“I think we should take this opportunity to make them see the way of the shadows.” You say.
“What?!” Yvette exclaims.
“Are you serious?” Talia asks.
“Well okay maybe not all of them, but I’d think that with the right teaching they could become valuable assets.”
“NO! These are the enemy and must be destroyed! You said so yourself when we first began this mission!” Yvette says.
“And perhaps I was a bit hasty. I can’t be entitled to speak out of turn and make a mistake once in awhile?”
“No brother, but I think leaving these…abominations alive for whatever reason is a bigger mistake.”
“Abominations…and I suppose you believe me and Talia are abominations too eh sister?”
“Wha…no! I mean…(sputter) you’re different! You…”
“How? Me, Talia, and Cyrus for that matter were all brought up from birth and indoctrinated to serve the Empire, but what happened? We saw the truth of Dendrin’s wisdom instead! Is it not possible that these…children who aren’t even as old as we were be re-educated to do the same?”
“Well…I suppose, but…”
“Think about it sister, some of the greatest enemies of the Empire were brought up within the very heart of it! Let’s continue to turn the Empire’s obsessive need for control against itself! And better yet, bring more servants into the fold of Dendrin.”

Sister Yvette looks a bit hesitant, it’s obvious she has some real problems with this plan, but she isn’t really sure how to argue against you. Part of it stems from you making a bit of a point, and the other stems from the fact that despite her own confidence being better than it was, she still feels inferior to you…perhaps that’s just the aura you have as an Eternal though.

“Yes…I suppose I see the wisdom in attempting to educate these children in the ways of Dendrin.” Sister Yvette says. She might not believe it now, but in time she’ll either convince herself or get used to it. Either way you just need her obedience.

As for the remainder of the shadows if they have anything meaningful to say on the subject they keep it to themselves. That just leaves Talia, who is going to require a little bit more convincing since you sense her look of disagreement.

“Um…sister Yvette, could you and the rest leave me and sister Talia alone for a moment.”

As the rest of them leave, you move over to Talia who looks out over the hundreds of eternal containers.

“I sense some disapproval from this plan?”
“Not so much disapproval, but rather apprehension.”
“What about the training? I know it won’t be easy, but I figure we can open up that ritual portal to Dendrin and let him decide if they’re worthy or not, you know, like he did with us.”
“And you know how to do that? Because I sure don’t! It’s not like Master Ebon or Brother Gray imparted that knowledge on to me before they died!”
“Well your magic is strong, and hey I know Cyrus has some old shadow tomes back at Fort Defiance, we can probably find something in there about it.”
“Well I’m glad you seem to have this all figured out then, just wish you would’ve let me on this sooner.”
“I would have, but this honestly just came to mind. I mean how was I to know that these kids were going to be safely locked up in oversized glass tubes? I thought we were going to be waist deep in their blood by now.”
“So who is going to train them? I know it’s not going to be you. Me I suppose right?”
“Well…you would be the best qualified…but hey Sister Yvette could help you and other shadows too! In fact I could have some transferred here just in case of an Empire attack when…”
“Damn it I’m not worried about all that, I’m wondering WHY you came up with this plan at all! I know there’s another reason than just turning them against the Empire or even bringing new shadows into Dendrin’s fold and don’t say that there isn’t! We’re the same and we’ve bonded as lovers. I know there’s more going on in your head because I know YOU. Now tell me.

Talia never was one to mince words and perhaps it is time you didn’t either.

“Very well my love. You should know everything.”

And from there you tell Talia everything…except you don’t.

You tell her that Dendrin did not only speak to you on the day Gloom was attacked, you tell her he’s spoken to you in the past on several occasions. You just never said anything about it before Gloom because you didn’t want to be thought a liar and be labeled a heretic.

You also tell her that Dendrin has urged you to follow your own path and to seize leadership of the shadows. You didn’t want to initially because you wanted to try to hold things together because things seemed so fractured, but given that Dendrin has recently warned you about Cyrus’ potential treachery you thought it might be best to have another group of allies in case the worst occurs.

“So…we’re keeping this a secret from Cyrus?”
“Yes, I think that would be for the best. If he knew about this, you know he’d be against it. Cyrus is clinging to the old shadow ways and still has clout, but that will be coming to an end soon.”
“I dunno…I mean I agree that Cyrus shouldn’t be leader and that you would make an excellent shadow master especially since Dendrin talks to you, but hiding things from Cyrus and possibly planning for his death? I mean is there no other way? He’s not just a shadow, he’s one of us.”
“So are a few other eternals from our class if you remember. These little bastards here were going to be against us until we intervened…which bring me to my other reason and this one is harder for me to tell because it involves you and me.”
“All of this involves the both of us, what else could it possibly be that would trouble me more than conspiracy against one of our brothers?”

You bring up the very real and unaltered truth that Dendrin told you about eternals. The fact that none of you are able to have children due how you were created. Talia gets quiet and sits down for a moment. She tries very hard not to cry, but her voice is obviously quivering when she speaks again.

“…I…guess (sniff) that explains a lot…but um…I mean Dendrin could do something…I mean he…”
“Dendrin… (Sigh) …how do I put this? Dendrin is…complex. It’s true that he helps us directly by granting our magical abilities and perhaps in ways of major importance when he warned me about Gloom, but he’s not here to collectively hold the hands of the shadows. (You can’t believe you just repeated Dendrin’s own words) He would prefer that the shadows made their own destiny as it were. I mean, I’m sure if he wanted to, he could’ve just laid waste to the Empire a long time ago, but he didn’t. He wanted the shadows to endure and in enduring grow stronger from the situation they were placed in. Just like you…we will have to endure in not being able to have children. But getting back to the heart of the matter, that’s part of why I decided that we should try to save these young eternals. I mean you’ll get to train them first hand in the ways of Dendrin. It would almost be like you were the mother of several hundred eternal shadows.”
“But then they can never produce offspring either.”
“Well we don’t know that. I mean it looks like they’ve been altered in a significantly different way. But even if they can’t so what? If we had had children there would be no guarantee that they’d all survive to reproduce either. You mustn’t worry about this, because after all is said and done, you will still be doing Dendrin’s work and serving him faithfully and really isn’t that what it’s all about?”

You look into her eyes and touch her on the shoulder. She grabs your hand on her shoulder and looks down for a moment and breathes deeply. After a couple of seconds she looks back up at you.

“Very well, this does seem to be a suitable course of action. But quite frankly I don’t think we can save all of these children. Some of them are going to be lost causes and if the Empire ever attacks this place in force, we’re going to have to collapse this place anyway, we can’t properly defend it, at least not at this time.”
“Of course, I agree. I trust you will do what you can.”
“I always do my love.”

With this new plan settled, you and Talia kiss each other before parting company. You tell Sister Yvette that she is to report to Talia directly now and that you’ll be contacting Brother Theo about the new changes. Fortunately he’s still alive, when you check to see how those other shadow cell attack turned out. No reports have even come in about the attack on the camp, which isn’t too surprising given all the chaos going on elsewhere that brother Theo caused and the fact you didn’t leave any survivors or let anyone escape.

Eventually you make your way back to Rask which you’re happy to find out Cyrus was smart enough to not risk attacking Fort Destiny. Unfortunately he caused a different set back entirely. Talia was about the only one keeping the Flog and the rest of his orcs on good terms. You rarely interacted with him and he never got along with Cyrus who was usually condescending to him. While you were gone apparently a small skirmish ensued between the orcs and shadows. Amazingly nobody was actually killed, but several were wounded and ultimately Flog left with the remainder of the orcs.

“What?! They’re gone? Where?!” you ask.
“How should I know, further north I think where the rest of those overgrown idiots dwell. I don’t care, we don’t need them anyway!” Cyrus says. “And where is Sister Talia? Did you get her killed in your foolish mission?”
“No our mission was a success, and she’ll be taking care of some of the business we have in the south from now on because it’s apparent my attention should start being more focused here.”
“Oh so now you’ve decided that, after all those times I’ve suggested that since you first arrived here? You know what, I’ve been putting in work here for nearly a decade now, what makes you even think you know what the best plan of action is here?”
“Well I wouldn’t have pissed off our orc allies if I had the desire to attack Fort Destiny for one. (Sigh) Cyrus I’m on your side for Dendrin’s sake! I mean we’re supposed to be fighting the Empire, not each other. Can’t you see that brother?”

Cyrus looks you up and down with distain in his face.

“All I see is someone that talks a good game about serving Dendrin, but ultimately his words ring hollow to my ears. Always have. Time will tell though, brother and there will be a reckoning. Dendrin will not suffer false prophets and pretenders. I hope for your sake you aren’t one because his wrath will be terrible. Do what you want.” Cyrus says and leaves the room.

Funny how Cyrus is probably the only one who can see through your bullshit, yet still be painfully wrong. More amusement for Dendrin you suppose.
> You diplomacy (Year 31)
This is really annoying.

You cut down the orc you wounded from before. You knew he wasn’t getting far in this blizzard. Unfortunately you’ve lost sight of Flog again. You’ll pick up the trail again to be sure, but this whole thing is a complete waste of time.

If Cyrus hadn’t pissed off the orcs, they could’ve been sent to prevent Kane from destroying another town. Instead the Flog and his merry little band have been raiding the little villages north of Fort Defiance, villages that were supporting the shadows.

This can’t continue and will not continue.

A cave lies up ahead, knowing Flog he’s probably set up some sort of crude ambush, but that’s where he’s going to be. You need to get out of this blizzard anyway before you freeze. Shadows don’t have any magic that keeps you warm after all.

