text: Year 75
  
  "Well the liberation of Delerg seems to be going better this time around, Triumph has been seized. Let's hope when Tulla wins this war, it'll stay free of petty dictators once and for all." You say to Talia.
  
  Tulla's been succeeding in her goal nearly as soon as she put her mind to it, which wasn't long after her shadow initiation. Tulla managed to recruit people even easier than her mother did, you guess she inherited her charisma in that way. Of course it helped that the people from Quala forced to live in Delerg weren't very happy with Victor for a long time anyway. Not to mention all the criminal types that had been brought here to work off their sentences as well as the outright slaves. Delerg pretty much became a breeding ground of recruits. What was surprising is that Tulla managed to not only recruit them into a rebellion, but also got some interested into becoming shadows. That's mainly where your help came in. You provided your home as the training ground along with performing the initiation ritual for said recruits. With their help you even managed to rebuild the temple a bit, though you still tend to keep to your underground sanctuary.
  
  It's odd though, this new generation of shadows don't seem quite as fanatical as the ones you were familiar with. They revere Dendrin of course, but they don't regard someone like you with hostility. You remember you were shocked when Tulla first came back from the portal and you found that she treated you with the same respect that she always had despite your attitude towards Dendrin. At first you figured that maybe your previous influence over her had been so great that it over came Dendrin's indoctrination, but its obvious now that Dendrin hasn't been doing the old routine of indoctrinating the shadows with mindless loyalty anymore.
  
  You'd ask him about it, but he hasn't been speaking to you lately. Besides, you'd rather not jinx a good thing. It's enough that you've still got your magic to a small degree.
  
  "Just wish I could be of more help to her. Damn old body. I hate this weakness. I used to be so quick and strong." You continue to say to Talia. You haven't had a chance to speak with her like this in a while so you're taking advantage of your sudden clearing of responsibility.
  
  "You ever think we could've actually won a sound victory against the Empire? I've been thinking about it, and I think we could've. Maybe I shouldn't have been so proud and just never told you and Cyrus the truth about Dendrin. It might've kept us more united. Certainly would've help when I fought Kane practically all by myself. Remember that? What a battle! I was probably at my peak and I still couldn't get the advantage over that tough bastard. I was really happy to see you when you showed up and not just because you saved my life either, though it played a big part of it at the time."
  
  You suddenly stop reminiscing because your statement has now made you think about how you didn't manage to save her life. After all these years, you wonder why you continue to do this to yourself and why you can't move on. You can only guess its because what Talia once said. You're Eternals and you had a special bond that nobody else did.
  
  There must be some truth to it, Brenda was the ruler of the Nalin Empire for decades and she never married or even took another lover after her beloved Roldan died during the Empire War. Last news you heard of her was that she committed suicide a couple years ago and her second in command Tarna took power. You guess the absence of her mate for so many years was just ultimately too much for her to bother going on. You wonder if it hadn't been for your encounter with Lena and later your relationship with Tulla if you would've eventually done the same thing. Probably not in the same way, but still...
  
  It also makes you realize how many people you've outlived in general. If you were anyone else you probably would've been dead several times over already. You're not just the last of the true Eternals, but as the second generation has been murdering each other out of existence, you might very well end up being the last one period.
  
  "Survival Talia, I always was good at it." You say patting the earth near the grave.
  
  You suddenly hear Tulla calling for you.
  
  "Yes, Tulla I'm in here."
  
  Tulla stands near the entrance of the cavern with a large black book in her hand. She knows when you're speaking with Talia, she prefers not to disturb you.
  
