Sadidrif Zel, Strange Powerful Shadows

[Fizzgig]

On the morrow, Askar Khalil and I engaged in the Oracle of the Starseer, seeking the whispers of the stars amidst the peaks of the lost and loved. We were joined by three dahyarifs: Jacob, adorned in purple armor; Erica, bound to Van Dorn; and Lanna, a sellsword devoted to Lathander.

At the edge of a treacherous mountain path, northeast of the city of Arabel, the melody of Askar Khalil was abruptly silenced by an encroaching darkness that entwined with the shadows around us. A commanding voice demanded the location of our Taba Malik. Defiant against the shadow’s command, I managed to alert Askar Khalil to its movements just as assassins’ shades materialized, seemingly summoned from the plane of shadows itself.

Unfortunately, I found myself unable to withstand their assault. However, Askar Khalil rose up against the vile darkness, standing steadfast alongside the dahyarifs, and when my senses returned, the shadows had retreated.

Our pilgrimage pressed on, and at the summit of the lost and loved, Askar Khalil aided me with his melody, granting me communion with the stars.

First, a vision appeared: a man draped in tiger hide stood before a massive gate, countless arrows embedded in his bloodied cuirass.

Second, I saw a beggar woman in tattered rags, clutching a bloodstained crown as she stood before a great gate.

Lastly, a vision emerged that warped and transformed unlike the others. A portal materialized before me, grains of sand stinging my cheek as the wind gusted from it. Within the portal, I saw a man with skin as dark as onyx. Our eyes locked, and I sensed an understanding in his powerful gaze that filled my heart with dread. A sinister smile crept across his lips as I whispered for Askar Khalil, who believed this man to be Ishak from the Councilor’s Chambers, a figure I knew only through his warlocks, those cruel thralls who served him. Before further guidance could be had, the ritual was broken, and the water evaporated.

I have saved the grains of sand from the portal that brushed my cheek, but for a similar rite to be conducted again, I require a greater body of water.

May the stars guide you

[Gloomy_Sunday]

@Fizzgig @O-louth

You have both done well. What are the chances of a similar attack upon Karim by ourselves? Can the servants of water be dispatched into his chambers?

Prince Khemed

[Gloomy_Sunday]

@Fizzgig

I too have confronted these shadows and more and more I believe that it is the Ishak and his warlocks who pull the strings of my brother.

A plan forms, the warlocks are known to consult with powerful otherworldly patrons, is it possible to discern the patrons identity that we may confront them directly?

I prefer to take the fight to the face of the beast rather than fighting each strand of hair individually.

Prince Khemed

[Fizzgig]

As you command, my heavenly prince, I have wandered the shadowed paths of the Hullack Forest, seeking that pure essence upon which the stars weave their celestial ballet. Yet, within the forest's heart, beasts of bloodlust reign, and the glorious whispers of the heavens are but feeble echoes, lost beneath the dark canopy.

So I turn my senses to the Wyvernwater, a vast expanse as immense as a landlocked sea, shrouded in the mysteries of its deep, restless waves—a realm alive with secrets and dangers lurking in the inky depths. Here lies the key to unraveling the riddles of fate.

To deepen my bond with this arcane oasis, my knowledge must deepen, for to coax the spirits from this backwater wilderness to the arid cliffs of Ashkara is no trifling task. Though daunting, it is not beyond reach, yet without the formidable strength akin to that Warlock spinning the strings of Malik Karim, we may falter, unable to halt the dark ambitions that taint their ascent.

For the warlock dances with shadows, entwining death's tendrils and darkness alike, serving some dread patron of unfathomable power. In these murky waters, we too may seek a guardian of our own, a force burgeoning with potential. But take heed, my prince of celestial light, for the pursuit of such sorcery demands a heavy toll: a price that may twist the very essence of ones being and shatter the fabric of both mind and soul. Denying the Vulture to claim ones spirit, leading it far from the hallowed halls of our ancestors as we may never join the dwindling stars.

May the stars guide you

[Fizzgig]

Unknown affliction by the Shade Assassins:

Hailing from the veiled realms of the Shadow Plane, the minions of Ishak, the warlock adorned in skin of deepest onyx, dance to the sinister melody of his whims. The weapons they wield are laced with a malevolence that transcends mere physical torment; negative energy. Also, they invoke a pain that eludes the grasp of words, a shadowy caress upon the mind.

In the quest to pierce the veil shrouding this cryptic affliction, I shall seek counsel from those who have tread upon this bleak path of suffering.