You’d like to where Cyrus is since he’s supposed to be helping you in this task. (This is fault after all) You told him to not to bother chasing those other orcs as they were obviously just a distraction.

The cave provides welcoming warmth from the cold outside. It also provides a welcoming committee in the form of three ogres. This would be Flog’s crude ambush.

You dodge the first ogre trying to cave your head in with a club and make a deep slash across his great fat belly. Innards are emptied out onto the cave floor along with a foul odor. The other two ogres knock over their mortally wounded companion in his own blood and shit to reach you.

As powerful as they are, ogres in your experience have never been particular good fighters. It’s over reliance on brute strength and no match for your own abilities. A lot easier than trolls that’s for sure. You never want to have to fight one of those things again.

You easily avoid the ogres’ attacks and hamstring the pair of them before they even know what’s going on. You jump on the back of one of them and put a dagger through the back of his neck. He throws you off as he gags on his own blood.

The last ogre crawls at you while you shake off the cobwebs of being thrown into the cave wall. A familiar “shhh thunk!” sound is heard and you see a bolt going through the eye of the ogre. He continues to crawl at you for a moment before succumbing to brain death. You look to your left and see Cyrus loading up another bolt in his armbow.

“These creatures were always unworthy of being in the presence of Dendrin’s faithful to begin with.” Cyrus says calmly
“Where have you been?”
“I got lost in the blizzard temporarily when I was chasing those orcs. I’m here now so let’s finish this brother.”

You shake you head sometimes wondering why you don’t just kill him and declare yourself shadow master, but he’s still got enough followers to make that problematic and thanks to this orc distraction, you need his help. There’s also the fact that Talia would still prefer you to somehow find a way to work it out with him. There have been times where you think you have, but then there is some sort of disagreement and the both of you are back where you started.

You figure all of the same reasons are why Cyrus hasn’t attempted to kill you and declare himself shadow master. He certainly could get away with it up here in the hinterlands and you sort of wondered if that’s why he agreed to come with you on this mission. He could kill you and then claim you fell in battle. Who’d really know? But again, he needs you, probably even more than he’d like to admit. You also know that perhaps somewhere within him, he’d prefer that you’d be on better terms as well.

The pair of you travel further into the cave and eventually you come across a single figure standing by a small fire. It’s Flog.

“Shadows, Flog sees that you have finally tracked him.”
“Wasn’t exactly difficult considering all the raiding you were doing. You really brought this upon yourself Flog.” You answer.
“How else are we supposed to sustain ourselves? Can’t farm in this land and orcs not farmers anyway. Hunting is scarce lately. Too much competition with giants and unfriendly ogre tribes. Humie villages have lots of supplies. They have more than enough. Stupid for having a settlement in hostile territory anyway.”
“It wasn’t excessively hostile until you started raiding them and two, those supplies are to help the rebellion against the Empire, you do remember that war remember?”
“Flog remembers. Flog remembers all too well since shadows just used orcs as sword fodder to hide behind. Shadows no better than the Empire.”

At this point Cyrus speaks up. “Why are we wasting words on this savage, let us kill the beast the be done with it.”
“Huh, you seemed to hide the most. If not for pretty female shadow, Flog would’ve killed you a long time ago.”
“Enough! Flog, your alliance with the shadows while probably not ideal, it was to your benefit. Since our split, the Empire has managed to make a small come back here in Rask. If the Empire gets strong enough to defeat us, you know you’ll be next.”
“Bah! Flog not care anymore! Empire is weak enough now. Empire will never be able to tame the upper reaches of Rask. Flog will make his home there and be free. Empire YOU shadows problem now.”
“Very well Flog, but there’s one problem with that plan. Namely you’re not getting out of this cave to be able to live free. You won’t be living at all in fact.”
“Oh…right…Flog see…”

At this point you fully expect Flog to make a last moment attack, but he doesn’t, instead he takes his hand away from his weapon.

“Anyway Flog can convince shadows?” he asks.
“Wait, are you seriously trying to negotiate?” you ask
“Yeah, if it gets Flog to live.”

You can’t help but chuckle a little. Talia always told you Flog was intelligent for an orc. You can only imagine how intelligent Captain Gruz was considering he was the originator of this orc rebellion. Cyrus of course isn’t finding this amusing at all.

“Why are you laughing? This orc scum insults Dendrin and us! I’m putting an end to this…”

Cyrus attempts to shoot Flog with his armbow, but you stop him from doing so and the bolt flies harmlessly into the wall. This would be a perfect time for Flog to try to escape, but he doesn’t. Either he’s smart enough to know you’d just find him again, or he’s serious about coming to some sort of agreement. This situation isn’t totally unsalvageable with Flog, but it certainly makes your current situation with Cyrus worse.

“Brother, you deal with this orc barbarian if you wish, but I’ll not have any part of it! And if whatever deal you make with it bites all of us, I will be the first one to make sure you pay for your poor decisions! I make this vow to Dendrin himself!” Cyrus exclaims and storms off.

After a brief moment of silence, you speak to Flog.

“Alright Flog, this is a negotiation, but you won’t be changing anything about them because everything is going to be on MY terms. Okay first off, you can’t raid the villages north of Fort Defiance anymore. The people are expecting the shadows to protect them and we can’t do that AND fight the Empire. I think you know what takes precedence, however if we can’t protect them, they won’t give us any supplies because they’re either losing them to you or they lose faith in us and won’t help.”
“But if Flog don’t do that, what remains of my tribe will see me as weak and kill me anyway.”
“Yes I know. And we’d just be left with the same problem. So this is what I want you to do. I don’t want you to raid the villages.I want you to enslave them.”
“You want Flog to enslave the villages?”
“Yes, I assume you still have enough orcs to do it, and if you don’t I’m sure you can also engage in your favorite past time of beating up ogres into submission to join you. In fact I’d prefer you to do that, just so we don’t have to deal with those big lugs sniffing around the fort. They waste our time. So enslave the villagers and you’ll never have to raid them again and you can take what you want when you want…and when the shadows want.”
“Hur hur…Flog see now. Won’t that make shadows look bad?”
“Who is going to know? It isn’t like many people travel back and forth past Fort Defiance, let alone to those remote villages. Just keep anyone from escaping and we should be fine. I trust you’ll be able to handle all this.”
“Sure, sure. Flog can do all that. Giants might still be a problem, but Flog will find a way.”
“Glad to hear it. I’m counting on you to keep that savage north tamed up there, while we can focus on the Empire.”
“Hrmmm, lotta faith in Flog. Though you shadow only place faith in your god.”
“I place faith in your desire to live. Talia’s told me about how smart you are before. I know you can see this to be a good deal for you. You get to be practically independent and a leader and all you have to do is supply us every once in awhile. Better than dying by my hand I’d imagine.”
“Huh yes good deal. Liked pretty shadow female, always dealt straight with Flog. Still not as pretty as orc female. Too skinny and not green enough. Good mate for you though.”
“Heh, yes well I certainly think so.”
“Alright shadow. Flog agree…but one question. How you know that Flog not eventually raise army to attack you in the future?”
“Because…” you smile. “I also have faith that you dislike Cyrus so much that you’d rather prove him wrong by NOT attacking me.”

With this statement Flog lets out a hearty laugh and you leave him to his mirth. He may become a problem in the future, but for now you’ve got him back on your side and eliminated the source of trouble to the north of you.

On your way out of the cave Cyrus stands waiting and asks you if you killed Flog, you tell him you took care of the problem. Cyrus just gives one of his trademark dirty looks and walks ahead of you.

One thing’s for sure; if your relationship with Cyrus doesn’t get better you’ll be dealing with that problem before one with Flog.


“I think we should take this opportunity to make them see the way of the shadows.” You say.
“What?!” Yvette exclaims.
“Are you serious?” Talia asks.
“Well okay maybe not all of them, but I’d think that with the right teaching they could become valuable assets.”
“NO! These are the enemy and must be destroyed! You said so yourself when we first began this mission!” Yvette says.
“And perhaps I was a bit hasty. I can’t be entitled to speak out of turn and make a mistake once in awhile?”
“No brother, but I think leaving these…abominations alive for whatever reason is a bigger mistake.”
“Abominations…and I suppose you believe me and Talia are abominations too eh sister?”
“Wha…no! I mean…(sputter) you’re different! You…”
“How? Me, Talia, and Cyrus for that matter were all brought up from birth and indoctrinated to serve the Empire, but what happened? We saw the truth of Dendrin’s wisdom instead! Is it not possible that these…children who aren’t even as old as we were be re-educated to do the same?”
“Well…I suppose, but…”
“Think about it sister, some of the greatest enemies of the Empire were brought up within the very heart of it! Let’s continue to turn the Empire’s obsessive need for control against itself! And better yet, bring more servants into the fold of Dendrin.”

Sister Yvette looks a bit hesitant, it’s obvious she has some real problems with this plan, but she isn’t really sure how to argue against you. Part of it stems from you making a bit of a point, and the other stems from the fact that despite her own confidence being better than it was, she still feels inferior to you…perhaps that’s just the aura you have as an Eternal though.

“Yes…I suppose I see the wisdom in attempting to educate these children in the ways of Dendrin.” Sister Yvette says. She might not believe it now, but in time she’ll either convince herself or get used to it. Either way you just need her obedience.

As for the remainder of the shadows if they have anything meaningful to say on the subject they keep it to themselves. That just leaves Talia, who is going to require a little bit more convincing since you sense her look of disagreement.