  "I'm sorry I didn't realize you were busy." She asks.
  "It's fine, I was finished anyway. What is it? The liberation of Delerg is going well I trust?"
  "Oh yes. Victor's troops have been pushed back to the borders. Actually there are reports that he's suffering strife in his territory in Quala as well."
  "Not surprising. Most of those so-called eternals have little grasp on how to rule effectively. As soon as a crack forms their little dominions start folding like a house of cards. Look at Warden Matron Brenda. She ran the Nalin Empire for what, about thirty some odd years? She kept it stable and those second generation eternals never dared to attack her."
  "I'm surprised to hear you praise her. Didn't you fight against her in the old Empire war?"
  "Not directly, but it doesn't matter. I can at least respect her even if she was on the other side. Who knows? Maybe if things had been different, we may have fought on the same side. Bah, I'm rambling nonsense, what was it that you needed?"
  "Oh, this book." Tulla says and hands it to you.
  
  You glance through it and then close it.
  
  "Yes, what about it?"
  "Do you know what it is? I can't really make any sense of the rest of it and most of it is in a language I don't even understand."
  "Oh yeah, I vaguely remember this book now. I tried reading it once during my hermit days, but I put it back pretty quickly and never looked at it again until just now. It holds a spell called the ritual of ascension."
  "Ritual of ascension? Sounds pretty impressive."
  "I suppose it does. It was supposedly passed down from Dendrin himself to the first Shadow Master. It wasn't really clear what it does exactly except that it would strengthen the shadows link to Dendrin's realm forever. I guess that means it would make the shadows more powerful. Dunno though. Seems weird that no Shadow Master ever tried to use it. Maybe it was more of a symbolic thing."
  "Maybe...but maybe now is the time to try it!"
  "I doubt if you need this spell to win the war with Victor."
  "No, but a chance to bring ourselves closer to Dendrin? Why shouldn't we jump at such a chance?"
  "Eh...I think you're asking the wrong person, Tulla."
  "I know, but I'm so busy with coordinating the war effort, I just don't have time to study this book like I would've been able to in the old days. I mean I suppose I could wait until after the war is won, but who knows how long that will be exactly? And there's never a guarantee on survival."
  "Don't say that." You remark.
  "You know better than anyone that life can be cut short in a blink of an eye."
  "Hmm, I also know that sometime life can just go on and on and on..." you say causing Tulla to laugh.
  
  "Alright, I'll study this book again, I've got the time after all. You just be careful out there." You say.
  
  Tulla thanks you and after a couple more brief exchanges she's on her way again, leaving you alone.
  
  "Well Talia, I said I wanted to help more, guess I better get to it."
  
  You spend the next few days reading over the book. You thought you weren't going to have any better luck than you did decades ago, but actually you understand it a little better now. You can even figure out some of the unfamiliar language. The problem though is you're still not getting a good feeling about the ritual.
  
  It's still vague on what exactly will happen, but the shadows would be linked with Dendrin's realm not just in a spiritual sense, but also in a very real physical sense. The shadows essentially would become REAL shadows. Incorporeal and no longer susceptible to the weaknesses that most beings suffer. At least that's what you think it means.
  
  Worshipping Dendrin is one thing, but becoming some sort of a wisp? An intangible being with real no sense of self? You can't imagine wanting to transform yourself in such a manner regardless of the benefits. However you wouldn't be involved, it would be Tulla and the rest of her shadows and they may be more willing to jump at the chance. True they aren't the fanatics like the old shadows, but one never can tell.
  
  You even attempt to pray to Dendrin, just so you can ask him more about this ritual, but you have no luck. You're on your own in this and you're only left with a couple choices. You could just destroy the book and solve the problem that way or you can tell Tulla the truth about the spell and let her make her own decision.
  
  > tell the truth
  You believe you'd probably be better off destroying the book, but this isn't about you. Once again it's about Tulla. You allowed Tulla to make her own decision on becoming a shadow; you'll allow her to make this decision on her own as well.
  
  Doesn't mean you can't try to sway her against it though.
  
  A week passes and Tulla returns for a visit and asks you what you've learned about the ritual. You explain to her what is involved and what you think the result is after it is completed. She's intrigued, which makes you a little worried.
  