Askar Khalil — Sensed not the insidious touch of despair amidst the clash of arms.
Ericka — Cloaked in silence, unwilling to share.
Lanna — Simply shook her head
Alizee — To be summoned and questioned, a beacon of potential revelation.

My heavenly prince, in the tumult of your battles against the lurking shadows of Ishak, did their vile weapons carve a wound in the depths of your consciousness? Did a numbing agony seep into the very essence of your mind, a whispering torment, echoing within the corridors of your thoughts? Are there others who bravely stood by your noble presence at the moment of battle, whom we may ask?

May the stars guide you

[Gloomy_Sunday]

@Fizzgig

The sell sword Jacob, and Alizee, and one named Lanna aided me. I have gathered the essence of shadow to aid in your divinations.

Prince Khemed

[Fizzgig]

In obedience to my Prince's sacred decree, I embarked upon a voyage to the serpentine isle of Starfall, an isle steeped in shadow, laden with twisting corridors that entwine like the very vipers that slither within. Here, beneath a shroud of dread and mystery, a cult of the Serpent Born resides, feasting upon the souls of the unwary and venerating the ancient beasts and deities long silenced by the fabric of forgotten lore.

The whispers of names, lost to the relentless march of time, echo through these cavernous tunnels, each chamber a sacred tableau, a ritualistic tableau designed to empower a singular entity; a creature yearning to transcend its mortal confines and ascend as a true god, reborn anew.

These rites, wrought from the arcane art of necromancy, do not dwell in the realm of undeath or pacts of souls ensnared; instead, they weave a tapestry of poison and vital essence, coalescing in the heart of the ritual where the false godman absorbs the very lifeblood of its acolytes. It is a grotesque symphony of extremes; an echo of demonic or fiendish origin, for this entity of deceit can neither be touched nor marred by the weapons of the natural world.

These serpentine devotees, bound by ancient oaths to their malevolent deity, sacrifice their very essence and vitality, fueling its insatiable hunger for divinity. With each donation of life force, they seek to resurrect a bygone era when they stood as the paramount rulers of a dominion now veiled by the mists of history; an age of splendor long obscured, aching to rise once more from the depths of obscurity.

In the twilight of cosmic whispers, the celestial bodies reveal a rite akin to the ancient Warlocks of Ashkara, guardians entwined with patrons of formidable might. Behold, Karim, a vessel of essence; a mere flicker in the tapestry of power, sustains the dark lord who thrives in shadows' embrace. Yet, as we gaze deeper into the astral void, the call to delve into these sacred pacts resonates. For only through unraveling their mysteries may we uncover the means to sever the bonds of those who voraciously consume the royal essence of Ashkara, driven by insatiable greed and ambition. The stars beckon us to seek knowledge and weave light against the encroaching darkness.

May the stars guide you

[Fizzgig]

In perpetual devotion to the edicts of our Prince, I have traversed the shadowed realms of Hullack Forest, where the serpentine threads of darkness and shadow entwine, daring to display their paltry strength against our resplendent Prince. Guided by the Untamed One, our path meandered through the verdant depths by day, yet the benevolent embrace of sun and star remained eclipsed by the thick canopy of emerald, weaving day into an eternal night.

In this primordial sanctuary of verdant obscurity, creatures roam with primal fury and insatiable thirst for blood. The equilibrium of the wild has been shattered, echoing the benedictions of the Untamed One, for the shadows of lycanthropes have steeped the sacred springs of this age-old realm in corruption. In my quest to uncover a font of purity; where the whispered songs of the heavens can be heard as they weave upon its placid surface; the Untamed One has unveiled to us a forsaken pool, steeped in druidic legacy.

Encircled by the Wyvernstones, this pool lies sullied by the covenants of the lycanthropic kin, thickened with the residue of dark blood and sacrificial offerings, a grotesque reflection of the beast lord’s malign influence. To harness its essence for the star's cosmic messages and conjuring anew a passage at our sovereign's behest, we must first purge this tarnished water of its vile blight, allowing the luminance of the stars to once more caress the surface of the sanctified pool.

May the stars guide you

[Fizzgig]

In the vast expanse of the cosmos, where threads of destiny intertwine, a solitary glimmer of hope emerged; Askar Amir yi Ashkara, the last remnant of a courageous fellowship led by Master Zashir, who had boldly faced the encroaching darkness in the name of our Master Khemed, seeking to join our rightful heir in his quest. We, the servants of Master Khemed, were accompanied by Retainer Emberlane and the Blood Mage, we set forth on a perilous journey toward the Storm Horms, the very place where the malevolence of the Warlock had claimed the lives of Amir’s comrades and taken Master Zashir away.