“Um…sister Yvette, could you and the rest leave me and sister Talia alone for a moment.”

As the rest of them leave, you move over to Talia who looks out over the hundreds of eternal containers.

“I sense some disapproval from this plan?”
“Not so much disapproval, but rather apprehension.”
“What about the training? I know it won’t be easy, but I figure we can open up that ritual portal to Dendrin and let him decide if they’re worthy or not, you know, like he did with us.”
“And you know how to do that? Because I sure don’t! It’s not like Master Ebon or Brother Gray imparted that knowledge on to me before they died!”
“Well your magic is strong, and hey I know Cyrus has some old shadow tomes back at Fort Defiance, we can probably find something in there about it.”
“Well I’m glad you seem to have this all figured out then, just wish you would’ve let me on this sooner.”
“I would have, but this honestly just came to mind. I mean how was I to know that these kids were going to be safely locked up in oversized glass tubes? I thought we were going to be waist deep in their blood by now.”
“So who is going to train them? I know it’s not going to be you. Me I suppose right?”
“Well…you would be the best qualified…but hey Sister Yvette could help you and other shadows too! In fact I could have some transferred here just in case of an Empire attack when…”
“Damn it I’m not worried about all that, I’m wondering WHY you came up with this plan at all! I know there’s another reason than just turning them against the Empire or even bringing new shadows into Dendrin’s fold and don’t say that there isn’t! We’re the same and we’ve bonded as lovers. I know there’s more going on in your head because I know YOU. Now tell me.

Talia never was one to mince words and perhaps it is time you didn’t either.

“Very well my love. You should know everything.”

And from there you tell Talia everything…except you don’t.

You tell her that Dendrin did not only speak to you on the day Gloom was attacked, you tell her he’s spoken to you in the past on several occasions. You just never said anything about it before Gloom because you didn’t want to be thought a liar and be labeled a heretic.

You also tell her that Dendrin has urged you to follow your own path and to seize leadership of the shadows. You didn’t want to initially because you wanted to try to hold things together because things seemed so fractured, but given that Dendrin has recently warned you about Cyrus’ potential treachery you thought it might be best to have another group of allies in case the worst occurs.

“So…we’re keeping this a secret from Cyrus?”
“Yes, I think that would be for the best. If he knew about this, you know he’d be against it. Cyrus is clinging to the old shadow ways and still has clout, but that will be coming to an end soon.”
“I dunno…I mean I agree that Cyrus shouldn’t be leader and that you would make an excellent shadow master especially since Dendrin talks to you, but hiding things from Cyrus and possibly planning for his death? I mean is there no other way? He’s not just a shadow, he’s one of us.”
“So are a few other eternals from our class if you remember. These little bastards here were going to be against us until we intervened…which bring me to my other reason and this one is harder for me to tell because it involves you and me.”
“All of this involves the both of us, what else could it possibly be that would trouble me more than conspiracy against one of our brothers?”

You bring up the very real and unaltered truth that Dendrin told you about eternals. The fact that none of you are able to have children due how you were created. Talia gets quiet and sits down for a moment. She tries very hard not to cry, but her voice is obviously quivering when she speaks again.

“…I…guess (sniff) that explains a lot…but um…I mean Dendrin could do something…I mean he…”
“Dendrin… (Sigh) …how do I put this? Dendrin is…complex. It’s true that he helps us directly by granting our magical abilities and perhaps in ways of major importance when he warned me about Gloom, but he’s not here to collectively hold the hands of the shadows. (You can’t believe you just repeated Dendrin’s own words) He would prefer that the shadows made their own destiny as it were. I mean, I’m sure if he wanted to, he could’ve just laid waste to the Empire a long time ago, but he didn’t. He wanted the shadows to endure and in enduring grow stronger from the situation they were placed in. Just like you…we will have to endure in not being able to have children. But getting back to the heart of the matter, that’s part of why I decided that we should try to save these young eternals. I mean you’ll get to train them first hand in the ways of Dendrin. It would almost be like you were the mother of several hundred eternal shadows.”
“But then they can never produce offspring either.”
“Well we don’t know that. I mean it looks like they’ve been altered in a significantly different way. But even if they can’t so what? If we had had children there would be no guarantee that they’d all survive to reproduce either. You mustn’t worry about this, because after all is said and done, you will still be doing Dendrin’s work and serving him faithfully and really isn’t that what it’s all about?”

You look into her eyes and touch her on the shoulder. She grabs your hand on her shoulder and looks down for a moment and breathes deeply. After a couple of seconds she looks back up at you.

“Very well, this does seem to be a suitable course of action. But quite frankly I don’t think we can save all of these children. Some of them are going to be lost causes and if the Empire ever attacks this place in force, we’re going to have to collapse this place anyway, we can’t properly defend it, at least not at this time.”
“Of course, I agree. I trust you will do what you can.”
“I always do my love.”

With this new plan settled, you and Talia kiss each other before parting company. You tell Sister Yvette that she is to report to Talia directly now and that you’ll be contacting Brother Theo about the new changes. Fortunately he’s still alive, when you check to see how those other shadow cell attack turned out. No reports have even come in about the attack on the camp, which isn’t too surprising given all the chaos going on elsewhere that brother Theo caused and the fact you didn’t leave any survivors or let anyone escape.

Eventually you make your way back to Rask which you’re happy to find out Cyrus was smart enough to not risk attacking Fort Destiny. Unfortunately he caused a different set back entirely. Talia was about the only one keeping the Flog and the rest of his orcs on good terms. You rarely interacted with him and he never got along with Cyrus who was usually condescending to him. While you were gone apparently a small skirmish ensued between the orcs and shadows. Amazingly nobody was actually killed, but several were wounded and ultimately Flog left with the remainder of the orcs.

“What?! They’re gone? Where?!” you ask.
“How should I know, further north I think where the rest of those overgrown idiots dwell. I don’t care, we don’t need them anyway!” Cyrus says. “And where is Sister Talia? Did you get her killed in your foolish mission?”
“No our mission was a success, and she’ll be taking care of some of the business we have in the south from now on because it’s apparent my attention should start being more focused here.”
“Oh so now you’ve decided that, after all those times I’ve suggested that since you first arrived here? You know what, I’ve been putting in work here for nearly a decade now, what makes you even think you know what the best plan of action is here?”
“Well I wouldn’t have pissed off our orc allies if I had the desire to attack Fort Destiny for one. (Sigh) Cyrus I’m on your side for Dendrin’s sake! I mean we’re supposed to be fighting the Empire, not each other. Can’t you see that brother?”

Cyrus looks you up and down with distain in his face.

“All I see is someone that talks a good game about serving Dendrin, but ultimately his words ring hollow to my ears. Always have. Time will tell though, brother and there will be a reckoning. Dendrin will not suffer false prophets and pretenders. I hope for your sake you aren’t one because his wrath will be terrible. Do what you want.” Cyrus says and leaves the room.

Funny how Cyrus is probably the only one who can see through your bullshit, yet still be painfully wrong. More amusement for Dendrin you suppose.
> You treachery (Year 32)
“We’re going to have to clear out of here soon, the Empire is finally getting their ass in gear to retake this camp. Captain Roldan himself is supposed to be on his way and he’s been pretty efficient in squashing shadow cells as of late.” Talia remarks.
“Yeah I know. He’s proven as hard to kill as ol’ butcher Kane. Both have survived several assassination attempts. Heh, this war would’ve been a lot easier had they been put into the Shadow Guard too.”
“Well, what are we going to do about him? Because while we can clear out the camp and collapse the rest, it doesn’t stop the fact that Roldan is our biggest potential threat. He’s proving to be the most competent Empire commander they have.”
“Yeah I know…I’ll have to think on it. So how many of the new eternals can we save?”
“Well there are still hundreds in those tanks and quite frankly I dunno if half of those are even functioning properly anymore. Some were empty to begin with too. I know we’ve open up at least a hundred or so of those tanks and some of the children had to be…dealt with immediately. I’d say we got around sixty or seventy that are still undergoing re-education. And of those? I’d say only about nine that have taken to it completely.”

You exhale deeply; you knew it was going to be tough, but only nine? That really puts a crimp in your plans for a potential army of loyal eternal shadows on your side.

“Those tomes I gave you didn’t help open a portal to Dendrin so you could do the indoctrination ceremony?”
“I couldn’t find anything in them about it. The best thing I found was in one of the Empire mage’s spellbooks. A mind control spell which has helped in the conditioning process. Not shadow magic, but whatever works right?”
“You’ll get no argument from me. Might as well take those with you, what about derro equipment?”
“Mostly hand weapons that we don’t need or machinery that we can’t use. However there were schematics for stuff laying about. Mostly on those explosive weapons they were using during the troll fight. Sister Yvette has mostly been studying those since I believe it troubles her less than indoctrinating these new eternals. There’s a lot of that explosive stuff unused too. We’ll use that to destroy this complex.”
“Maybe we could use it to set up a trap as well.” You say forming a plan.
“How so exactly? I mean I sort of get where you’re going with your thought process; when Roldan arrives we could blow up his army, but there’s no guarantee we’d get all of them or even him and we’d have to stick around which would most likely be suicide as his army is reportedly the best around and we severely lack in numbers. Hell, I’m not even sure some of those kids we’re educating wouldn’t help the Empire.”
“Except those nine right?”
“Well yes, except them. What are you suggesting?”