  "Tulla, I know you might not want to hear this and you'll probably think that I'm just displaying my own prejudices against Dendrin, but I don't think going through with this ritual is a good idea."
  "Oh? Why not?"
  "Because you'd be giving up you so much. I mean do you really want to be a real shadow that does nothing but serve Dendrin? I mean I know you're happy serving him now, but you still have the chance to walk away if you should ever change your mind later. This ritual would be a one-way trip. And who knows what it will do to you exactly."
  "It could be nothing like what you're worrying about then." Tulla points out.
  "Yes, or it could be something even worse than what I'm worrying about. (Sigh) I dunno Tulla, I mean it is ultimately your decision, but I do not believe performing this ritual is a good idea and I worry about you. It is supposed to be cast by a Shadow Master anyway. As it stands, this order doesn't even officially have a Shadow Master. I mean I certainly don't count, and I don't know about you, has Dendrin spoken to you?"
  "No. Sadly Dendrin has not yet seen fit to speak with me in the same way he does with you.
  "Hmm, he hasn't spoken to me in a long time either. I even tried asking him about the ritual, no luck though."
  
  Tulla looks at you in silence for a moment.
  
  "Well given that we still need to worry about Victor, I suppose maybe this isn't the best time to be messing about with unknown spells and rituals especially when we don't exactly know what they do. Dendrin hasn't seen fit to tell you and he hasn't seen fit to speak to me, so perhaps we're not worthy of performing it anyway. Maybe nobody has, which is why its never been cast. Another day perhaps." Tulla says.
  "Perhaps." You say causing Tulla to smile a bit and then give you a great big hug. You're a little surprised at the suddenness of it given the situation.
  
  "Wha...what's this for?"
  "For being so wonderful of course! You obviously had deep concerns about this ritual and worried about me in particular yet you still allowed me to make the decision. You have always allowed me to make my own choices, just like when I wished to become a shadow to begin with. You could've easily forbade me to become one, just like you could've destroyed the book."
  "Trust me, it did cross my mind on both accounts."
  "But you didn't, because you encourage me to be my own person."
  "Hmm, some might call that being overly permissive."
  "Well I call it being a supportive father." Tulla exclaims.
  
  The two of you just look at each other for a moment. The realization that Tulla just acknowledged you as her father takes only a few seconds to sink in.
  
  "And you're the best I could ever have in a daughter." You remark trying to not burst into too much emotion and the pair of you embraces tighter as if the pair of you never wants to let the other one go.
  
  Eventually you do though and Tulla gives you a small peck on the cheek before saying she has to get back to the battle for Delerg.
  
  "I can still help directly you know. I could lob a few shadow bolts a peoples' heads." you remark.
  "I know, but I worry about you as well. Besides, I've been having success in getting more people interested in being shadows. They'll be coming here for brief training and initiation soon. Your skills a better put to use here."
  "Very well, I'll be here."
  
  Tulla leaves and you're soon left alone pondering all of what just happened. While you're certainly glad you managed to convince Tulla against the ritual today, who knows what will happen in the future. Still, you can't dwell on the possible doom and gloom of the future. You've done that most of your life. Right now you're little more than happy that you're no longer just "uncle" to Tulla. She considers you her father just as you've considered her your daughter for a long time.
  
  You naturally go to Talia and tell her the news.
  
  "Tulla called me her father today. Didn't expect it and I have to say I got all choked up about it nearly to the point that I couldn't reply back. Made me happy. Don't think I've ever been exactly this happy in a long time. I mean I've had moments where I wasn't unhappy, but I've haven't felt this good since, well since before you died."
  
  You sit down near Talia's grave and touch the ground.
  
  "I...just wish you were here to experience it." You say with a few sniffles. You rub your eyes a few times and just sit quietly near the grave until you eventually fall asleep...
  
