapse.
"Look, Ishi-san! More are coming. Try to hide in the shadows and attack at the last minute this time. You can get used to attacking from the shadows perhaps you can learn to keep them on you at all times!"
The ogre howled and tumbled backwards as the cat-creature grinned. Ishido noticed that the sky became darker suddenly. Darza stopped smiling and disappeared into the darkness moments before shattered ice pounded to the ground.
Ishido's honed reflexes allowed him to avoid a brunt of the damage, but the ice chunks were too dense to completely miss. He felt battered as the ice storm abruptly ended.
An ogre he had not noticed before howled to its fellows and pointed at the monk and began to make gestures with its arms. Ishido became very calm. Spellcasters could be very deadly, but had a difficult time matching the speed of a well trained practitioner of martial arts.
As a second barrage of ice his where he had been standing, Ishido avoided all the chunks of ice and ran quickly toward the mage. As he got closer, the ogre mage made a few hand movements and vanished.
Ishido made his way to where the monster had been standing and quickly looked to the ground. He noticed a number of pine needles and dirt, then noticed a branch move of its own accord about five feet from his position.
He leaped forward, and raised both hands over his head, forming a two-handed fist. When he landed, his fists hit the ogre solidly on the head, knocking it to the ground.
At the same time, Darza appeared and chopped at the mage's hand, effectively ending its ability to cast spells. Ishido finished the creature with a chop to its neck, causing it to gurgle and collapse.
"Look, Ishi-san! More are coming. Try to hide in the shadows and attack at the last minute this time. You can get used to attacking from the shadows perhaps you can learn to keep them on you at all times!"