You explain to Talia that you all will evacuate this camp as planned, taking with you spellbooks, derro tech schematics and those children that are in the process of being re-educated. What’s staying are the explosives and those nine children…

“Wait, wait, you seriously want these children to sacrifice their lives?”
“It’s not like they’re doing it for no reason. They’ll be striking a blow against the Empire, and dying in the service of Dendrin. You told me they were loyal didn’t you?”
“Well yes, but…”
“Well when the army comes through Roldan will have it searched from top to bottom. He’ll probably even do a little wandering himself when everything appears to be in order. Then when he’s got his guard down, these nine you’ve told me about will come from their hiding spots light the fuses in the strategically located areas. Just to make sure they accomplish their missions, they will also be carrying explosives on their person. They probably aren’t expecting the new eternals are indoctrinated and some aren’t going to expect finding so called helpless children at all. In fact maybe we should tell one to play up the victim role about the terrible shadows and when Roldan wants to hear their story…BOOM! He’s no more.”

While this seems like a solid plan to you, Talia once again is showing reservations about your ideas.

“But these children have worked so hard to devote themselves to Dendrin. The odds were so against them, yet their trust and faith helped them overcome their Empire brainwashing. It doesn’t seem right for them to die when they have only just awakened. There are other shadows here. Adult ones who would also gladly sacrifice themselves, could we not use one of them instead?”
“Normally I’d say yes, but an adult shadow is of much more worth in case of a major battle in the near future. Now I’m aware these children are eternals, but they are still children. They are not even the same age that we were when were first exposed to the shadow way. I can’t wait for them to grow and I can’t use any of ones you’re still in the process of educating because I can’t risk any of them not following through with the plan. Talia, I know this is grim business and I know you may have even gotten attached to them…like any mother would. But there comes a time where even a mother has to let go, and really, you knew that something like this might be a possibility. Take comfort in the fact that their actions will save other shadows and their siblings.”
“I know the reasons. I know the stakes, but I won’t take comfort in it. And I can’t be the one to send them to their deaths. You’ll have to do it.” Talia says and looks away from you, obviously trying to hide her eyes, which are tearing up.
“Very well. I suppose I owe them that much.” You say and ask where they are.

When you go to the room where they’re located, they are all in prayer to Dendrin. They don’t even stop to notice you until they’re finished. Well they’re definitely loyal to Dendrin that’s for sure.

They recognize you as a shadow and ask who you are. When you tell them your name, their eyes get wide and they suddenly start to get very excited.

“You’re Mother Talia’s husband!”
“You’re the one who speaks to Dendrin!”
“You’re the scourge of the Empire!”

Looks like Talia’s been speaking about you in high regard to these children as well.

“Are you here to send us on a mission to kill Empire soldiers?” one of them asks.
“Oh yes. I am here to send you all on a mission. Possibly one of the most important in the war against the Empire. We haven’t much time though and I will have to explain quickly, are you all ready to serve in Dendrin’s name?”
“Yes! For Dendrin!” they all shout in unison.

While everyone else starts evacuating the camp, you start taking the children through the plan. Sister Yvette briefly shows you and the children where she’s placing the explosives to collapse the underground complex. She also shows the children how to use the explosives. She’s noticeably unnerved by the fact that these children are going to sacrifice themselves. She never agreed with saving the eternals to begin with, but apparently she has now grown a little more used to the children and isn’t happy about seeing them going to their deaths.

You haven’t been around these children long enough to get so attached to them, but you can understand it. Even within the short time you’ve spent with these nine you can appreciate their enthusiastic potential. It is sort of a shame since who knows what they would accomplish if they were to grow up, but there are still several dozen more that will be saved and hopefully they will eventually become just like these nine.

Towards the end of the evacuation, you wave good-bye to the nine and remind them of their duty and how Dendrin will accept them when their work is done. Talia also sticks around to say her farewells.

“Children, remember all that I have taught you and remember that Dendrin loves you…and that…(sniffle) I love you…(sniffle) and will always do so.”
“We love you too Mother Talia.” They all say in unison and go up to hug her.

After a couple seconds of this, Talia tells them good-bye and leaves with you. The pair of you travel behind the rest mostly in silence. No sooner have you traveled out of sight of the camp, Talia breaks down and cries. A few shadows turn around wondering what’s going on, but you tell them all to go on ahead and that you’ll both be along shortly.

You stand beside her during her sorrow, but you offer no words of comfort since there are none. In fact chances are you’ll make her feel worse as it was your decision after all. Eventually after she lets it all out, she pulls herself together. Still sad of course, but ready to put it behind her. You continue your journey to Brother Theo’s hideout that he’s prepared for the evacuation.

A few days later you get word from contacts of an Empire army being nearly wiped out by a series of large explosions. For a brief moment the Empire first thought it might even be a Felkan attack due to their use of gunpower weaponry, however it was confirmed by the few survivors that it was another shadow ambush. Naturally you are painted to be the lowliest of villains due to children being used, but Empire propaganda has always been so over the top that you doubt if people will even believe it, and those that do…well they were probably never going to be on your side anyway.

The best news is when you hear that a funeral will be held in Captain Roldan’s honor as he died during one of the blasts.

You have won a great victory and confirms that your decision to save the eternals was a good one. Even if all the others prove to be untrainable, those nine were more than worth it.


“I think we should take this opportunity to make them see the way of the shadows.” You say.
“What?!” Yvette exclaims.
“Are you serious?” Talia asks.
“Well okay maybe not all of them, but I’d think that with the right teaching they could become valuable assets.”
“NO! These are the enemy and must be destroyed! You said so yourself when we first began this mission!” Yvette says.
“And perhaps I was a bit hasty. I can’t be entitled to speak out of turn and make a mistake once in awhile?”
“No brother, but I think leaving these…abominations alive for whatever reason is a bigger mistake.”
“Abominations…and I suppose you believe me and Talia are abominations too eh sister?”
“Wha…no! I mean…(sputter) you’re different! You…”
“How? Me, Talia, and Cyrus for that matter were all brought up from birth and indoctrinated to serve the Empire, but what happened? We saw the truth of Dendrin’s wisdom instead! Is it not possible that these…children who aren’t even as old as we were be re-educated to do the same?”
“Well…I suppose, but…”
“Think about it sister, some of the greatest enemies of the Empire were brought up within the very heart of it! Let’s continue to turn the Empire’s obsessive need for control against itself! And better yet, bring more servants into the fold of Dendrin.”

Sister Yvette looks a bit hesitant, it’s obvious she has some real problems with this plan, but she isn’t really sure how to argue against you. Part of it stems from you making a bit of a point, and the other stems from the fact that despite her own confidence being better than it was, she still feels inferior to you…perhaps that’s just the aura you have as an Eternal though.

“Yes…I suppose I see the wisdom in attempting to educate these children in the ways of Dendrin.” Sister Yvette says. She might not believe it now, but in time she’ll either convince herself or get used to it. Either way you just need her obedience.

As for the remainder of the shadows if they have anything meaningful to say on the subject they keep it to themselves. That just leaves Talia, who is going to require a little bit more convincing since you sense her look of disagreement.

“Um…sister Yvette, could you and the rest leave me and sister Talia alone for a moment.”

As the rest of them leave, you move over to Talia who looks out over the hundreds of eternal containers.

“I sense some disapproval from this plan?”
“Not so much disapproval, but rather apprehension.”
“What about the training? I know it won’t be easy, but I figure we can open up that ritual portal to Dendrin and let him decide if they’re worthy or not, you know, like he did with us.”
“And you know how to do that? Because I sure don’t! It’s not like Master Ebon or Brother Gray imparted that knowledge on to me before they died!”
“Well your magic is strong, and hey I know Cyrus has some old shadow tomes back at Fort Defiance, we can probably find something in there about it.”
“Well I’m glad you seem to have this all figured out then, just wish you would’ve let me on this sooner.”
“I would have, but this honestly just came to mind. I mean how was I to know that these kids were going to be safely locked up in oversized glass tubes? I thought we were going to be waist deep in their blood by now.”
“So who is going to train them? I know it’s not going to be you. Me I suppose right?”
“Well…you would be the best qualified…but hey Sister Yvette could help you and other shadows too! In fact I could have some transferred here just in case of an Empire attack when…”
“Damn it I’m not worried about all that, I’m wondering WHY you came up with this plan at all! I know there’s another reason than just turning them against the Empire or even bringing new shadows into Dendrin’s fold and don’t say that there isn’t! We’re the same and we’ve bonded as lovers. I know there’s more going on in your head because I know YOU. Now tell me.

Talia never was one to mince words and perhaps it is time you didn’t either.

“Very well my love. You should know everything.”

And from there you tell Talia everything…except you don’t.

You tell her that Dendrin did not only speak to you on the day Gloom was attacked, you tell her he’s spoken to you in the past on several occasions. You just never said anything about it before Gloom because you didn’t want to be thought a liar and be labeled a heretic.

You also tell her that Dendrin has urged you to follow your own path and to seize leadership of the shadows. You didn’t want to initially because you wanted to try to hold things together because things seemed so fractured, but given that Dendrin has recently warned you about Cyrus’ potential treachery you thought it might be best to have another group of allies in case the worst occurs.

“So…we’re keeping this a secret from Cyrus?”
“Yes, I think that would be for the best. If he knew about this, you know he’d be against it. Cyrus is clinging to the old shadow ways and still has clout, but that will be coming to an end soon.”
“I dunno…I mean I agree that Cyrus shouldn’t be leader and that you would make an excellent shadow master especially since Dendrin talks to you, but hiding things from Cyrus and possibly planning for his death? I mean is there no other way? He’s not just a shadow, he’s one of us.”
“So are a few other eternals from our class if you remember. These little bastards here were going to be against us until we intervened…which bring me to my other reason and this one is harder for me to tell because it involves you and me.”
“All of this involves the both of us, what else could it possibly be that would trouble me more than conspiracy against one of our brothers?”