  "You continue to surprise Eternal. I really thought you'd destroy that book and make it seem like an accident."
  "Just shows you haven't been paying attention for over sixty years. However, I am in good spirits and I won't even let this visit from you bring me down."
  "It's never my intension I assure you. But you aren't worried about Tulla one day casting the ritual of ascension?"
  "Sorry, like I said, I'm not going to dwell on such matters right now. If she does, then so be it. It'll be her decision to make as usual. Oh and thanks for helping me out on that as usual. You could've at least told me what it does."
  "Sorry, but you don't get that knowledge. It's something a shadow master just has to know to do when they feel the time is right. Their choice, not my influence. Something you're encouraging in your daughter right? But if it'll ease your mind a bit, she'll never be able to perform it in your life time."
  "What do you mean?"
  "She's not a Shadow Master or Mistress in her case and she won't be until the current one dies."
  
  You don't get it at first, but then you do which just raises further confusion.
  
  "Wait...so that means...me? I'M the Shadow Master? Since when?"
  "Unofficially since Master Ebon died, though when you were the last one left you were pretty much the only candidate left."
  "Wha...but you never told me!"
  "You never asked, plus I doubt if I had told you, it would've made much of a difference to your antagonistic mindset."
  "But...this still doesn't make sense! I strayed so far that I didn't even have shadow magic ability!"
  "Eh, you were still the closest thing to a shadow. Though I'm pleased that a new group will be able to carry on after you. It's odd, I was bored with the shadows, but I think starting fresh like this has renewed my interest a bit. I think giving them a bit more free will and making them a little less mind numbingly devoted helps with that. Just think when the group starts numbering in the hundreds or thousands, oh the conflicts of doctrine interpretation they'll have! I can just see the holy wars now! And I suppose I have you to thank for all of it."
  
  You shake your head at Dendrin's enthusiasm at his predicted carnage. He hasn't changed at all, it's all still just a game to him, but you're hardly surprised. Still, you doubt if such a thing will happen any time soon and oddly, you are sort of pleased to hear that Tulla can't perform the ritual even if she tries. Though you do wonder one thing.
  
  "So tell me, did you know all this was going to happen? Did you know that I would eventually bring about a new group of shadows for you to enjoy all over again?"
  "Well as I always said, I predicted you making a major change and you did."
  "And that's that?"
  "And that's that." Dendrin says. If you could see place a face with this reply, it would definitely be a smug one.
  
  You're not getting any more information out of Dendrin, he's back to being his usual cryptic self so you don't bother trying anymore.
  
  "I shall leave you now Eternal, we will only speak once more to each other in the far future, but for now I give you a much needed rest from my divine discourse. Think of it as your reward for all your service...as a shadow." Dendrin says with a laugh.
  
  You eventually wake up. You brush the dirt off of yourself and groggily look over at Talia's grave.
  
  "Well Talia, Dendrin say's he's leaving me alone for a long time. I guess you were right, he does eventually answer all prayers."
  
  > Epilogue
  Epilogue 8: Eternal Survivor
  
  Year 101
  
  "How come I never wanted to live in New Gloom? I didn't even want to live old Gloom at times! For all its space, they had us all bunking together like we were in a soldiers' barracks. Never had any real privacy." You tell Tulla.
  "Yes, but old Gloom as you told me, was originally a Derro fort. New Gloom was built by shadows and had a completely different lay out. You certainly would've had your own room." Tulla says.
  "Eh, still not private enough. Now this place? Its been my home for over sixty years and its all mine!"
  "Its yours alright because nobody else is a crazy old hermit that insists on sleeping in dilapidated ruins like you!" Tulla laughs.
  "Hey, these dilapidated ruins kept you safe for years, let's not forget."
  "Yes, I know. Still I was glad when I could at last head back up to the surface, I really missed the rain."
  "I remember you practically dancing in it when I took you back up and it rained not too long after. Isn't your own daughter Lilly is the same way?"
  "Yes, it would seem inherited that trait from me. Loves the outdoors."
  
  You nod and smile before a short fit of coughing hits you. Tulla gets you some water, which you drink down, but you're feeling pretty weak. You close your eyes and try to catch your breath. You soon feel better enough to speak, but it won't be long and you know it. Tulla tries to make conversation again.
  