Beneath towering peaks of ice and snow, we ventured into a deep cavern, a realm echoing with the weight of ancient history. As we proceeded, an enormous shadow surfaced from the depths, overwhelming the chamber with its stifling aura. It loomed like a precursor of despair, striking the ground with force to obstruct our path, while terrifying horrors waited in the darkness beyond. Here, we paid swift homage to the fallen Askar, their spirits now part of the mountain’s essence, their brief lives remembered in sorrow as we pressed ever onward. Among the cold stone, we stumbled upon a journal; an account detailing Master Zashir's kidnapping and the Askar's painful fate at the hands of the very shadows we sought to vanquish.

As we endeavored to explore further into the hidden abyss, we found ourselves ensnared within a labyrinth of darkness, where the light of the stars flickered weakly, trapped amidst a coven of shadowy fiends who thrived on our peril. Yet, inspired by the will of Master Khemed, we pressed forward, resolved to confront the despair that enveloped us.

At last, we stood before the Shadow Warlock of the forsaken Sunken Spires. He in the flesh stood before us, surrounded by living Askar ensnared in spectral purple light, their life force drained to enhance his malevolent power. Behind him, Master Zashir lay captive, caught in a cruel ritual, tormented by the Warlock's sadistic whims. The Warlock beckoned us with an offer of freedom and honor: abandon Master Khemed and return to the safety of Askhara. Yet, our spirits burned too fiercely for such treachery; his proposal was swiftly rejected.

In that charged moment, the air thrummed with intensity. Despite Retainer Emberlane’s attempts at diplomacy, the Warlock dismissed his pleas, and chaos erupted. A fierce battle broke out, and amid the fray, the Blood Mage succumbed to the grasping shadows, leaving us diminished. One by one, the Askar fell, their essences devoured by the Warlock’s insatiable thirst.

With the ability to conjure shadowy clones and summon an unending surge of darkness, the Warlock unleashed devastating spells against us. Yet, we defied the tide of despair, fighting valiantly in resistance. In a frantic surge, we freed Master Zashir from the Warlock's grasp, but the Warlock escaped the wretched cavern, escaping to lick his wounds and mock our fleeting triumph. Suddenly, a legion of shadows rose, the path ahead draped in the shreds of our dwindling hope.

By fate’s design, we found Amir waiting for us, his aid allowing us to pull away from the shadows that nipped at our heels. In that instant, we understood; the Shadow Warlock live within this realm's borders, vulnerable to our blades and incantations. With the stars as our guide, we shall hunt down his true lair, ready to dismantle his dark pacts, knowing that the death of the khayal intertwined with him could shatter his power, sending him spiraling into the void from which he had emerged.

The night following our harrowing escape, Master Zashir, scarred but steadfast, revealed to our Master Khemed the unrest brewing within Ashkara under Karim’s unyielding grip. The brave who dared to resist faced a grim fate of exile to the desolate dunes. The Council's silence rang hollow against his sinister entanglements with the Warlocks of the Sunken Spires and Vizar Ardashir el Ishak, who draped a mantle of oppression over the land. Knowing that Alaric d'Armant, leader of the Battlemages of A'kar, harbored animosity toward the Warlocks yet remained entrenched in the Council, our Master Khemed realized with great cunning that if we could reach him, he might rally the mages to Master Khemed’s banner. To reach the mages of A'kar, we must first cleanse the Wyvernstone pool, allowing the stars to shine brightly once more across its shimmering surface, unspoiled by shadows and the taint of canine lycanthropes.

May the stars guide you

[Fizzgig]

To pierce the veil of deception, the primal leader of blood and lust of the Hullack realm must fall; specifically, their alpha, a fierce embodiment of strength and darkness. Armed with the silver's frigid whisper and the deadly embrace of belladonna, as potent as the moon’s pallor, this beast shall quake and submit to the celestial mandate. We must venture into the shadowy groves; diminish their wicked den under the watchful eyes of the ancient forest. Seek the nest of wolves, where their dark progeny dwell, and call forth the brilliant star light of renewal upon their lair.

This act of destruction is essential, for it is through this fiery cleansing that the malignity will be severed, permitting our Master's sacred might to descend and eradicate the lycans, their foul essence dissipating like fog before the rising desert sun. When the sacred waters of Wyvernstones are restored to their ethereal clarity, the veil between worlds shall grow thin, allowing the harmonious reverberations of the cosmic odyssey to awaken anew.