You bring up the very real and unaltered truth that Dendrin told you about eternals. The fact that none of you are able to have children due how you were created. Talia gets quiet and sits down for a moment. She tries very hard not to cry, but her voice is obviously quivering when she speaks again.

“…I…guess (sniff) that explains a lot…but um…I mean Dendrin could do something…I mean he…”
“Dendrin… (Sigh) …how do I put this? Dendrin is…complex. It’s true that he helps us directly by granting our magical abilities and perhaps in ways of major importance when he warned me about Gloom, but he’s not here to collectively hold the hands of the shadows. (You can’t believe you just repeated Dendrin’s own words) He would prefer that the shadows made their own destiny as it were. I mean, I’m sure if he wanted to, he could’ve just laid waste to the Empire a long time ago, but he didn’t. He wanted the shadows to endure and in enduring grow stronger from the situation they were placed in. Just like you…we will have to endure in not being able to have children. But getting back to the heart of the matter, that’s part of why I decided that we should try to save these young eternals. I mean you’ll get to train them first hand in the ways of Dendrin. It would almost be like you were the mother of several hundred eternal shadows.”
“But then they can never produce offspring either.”
“Well we don’t know that. I mean it looks like they’ve been altered in a significantly different way. But even if they can’t so what? If we had had children there would be no guarantee that they’d all survive to reproduce either. You mustn’t worry about this, because after all is said and done, you will still be doing Dendrin’s work and serving him faithfully and really isn’t that what it’s all about?”

You look into her eyes and touch her on the shoulder. She grabs your hand on her shoulder and looks down for a moment and breathes deeply. After a couple of seconds she looks back up at you.

“Very well, this does seem to be a suitable course of action. But quite frankly I don’t think we can save all of these children. Some of them are going to be lost causes and if the Empire ever attacks this place in force, we’re going to have to collapse this place anyway, we can’t properly defend it, at least not at this time.”
“Of course, I agree. I trust you will do what you can.”
“I always do my love.”

With this new plan settled, you and Talia kiss each other before parting company. You tell Sister Yvette that she is to report to Talia directly now and that you’ll be contacting Brother Theo about the new changes. Fortunately he’s still alive, when you check to see how those other shadow cell attack turned out. No reports have even come in about the attack on the camp, which isn’t too surprising given all the chaos going on elsewhere that brother Theo caused and the fact you didn’t leave any survivors or let anyone escape.

Eventually you make your way back to Rask which you’re happy to find out Cyrus was smart enough to not risk attacking Fort Destiny. Unfortunately he caused a different set back entirely. Talia was about the only one keeping the Flog and the rest of his orcs on good terms. You rarely interacted with him and he never got along with Cyrus who was usually condescending to him. While you were gone apparently a small skirmish ensued between the orcs and shadows. Amazingly nobody was actually killed, but several were wounded and ultimately Flog left with the remainder of the orcs.

“What?! They’re gone? Where?!” you ask.
“How should I know, further north I think where the rest of those overgrown idiots dwell. I don’t care, we don’t need them anyway!” Cyrus says. “And where is Sister Talia? Did you get her killed in your foolish mission?”
“No our mission was a success, and she’ll be taking care of some of the business we have in the south from now on because it’s apparent my attention should start being more focused here.”
“Oh so now you’ve decided that, after all those times I’ve suggested that since you first arrived here? You know what, I’ve been putting in work here for nearly a decade now, what makes you even think you know what the best plan of action is here?”
“Well I wouldn’t have pissed off our orc allies if I had the desire to attack Fort Destiny for one. (Sigh) Cyrus I’m on your side for Dendrin’s sake! I mean we’re supposed to be fighting the Empire, not each other. Can’t you see that brother?”

Cyrus looks you up and down with distain in his face.

“All I see is someone that talks a good game about serving Dendrin, but ultimately his words ring hollow to my ears. Always have. Time will tell though, brother and there will be a reckoning. Dendrin will not suffer false prophets and pretenders. I hope for your sake you aren’t one because his wrath will be terrible. Do what you want.” Cyrus says and leaves the room.

Funny how Cyrus is probably the only one who can see through your bullshit, yet still be painfully wrong. More amusement for Dendrin you suppose.
> You brutality (Year 33)
The day has finally come to pass, an all out assault on Fort Destiny. Just what Cyrus always wanted.

What he probably didn’t want though is you organizing most of it, but really without you this wouldn’t even be going through. The provinces south of Rask don’t need shadow support quite as much anymore as there is now a sufficient about of chaos going on throughout. So much so that Empire troops have been getting pulled out of Rask just to keep order down south. No more support is coming to Rask, not even dark elven mercenaries and up until last year only the most desperate of them were even taking the jobs. Which is why you decided that now is the best time to pull all your strength from the south to combine with supporters in Rask drive out the Empire once and for all.

The Empire’s sole beacon of existence in Rask now is Fort Destiny and Captain Kane himself. Without either the Empire will have officially lost Rask. The Empire has been having a shortage in competent military leadership and losing Captain Roldan was certainly a great blow.

The assault is taking place nearly the same way it was first envisioned, and attack from the north and the south. The difference is that now you’ve brought along derro explosives to help in your cause along with about fifty loyal eternal shadows who may be young, but are already proving their worth. Cyrus needless to say wasn’t pleased to hear about that secret you’d kept from him.

Cyrus also wasn’t pleased when you managed to have Flog lend some of his orc and ogre subjects to help out, but what really helped was his inclusion of a couple of giants to provide “rock thrower” support.

The initial attack goes about as expected. Great rocks thrown and crashing into the sides of the fort on the north side, while firebombs blow up the walls on the south side. It isn’t all one sided though as catapults are fired back at your people.

By day three Fort Destiny stands half in ruins with several holes in its walls and dead soldiers in the courtyard. Both giants are dead, one even lying slumped over a collapsed wall with a ballista bolt through his head. Most of the ogres have died as well. The Raskian people who have lent their support have taken a lot of casualties, but you think that thanks to Kane’s past cruelty and the desire to drive out the Empire they see the losses as acceptable. Fortunately there haven’t been many casualties on the shadows’ side of your army.

As you, Cyrus and Talia stand alongside your occupying forces; the only real structure left is the battered citadel in the center. The front door to it has been strongly barricaded from the inside, but there are enough holes in the upper parts of it that it would be a simple matter of scaling the thing and entering through one of them.

“Anyone seen Kane’s body in this bloody mess?” Talia asks.
“He’s probably in his citadel, but I’m not going to bother going through some sort of drawn out process of getting him.” You reply.
“So are you sending in your fancy new eternal babies to scale the walls?” Cyrus asks.
“Probably could, but they’d probably get slaughtered by the likes of Kane. And Kane’s most likely still got a bunch of solders locked up with him in there to help him. No, we’re not sending in ANY shadows. It’s just a waste of their lives at this point. Got a much better idea.” You say looking up at the citadel.

“Kane! Butcher of Rask! The battle is at an end, let us not draw this out any further than it needs to, come on out and face death with the honor I know you to have!” you shout.

For a long moment there is silence.

“If you insist on hiding in there like a eunuch I’m going to simply line this citadel’s base with explosives and bring it crashing down with you in it! Is that what sort of death you want for you and your men hiding with you?”

This statement causes some laughter from the upper reaches of the citadel.

“My men in here are all dead! I killed them all myself when they talked about surrendering to you shadow scum! Traitors! Weaklings! All of them! This entire country is filled with the disease that infects the Empire! I have done my duty in cleansing it to the best of my abilities.” Kane answers.

Given Kane’s reputation there’s no real reason to doubt this, but something about the way he’s saying it makes it apparent that he may have very well lost it.

“So are you coming out to cleanse us as well?” you ask.
“Any other day I would have, but no shadow parasite, my days of cleansing are indeed at an end. After having to slay my own soldiers, I have spent the remaining time thinking about the future and come to an unfortunate conclusion.”
“And what might that be?”
“The disease that has infected the Empire is incurable. Even if I lived my days in perpetual glorious battle I still would not be able to save it. Indeed, I believe I may have already…”

As Kane trails off and goes silent, Cyrus begins to get impatient.

“Are we really going to listen to this twaddle? Let’s get on with killing this mad bastard and be done with it!”
“Yeah, I don’t think this is going anywhere, it sounds like Kane has snapped or something.” Talia adds.
“Alright, alright, start getting the explosives ready.” You answer, though you can’t help but be a little curious about what Kane has to say. He’s been a thorn in your side for so long, it just seems so odd for things to end this way. You honestly thought he would’ve been the first to rush head long into battle as soon as your forces started rushing into the fort.

No sooner have your plans been put into action, Kane begins speaking again and this time he stands upon a windowsill completely naked.

“What the fuck…” you say to yourself.

“I don’t envy you shadows. You serve a cause that is inherently corrupt and lacking in purity. My cause was pure and just, but I made a mistake…and I also feel the corruption taking place within me. As hard as I try to suppress it…it’s there and I cannot allow that. I must die before I allow it to infect me completely! Though I may die here today, I will live forever! FOR THE EMPIRE AND THE EMPEROR!” he shouts and then jumps.

The rest of you on the ground move out of the way to avoid his falling body which splats spectacularly when it eventually hits.

“Didn’t expect that to happen.” Talia remarks.
“I have to admit this was a bit bizarre.”
“Feh, obviously a coward when faced against a real opponent. I told you all for years we should’ve attacked him sooner, but I suppose it was easier for the both of you to follow your own agendas and hide things behind my back.” Cyrus says and then turns away from the both of you.

You aren’t going to argue with Cyrus today, you’ll have plenty of time to do that later. He may even have a point, but you really believe that it was better to wait. Kane didn’t nearly have the same number of soldiers or support as he had three years ago. Still, you wonder about his odd behavior at the end. You tell some of your people to blow up the citadel door and to help you search it.

When you get inside, you confirm that Kane was not lying when he said he killed his own men. Butchered would be a completely accurate one here since he didn’t just kill them, he chopped most of them into pieces. As bloody as the sight is, the smell is much worse. The whole place reeks of death and some of the Raskans who enter the citadel walk right back out gagging. You dare say the inside of this citadel is as bloody as the battlefield outside.

Upon a closer inspection of some of the bodies, you notice a few teeth marks, like he might’ve even eaten a portion of them. When you finally get to Kane’s quarters you see several journals strewn about the floor, Some of the journals are shredded and others have pages ripped out, but you skim through a few of them out of curiosity.

Kane’s journals provide a fascinating look into his descent into madness. From what you can tell, his personality didn’t start changing severely until after a mission that involved the wendigo tribe. Apparently they weren’t a barbarian tribe so much as they were evil spirits that masqueraded in the bodies of them. They subsisted on eating flesh of any living beings and were always hungry.

Apparently they could also possess people at will, and needed to in order to be able to leave their “home”. Kane ended up finding all this out the hard way and lost an entire company. Though ultimately victorious the wendigo mental assaults on his mind took their toll it seems. He wasn’t possessed, but it definitely unhinged him. From there on his behavior started getting more bloodthirsty. His faith in the Empire seemed to be a bit of a solid rock for him that allowed him to maintain a degree of normalcy, but when the Empire started loosing ground in Rask, and elsewhere, it was a cascading effect into full-blown insanity. A lot of his writing towards the end seems to be random and disjointed. His last entry mentions nearly matches what his final words were to you.

You look around the room some more and find a military map of Rask. You make a note the location of where Kane said he faced the wendigo so that you know to avoid it in the future.


Year 30

“No, I say we take all of our resources and make a forward push on Fort Destiny. We can hit Captain Kane from the north and from the south.” Cyrus says.
“And I’m telling you that we can’t do that. Our people aren’t grouped together on the southern Rask border ready to strike, they’re scattered all over the place and that’s how they should remain! I keep telling you this, besides I’ve got a better plan for the shadow cells in the Quala province.” You remark.
“Brothers, this yelling isn’t helping.” Talia sighs.

Another typical day on the “Shadow Council”, you and Cyrus arguing, with Talia stuck in the middle. You really wish that wasn’t the case, but it is just inevitable that you and Cyrus are going to always disagree on something. You don’t even know why you bother meeting to discuss battle plans nowadays, what usually happens is a bunch of arguing like this and then you both go off and do your own thing. This hasn’t really been a problem in the past mainly because your plans are all outside of Rask, while Cyrus’ plans are always within Rask so they never conflict for the most part. Also, the Empire’s attention was divided due to their war with the Felkan Kingdom.

However things have changed. The Empire recently signed a non-agression pact with the Felkan Kingdom meaning they’ve been able to focus a hell of a lot better on the rebellion. You need to do something to swing the tide in your favor before they begin to gather enough momentum to roll right over you.

Cyrus’ plan is the one he’s been endorsing for years. Consolidate Rask and drive out the Empire from it completely. As the war has raged on over the years this has been done for the most part. The only thing that really stands in the way are a few of the loyalist border towns and Captain Kane in Fort Destiny. The problem is that’s still a big obstacle to get over and a major assault would result in considerable losses.

Cyrus has in the past sent groups of shadows to assassinate Captain Kane, but so far all attempts have failed. Kane’s reputation as the “Butcher of Rask” isn’t just for show and him being a battle hardened Eternal means he’s more than a match even for the average shadow. Cyrus probably would’ve sent more, but Talia convinced him that it was just pointlessly sending shadows to their deaths. You didn’t necessarily think the idea was without promise, but you suggested that an assassination attempt might work if you, Talia and Cyrus actually did it since you feel that you’d have the skill to pull it off, but Cyrus dismissed that idea, claiming that Talia is right and that assassination should be taken off the table.

So a major assault it is, of course this is why Cyrus wants you to gather all of your shadow cells outside of Rask and have them attack from the south in a classic pincer maneuver. It would probably work, but you’d still have heavy losses especially those attacking from the south since the Empire could redeploy reinforcements early enough that your forces could be caught in the middle too.

You imagine this idea would appeal to Cyrus since then options would be limited to just focusing on Rask and you wouldn’t have any forces at all anymore. You get the impression that when the Empire is finally defeated Cyrus has major plans for Rask given how badly he wants to focus on it. Perhaps he has some long-range goal of starting his own “empire.” However, he’s still short sighted as far as your concerned because even if you went along with his plan, it would just hold off the Empire a few extra years and wouldn’t stop them from taking back Rask given the new information you’ve received from your contacts.

The Empire has been breeding new Eternals, the number is unknown, but it’s apparently enough to create an army of them. They’re not “ready” yet, but in a few more years they soon will be and if that happens you might not be able to stop them if the Empire unleashed them on Rask. However, you’ve received the information of where this new Eternal training camp is which is a remote location in the Quala province close to the Arat border. The only other information you have on the place is that the main complex appears to be underground since children. The place doesn’t appear to be heavily guarded up top, but who knows what security is like down below. Considering magic is involved in creating Eternals, it’s a sure bet that there are going to be wizard types about.

Your plan is to destroy this place by leading a small group of the most skilled shadows you have. While this is going on, your other cells will strike out at vital areas in the Empire at the same time to keep them from immediately sending out reinforcements to the camp. You actually wouldn’t mind Cyrus to come with you since he is a skilled fighter, but you aren’t even going to ask since you know what his answer will be. Cyrus doesn’t even believe that it’s a top priority and claims that if Rask is liberated then you can attack the camp later since these new Eternals still won’t be battle ready for a while.

If you go off and do your own thing, your concern is that Cyrus is going to do the same thing and get everyone under his command killed in his attempt to take Fort Destiny. Of course if you help him you’re left with the same problem that it’s very probable that your shadow cells are going to get hit pretty hard during the assault on Fort Destiny and Cyrus won’t actually lend any help when you want to destroy the new Eternal camp.

There’s also the issue that you’re trying to maintain the unity as always. Cyrus is really pushing for this assault on Fort Destiny and doing your own thing this time might be the “last straw” and the last thing you need is to do is start a shadow civil war.

After a lot more arguing, everyone decides to call it a day and make a decision tomorrow. Talia as always says she’ll side with whatever you decide, but would prefer if you and Cyrus actually worked together for once. That doesn’t exactly help you and you have a hard time sleeping. When you finally do get to sleep you still don’t get any rest…

“So what are you going to do Eternal? You and Cyrus continue to clash and it’s only a matter of time before things between you are going to end badly.” Dendrin remarks.
“Doesn’t take a god to figure that one out.” You say.
“Yes, but it takes a fool to blatantly ignore the obvious. By continuing to not support Cyrus’ you’re just driving a wedge deeper in the shadow organization that will eventually split you in two. Something I thought you were trying to avoid given that you made such an effort to keep it together.”
“Well someone had to, because you certainly weren’t doing it.”
“I’m not here to hold the collective hands of the shadows. As I’ve said, I’ve done that already and it was a boring experience. Besides you seem to be enjoying your new leadership role, who am I to take it away from you?”
“I’m not leader of the shadows, I’m….”
“Nonsense! You ARE leader of the shadows. Perhaps you’re currently sharing that duty with your Eternal peers, but you’re clearly the strongest of that group. Talia certainly has potential, but her blind devotion to certain things is her weakness. It clouds her judgement.”
“So she’s not worthy because she’s so loyal to you?”
“Not just me, but to you as well. It doesn’t occur to her in the slightest that you’re keeping secrets or lying to her about your real feelings on the shadows. She just believes you, just like she misguidedly believes that one day she’ll have eternal shadow babies with you.”
“Wait, she can’t have kids?”
“No and neither can you. Neither can Cyrus for that matter, though I doubt it that’s ever going to come up with him. Don’t ask me why you can’t, I don’t know. I can only imagine it has something to do with how they magically altered you Eternals back in the labs. I’m not a fertility god either, so her constant praying to me isn’t going to help.”

This sudden news does explain a few things. You’re going to have to inform Talia of this at some point, you just don’t know when would be the best time. Yet another thing for you worry about.

Dendrin continues his speech

“And for all of Cyrus’ bluster of being a shadow he obviously lacks as a good leader. I dare say if you weren’t around, the Empire would be on the verge of driving the shadows to extinction right now. He may be better liked than you, but even that’s starting to change and it certainly doesn’t hold true for any shadow not stationed in your little fort. You’ve got allies and support in places other than Rask, Cyrus doesn’t and it worries him. After all it’s well known now that you were the one that heard my warning about Gloom and attempted to save who you could.”
“You didn’t warn me, you gave a cryptic comment and it wasn’t even one that urged me to return to Gloom. I just told everyone you did.”
“See, lying to the rest of the shadows about something I didn’t actually say. You’re already doing a great job of following the traditions of shadow leaders!” Dendrin laughs.