In this pivotal rebirth, pristine waters shall flow forth, resurrecting rites long hushed by shadow. Let these rites illuminate the path, drawing the dark werewolves and their nefarious leaders from the depths of obscurity. Their despair shall rise, shrouded in the light of our intent; as the purifying essence transforms their darkness into vulnerability.

From the depths of the Wyvernstone oasis, perhaps a new guardian may emerge, forged in the essence of renewal; an entity of profound strength birthed from the very heart of the waters. With its arrival, may legions of ethereal protectors be summoned to safeguard this sacred oasis and its hidden waterways, striking down any who dare desecrate its hallowed grounds. The stars align, lighting our path forward; usher in this cleansing ritual, and behold the miraculous metamorphosis of the pool into a celestial realm of purity and sanctuary.

Upon the then serene waters of the Wyvernstone Oasis, where the celestial bodies weave their ancient tales. In this tranquil realm, the stars whisper their secrets, resonating harmoniously with the ethereal currents of magic that flow like whispers through the night. As I interpret their luminescent dance, a vision unfolds; a pathway from the enchanted lands of Arabel to the radiant oasis of Ashkara.

This heavenly alignment shall call forth the attention Mages of A'kar, urging them to unite as a bastion of light against the encroaching shadows cast by the dark force of Karim. Together, we shall summon the energies of creation, binding our fates as we stand firm against the looming night. The cosmos has bestowed upon us its guidance; it is now Master Khemed's heavenly destiny to forge this alliance, to wield the brilliance of our combined power against Karim and his shadowy host, who dare to seek to plunge our realm into despair with his wicked ways. As the stars have revealed, a new path will lend itself forth. And our next quest will begin.

May the stars guide you.

[Fizzgig]

Through the celestial alignments and cosmic whispers, we have forged bonds of strength with kindred spirits of this realm. Their noble pledge to aid us in our struggle against the Warlock of Shadows stands as a testament to our united front against a foe most sinister; not one born of mere camaraderie or fleeting vows. The tapestry of Darkness and Shadows weaves itself into the lives of both Ashkara and Arabel, and, guided by the celestial bodies above, we have successfully summoned many to rally at our call for assistance.

Now, we must cast our gaze upon the murkiest recesses of this world, delving deep into the shadowed abyss beneath our feet. For it is within this veil of darkness that the Warlock lies hidden, waiting to be unearthed.

Stars guide you.

[Fizzgig]

In the celestial tapestry of the cosmos, a bold hypothesis emerges; a shimmering thread woven from the shadows of the Warlock’s sinister, soulless darkness, yearning to transmute into the resplendent light of the stars. Though still a mere theory, we stand united with kindred mages, our essences entwined in a quest to uncover the mysteries that lie ahead. With the astral energies guiding us, we shall embark upon our experiments, documenting each revelation and sharing the fruits of our endeavors with the cosmic kin. Thus, we tread the path between the twilight and the dawn, seeking to illuminate the deepest abysses with the brilliance of the heavens.

May the stars guide us.

[Fizzgig]

In the cradle of the cosmic sands, a sage of Tareef whispers secrets spun from the celestial tapestry. This desert mystic, attuned to the hushed murmurs of the stars, has pledged his allegiance and aid against the vile Warlock of Shadows and Darkness Intertwined. He extends a hand to guide us through the undulating dunes and crimson cliffs, leading us to the ancient ruin that cradles the pool of purest night’s essence. Here, beneath the watchful gaze of the heavens, the sacred rite to transmute shadows into radiant light shall begin, igniting the dawn of a new destiny for our Master and the people of Ashkara.

May the stars guide us.

[lateralus]

The ploy has worked - the shadows called to Kural and he answered.

The warlocks of the tower grow tired of the once they sent to end the Prince, too long it took and for nothing.

We have been told, bring the head and the hand of this Failure to them, and great power will flow to us like sweet amber wine.

This is a chance to grasp like none other offered

Bring these parts to Kural, and he shall see them delivered - then peace shall arrive once more in Ashkara.

[lateralus]

Jinn

Kural was pulled into a pool, within the Old Town, and taken into the realm of shadow

We have been tasked to cleanse the pool in the Wyvernstones to reduce rhe power of the Warlock of the Sunken Spires

Is there a link, between shadow and water?

• Kural