Is Dendrin mocking you, is he encouraging you, is it both? You can never quite tell.

“So what are you saying? Are you officially appointing me as the new leader of the shadows?”
“Official? Since when have you known me to be so formal? And I’m not appointing you as anything; you don’t even have faith in me anyway, but if you really want to be in charge just do it already. I’d be careful though, that Cyrus fellow might get the same idea someday soon and I suppose you’ll need to decide if the expense of your own ambition is worth keeping the shadows together.”

Once again after Dendrin’s little mind games you wake up. Whether Dendrin’s encouraging you or not, you’re going through with you plan and if that hurts Cyrus’ fragile ego then you’ll deal with it later, because the Empire is still a bigger threat right now.

The next day you tell Talia that you’re going through with your plan.

“I figured you would, but you know Brother Cyrus isn’t going to be happy about this.”
“Brother Cyrus needs to realize that Rask isn’t only front we’re fighting the Empire on and get over it.”
“Yes, I know. (Sigh) Well I’ll try to keep things stable here while you’re gone. Hopefully I can convince him that now is not a good time to assault Fort Destiny.”
“No, I’d rather you join me on this mission. I could use all the powerful shadows I can get, because I’m certainly not going to be able to get any other shadows to join me from here.”
“You want me to go? I mean of course I’ll go with you, but aren’t you worried about what might happen here if I don’t stay to help look after things?”

While Talia would certainly be a great asset to your mission, but she also serves as a bit of a counter balance to Cyrus when you’re not around.
> You have her stay
“Perhaps you’re right. Cyrus is probably going to be fuming about me going ahead with this mission instead of gathering for an assault on the Fort Destiny. Best if you stay here and make sure he doesn’t go off and get everyone killed trying to do it with insufficient forces.” You reply.

After kissing Talia goodbye, you set off on your journey immediately figuring Talia can explain everything to Cyrus instead. You travel a couple of days to the Quala province and eventually reach the meeting spot at night. There await around twenty shadows you picked which also includes Sister Yvette. You would’ve picked Brother Theo as well, but you needed someone to coordinate the other shadow cells in Quala.

“As soon as I got the message that you were coming, our other shadow cells got into position to strike out at the other targets across Quala. I assume you’re ready to assault the camp brother?” Sister Yvette asks nearly as soon as you arrive.
“Yes, let’s get this over with, because this is going to be pretty grim business. Now I know some of you have already done a few necessary things, but probably not on this scale. These new eternals are only going to be children, and if the rumors are true, hundreds of them. Despite this they will still be dangerous, as they have no doubt gone through some of the Empire’s brainwashing techniques and training. You are not to hesitate just because they are young. Slay all of them…for Dendrin.” You add at the end.
“For Dendrin!” the rest of the shadows say in unison.
“Also be aware that there will no doubt be battle mages around and who knows what else. Let’s try to do this as silently as possible until it’s no longer an option. Everybody cloak.”

Sister Yvette and couple of the other shadows take the lead due to their basic knowledge of the outside of the camp and even some of the interior. When you have to go below ground though, it’s going to be anything goes. You know going in that you’ll be severely outnumbered, but the whole point of doing it this way is to utilize your strengths which is stealth and terror on a grand scale. As you go about your business, you can’t help but start thinking about Talia, and briefly worrying about if Cyrus has given her any problems. You really should keep your mind occupied at a time like this, but you’re having a hard time.

Neck snaps, bolts to the head and blades to the back dispatch the patrolling soldiers quietly and quickly…

Due to your distraction, you fail to get a clean hit on one of the guards and he screams out loudly alerting some of the camp. Cursing your luck you signal to the nearest shadows to start moving from bunkhouse to bunkhouse to kill any soldiers still sleeping inside them.

Doesn’t take long before a general alarm is raised. It isn’t quite that bad as you’re still easily taking them down from the cover of night and invisibility. The problem comes when one of the soldiers has gone to get extra help from below in the form of battle mages.

Working together, the mages form an invisible shield to protect themselves and then dispel your cloak ability. Another one starts casting fireballs from behind the safety of the shield. Your speeding ability helps you and your shadows finish off the rest of the soldiers and once you manage to pass through the shield, you eliminate two of the mages and break their concentration. The remaining ones begin to run back to the underground portion of the camp.

“Come on, we can’t let them get away!” you yell to the remainder of your shadows and chase after the mages.

You hack down a couple more fleeing mages as you chase them into the complex. The last few remaining are screaming for help and it comes, but not in the form that you thought.

Several heavily armored figures with axes begin to fill the corridor ahead of you. Derro.

You briefly look behind you and see that your own forces are insufficient to tackle such foes. You’re also wondering if the new eternals are even here, as you haven’t seen a single one since you arrived.

“Go back! Go back!” you exclaim.
“What? Why?” Yvette asks not really understanding the reality of the situation. The rest of the shadows are unsure of how to proceed.
“Those are the derro! We have to go back!” you exclaim.

Meanwhile during this short exchange, one of the derro has thrown one of their firebombs near your feet. You see it just in time to grab Yvette and try to speed out of the way, but the explosion just catches you in its radius. Everything seems like a blur for a few moments and the next thing you know you’re face first on the floor with no feeling in one of your legs and your clothing on fire.

You attempt to roll in an effort to extinguish the flames, and that’s when you see Yvette’s lifeless burning body nearby staring at you with dead eyes. This is soon followed by a crushing smash to your head and everything goes black.

Unfortunately your life doesn’t end there.

When you wake up you find yourself strapped to a table in a large lab. You see a lot of alchemy equipment, other tables with mutilated bodies on them and in a far corner of the room you see several large containers with loud growling noises emanating from them. Derro stand near them with weapons drawn.

“No need for you to worry about that. Those trolls can’t get out of there I assure you. Good thing too, they’d rip us all apart in minutes! Heh heh heh heh!” a voice says to you. When you look over to your left, you see a short figure nearly eye level with you even though you’re strapped to a table. He’s bald with a gray skin color and dressed in a white robe of some sort, which is covered in blood, and several other unidentifiable fluids. You’re guessing that he’s an unarmored derro.

“While you have caused quite a bit of a mess, I’m honestly very glad one of your kind has showed up. The Emperor sort of frowned on my suggestion to take one of their loyal Eternals for experimentation, shame about your leg getting blown off, but beggars can’t be choosers right?” the derro says. He then approaches closer with a mad gleam in his eye and a bloody knife in his hand.

You say a few defiant words to the derro, but he’s unmoved by your futile protests. He goes on to say how your vivisection will come in handy in helping with the new eternal project. Mentally you try to prepare yourself for the pain, but nothing can prepare you for what will be your last days on this mortal plane.

By day three you’re begging for them to just kill you. The derro of course ignores your pleas claiming that he has to keep you alive to finish his research.

By day five, you’re actually screaming for Dendrin to help you. This naturally amuses the sadistic derro who says that he has to remember to strengthen the mind resistance of the new eternals so they aren’t as weak willed to fall prey to such superstitions.

By day nine, you feel nothing any longer and the derro tells his fellows to toss you to the trolls.


Your main purpose of coming here in the first place was to make sure Talia was safe. You can't leave now without trying to find her or at least her body if she's dead.

You leave the storage room and decide your best bet would be to keep yourself cloaked the entire time while you search the fortress. You also decide to use spider crawl just to make sure you're really out of sight.

As you stick to the ceilings of corridors and rooms you survey the carnage of what the Derro have wrought on the shadows. It's almost like they didn't have a chance. You now have to believe that this was why the Empire wasn't attacking Gloom, they had some sort of deal with the Derro to do it for them and since this used to be a Derro home at one time, they probably knew every ancient secret passage and entire layout of it.

You progressively get more and more discouraged in your search and that's when you hear a voice in your head. Not Dendrin's though, it's distinctly a human one.

"To…the left and down the hall…hurry…not much time…" you hear Master Ebon say. Lacking any other ideas, you follow his instructions and make your make to his location from where you are. As you do so, you notice there aren't any Derro in this direction, though there are a few dead ones. You're guessing that the rest of their fellows haven't searched this area as much.

"The door…at the end…hurry…"

Sensing that there are no Derro in the immediate area, you climb down from the ceiling and prepare to enter the door at the end of the corridor. When you arrive in front of it, you hear a loud click as it opens.

"Quick, inside!" a brother says pulling you in by the arm roughly.

A quick glance and you see a couple more shadows both in wounded condition. You then see Master Ebon in some sort of spell trance. He's also wounded, but his status looks a lot worse. He probably shouldn't even be alive with the deep bleeding gashes he displays across his body. A female shadow stands near him also wounded. When you see her face more clearly and recognize her as Talia, your worries are at least divided by half.

"What are you doing here?" she exclaims.
"I heard the voice of Dendrin and…" in that moment you realize you've just admitted you've heard his voice for the first time. You then realize this isn't the time to keep it a secret and you continue. "…he…uh gave me a warning… are you alright?"
"Just a light wound…wait, you said Dendrin spoke to you? He warned you about the attack?"
"Well, not in so many words. Look we need get out of here, I can explain everything later."

You then hear Master Ebon's voice again. He still isn't speaking verbally though and is using his mind.

"Dendrin spoke to you? Lucky lad. He hasn't spoken to me since I first became a shadow. I always thought he would eventually, but he never did. I assumed he was testing me, to make my own decisions. Perhaps I offended him by claiming those decisions came from him directly, but I didn't know what else to do…"
"Master Ebon, we can discuss this later, right now we really need to leave!"
"Is Master Ebon speaking to you through his mind?" Talia asks.
"Yes, and what's he doing anyway? He's just sitting there with gashes in his chest deep enough for me to see his heart beating and bleeding out. As I said we need to leave before the Derro kill us all."

Master Ebon interrupts you.

"They've already succeeded in killing me I fear, but I still have powerful magic…enough to save the remainder of you…to carry on the fight…"

Master Ebon's eyes begin to turn completely black, this is followed by his entire body. A shimmering portal then opens up nearby.

"This…was to take us to strike at the very heart of the Empire…but now just an escape…to friends. Continue the fight there. The Empire will fall as long as you continue to fight. Dendrin I hope you can forgive my failures as I have served to the best of my abilities…I am ready to enter your realm of shadow if you will allow it…"

"Master Ebon!" Talia shouts when she sees his body undergo his transformation.
"He can't be helped and he's giving us a chance to escape. We need to take it now!"
"But where is it going?" the shadow that grabbed you by the arm asks.
"He said to friends, but quite frankly it could lead into the middle of an Empire battalion and I think we'd still have better chances! Now come on!"

Without another word you all enter the portal. Within seconds your eyes are nearly blinded by the whiteness of snow and you feel a blast of cold air whipping around you.

"DIE! Shadow bastard!" you suddenly hear and turn around just in time to avoid a sword strike to the head. Realizing that this is an Empire soldier and not a Derro, you quickly dispatch your assailant who falls turning the snow red.

When you said being transported into the middle of an Empire battalion would be a better situation, you didn't actually mean it! Fortunately it isn't quite as bad as all that.

Getting your bearings you notice you're on a battlefield. The bodies of several Empire troops lay on the ground and are mixed in with those of orcs and shadows. A great fortress looms in the distance.

"Fort Defiance…" you say to yourself.
"Brother, we're over here!" one of the shadows calls out to you and you run over to the group. (Apparently, all the others teleported to a place out of immediate danger!)

"Are we in Rask?" the shadow who grabbed you asks. You still don't know his name, you can only guess he was one of the newer recruits after you joined.
"Well it doesn't look like Delurg that's for sure. I'm guessing that group ahead of us fighting the Empire troops are our brothers and sisters from Fort Defiance." Talia says.
"Looks like it, well no time like the present, we need to go help them."
"But what about those two? They're badly wounded and can't fight properly." The new shadow asks.
"(Sigh) Very well, you, what's your name anyway?"
"I'm Brother Gannon. I just joined recently…"
"Yes brother, we can get all that getting to know you stuff out of the way later. I want you to take those two and head over to that fort in the distance. I'm sure they can get help there. What about you Talia, I know you're wounded too, do you need any first aid?"

Talia draws her weapon.

"I'll worry about my minor cuts after we take care of this Empire scum." She answers in a harsh tone.
"Okay then let's go down there and drive back the Empire!" you answer back.

You and Talia sprint as fast as you can to where all the action is taking place. Swords are clashed, halberds are swung, skulls are smashed and heads are severed. Mostly all in your favor and the Empire troops were actually losing even before you got here. Still, it's good to be on a winning side of a fight today and you feel energized by the battle.

A short reunion occurs as you finish off the last of the stubborn Empire soldiers.

"What the…? What are you doing here?! I thought you were supposed to be in the Quala province!"Cyrus exclaims running his sword through an enemy.
"Things change brother and how have you been doing?" you answer doing the same.
"We've been getting wave after wave of Empire skirmishers recently, but nothing serious yet. Honestly I would've thought we would've had a full on assault by now. I think they're trying to whittle us down, it won't work though. We're entrenched and have people all over the area slowly turning the population of Rask against them…is that Talia over there? What's SHE doing here? Last I heard she was supposed to be back in Gloom helping with the ritual that Master Ebon and Brother Gray were doing."
"Like I said, things change Cyrus."

At this moment there is a lull in the fighting that allows Cyrus to actually stop fighting. He looks at you his expression is one you've never seen before. One of genuine worry.

"Oh no…what happened?"

You don't even know where to begin.

"Cyrus let's just get through this battle and celebrate THIS victory over the Empire. We can dwell on the troubled times to come later."

The pair of you say nothing more for the rest of the battle which soon ends with your victory. You just wish it was a better one, because it cannot possibly counteract the incredible loss you have suffered this dark day.

You think back on how you told Murk in his dying breaths that the Empire would fall, you also think back to how Master Ebon believed it would fall in his on dying breaths. If you had to guess, you think Talia probably still believes it and you know Cyrus will even when you tell him all that has happened. The righteousness in the shadows' cause and its unwavering faith in Dendrin has always been its strength that it cannot lose no matter how bad the odds.

Of course it would help if you actually believed all that nonsense.

Which brings you to your next dilemma: You already let it slip to Talia that you spoke to Dendrin and Brother Gannon was also there to hear it (and maybe even the other two wounded shadows heard it as well) , so it'll probably be brought up after everyone is caught up to speed on the war front and what happened at Gloom. The fact that Dendrin spoke to you is actually why you're here in the first place.

The question is should you even mention what Dendrin said to you or just lie about what he said? Your own feelings on the situation are that Dendrin, god or not, is not worth following let alone creating a fanatical religion around. He obviously doesn't give a shit about any of you and sees you all as amusing toys at best. However, given the grim situation, the misguided slavish devotion to Dendrin might be the only thing that'll keep their spirits up. Not to mention you wonder if you'd even be believed. Cyrus himself is a very dedicated believer, he may even turn violent and you aren't even sure if Talia would believe you.
> You war Report (Allies & The Butcher of Rask)
After the battle, Cyrus tells you more about the situation in Rask on the way back to Fort Defiance. It's mostly positive compared to what you'll have to him about Gloom and possibly Dendrin.

He says that the orcs have been holding up their end and even managed to ally with some of the ogre tribes nearby (Though it's usually only after killing most of the tribes to establish dominance first) Not much luck with the giants yet, but at least they aren't attacking like they used to in the old days. He mentions that the current orc commander here, Flog has been in contact with Captain Gruz on strategies and tactics, though the letters are getting rarer. One wonders if Gruz hasn't already been discovered or if he's just having to lay low for a while. You get the impression Cyrus seems to see your orc allies as useful, but ultimately expendable tools to take the hits that the shadows don't need to.

"I think after this is all over, the orcs are going their separate ways and that's fine. This has always been an alliance of convenience, but like I said, we've also been turning the population of Rask against the Empire. Though it's not exactly hard when they've got someone like Kane in charge of the area. The man has probably done more to alienate the citizens of Rask more than anyone."
"Oh yes, the infamous Captain Kane, Butcher of Rask. Heard about his ruthlessness even way down in the Quala province. Didn't he earn his nickname by wiping out several barbarian tribes here?
"Yeah, he was stationed at Fort Destiny, years before I got here. Showed absolutely no mercy when it came to cutting down the various barb tribes from what I heard. Same thing for the renegade elven population here too."
"Didn't he recently wipe out a small hamlet because the people were complaining about food rationing?" Talia asks.
"One hamlet? Try three and it was only a handful of people complaining. I don't even think they were openly criticizing the Empire's overall tyranny so much as they were just hungry. Captain Kane however took it as a threat to his authority and had the entire hamlet wiped out to the last man, woman and child. Then he did the same thing to two of the neighboring hamlets as a warning for other places to not complain anymore. That sort of thing might be effective on barbs or monsters, but it isn't effective in the long run on citizens you're supposed to be protecting. The fear eventually disappears and only instills great hatred and that's why we've been able to get help from the local population as far as hidden supplies and intelligence when they're able."

You remember Kane in class and him being a very capable fighter who actually killed two of your other classmates during sparing lessons. You don't even think he did it intentionally though, he just thought that's what he was supposed to do because Mistress encouraged such behavior. Given his unassuming and quiet nature back then though, you're a little surprised he wasn't picked to be a shadow guard, though perhaps they realized his dedicated to orders would be more useful as a soldier.

"Well, I can't say I'm too surprised. I mean he is one of…" you stop yourself from saying "us" since you know Cyrus would probably be insulted by it. He identifies more with being a shadow than an Eternal now.

"…the Empire's lap dogs after all. They say jump and he asks how high." You finish.
"True…but…" Cyrus says and stops.

Now this is interesting. You didn't expect this sort of hesitation from Cyrus.

"But what Cyrus?" Talia asks.
"I dunno. I sometimes wonder if we all could've turned out like that, if we hadn't been picked to be shadows."
"Heh, well I have to admit, I have wondered the same thing sometimes." You reply.
"I know I really shouldn't, but I sometimes feel sorry for our unenlightened classmates. I mean so many of them didn't have a chance to hear the truth of Dendrin's call.
"Seriously?" you ask in genuine surprise.
"Yes. The worst part is I really believe I could get through to someone like Kane under the right circumstances and could turn him to our side. Show him that the Empire is a corrupt entity that needs to be destroyed. I'll never get that chance, but such is the will of Dendrin, just as it was his will that we were picked to hear his words instead of them."
"I suppose…" you answer.

Your private feelings on Dendrin aside, you have to admit this is a side of Cyrus you've never seen before. He has always been so dedicated to Dendrin, that to hear him express any sort of sympathy towards an unbeliever let alone an Empire enemy is unheard of. You doubt if you could have such sympathy towards people trying to kill you and you aren't even a religious fanatic like he is.

In any case it doesn't make your decision on whether or not to tell the truth about what Dendrin said to you any easier.