  "So...we've been making some progress in spreading the word of Dendrin throughout Quala. Letting people know that they don't have to submit to tyranny, they can fight against oppression."
  
  You don't say much to Tulla's statement and just nod as if you're still recovering from your coughing fit. You'd rather not get into an argument over religion or philosophy in your final moments with her.
  
  You do find it amusing that the shadow organization has seemingly turned into a religion of "freedom fighters" and Dendrin's name has become tied to freedom and anarchy. You aren't exactly sure how they can believe in rejection of governmental authority in any form yet worship a deity as well "conquer" territory in the shape of conversion. Dendrin's right, it can only be a matter of time before the shadows start fighting each other accusing one another of becoming the "oppressors" they're attempting to fight.
  
  Still all of it is out of your hands and you wouldn't want to deal with any of it anyway. You would rather see Tulla not have to deal with the mess of a multiple civil war though, so you give some last moment advice.
  
  "Remember not to expand too much and too fast. I know the shadows are gaining influence in Quala, but always remember that Delerg is top priority. This is home and it should remain that way. Better to remain small and manageable than grow so large that everyone sees you as an inviting target. Quala is also no longer just a group of old eternals desperately trying to cling to power. You've got some genuine major super powers in that area now trying to carve it up like the Nalin Empire to the south or that Drog's horde coming from Rask, and you say the Felkan Kingdom is even starting to expand eastward too?" you remark.
  "So the reports say, father." Tulla remarks.
  "Hmm, looks like I'm going to miss some interesting events, but my time is nearly at an end, and I think that's for the best. My usefulness on this world has been non-existent for a long time now."
  "Don't say that. Your wisdom has been respected by the shadows and myself for many many years!"
  "Maybe, and while I would even stick around just to keep you happy, I fear that is beyond my abilities. I was conditioned to survive much, but I can't cheat death." You say to Tulla.
  
  Tulla touches your hand and tears up a bit.
  
  "You know where to bury me." You say as Tulla nods.
  "I love you father."
  "And I love you."
  
  You feel the squeeze of Tulla's hand tighten and faint sobbing as you start to get sleepy. In your haze, you remember that Dendrin claimed he was going to speak to you once more. He better hurry up.
  
  You mumble something about Talia as you start to lose consciousness and then nothing.
  
  "There you are, I was wondering if you'd ever die." Dendrin remarks.
  "Am I dead?" You ask.
  "Pretty much. Your brain is still semi-active, hence why we can have this conversation."
  "Well I wish my brain would hurry up and follow my body, because I was hoping to avoid this conversation."
  "I think you'll be glad you didn't miss it, if nothing else I had to say goodbye to the one who not only relieved me of my boredom, but also provided me with something fresh to spend my time with for many years to come. In the past I had thought about abandoning this world completely after you eventually died. Not now of course as you well know."
  "One world's near miss, is another worlds continued misfortune I suppose." You remark.
  "Ah yes, there's that delightful sense of humor you employ. I shall miss that about you. But face it Eternal, your life wasn't all bad."
  "No, no it wasn't...and I suppose I can admit you did help me out sometimes."
  "There, now was that really all that difficult to admit?"
  "So... my spirit go to the shadow realm or something now that I'm dead?"
  "Why would you think that?"
  "You did say I was shadow master, unless you've changed your mind as usual."
  "No, but I think you've got the wrong impression of the afterlife. I'm no deity and I'm not in charge of the dead souls of shadows. I expected you of all people knew that."
  "Well I assumed you still had some sort of power over them or something. So where do the dead shadows go?"
  "I haven't the faintest idea WHERE they go. Maybe they go to whatever plane depending on the type of person they were. Maybe they all go to the realm of the dead. I mean for all I know, they don't go anywhere and they just rot in the ground."
  "Well if that's the case, at least I'll be joining Talia as worm food I guess."
  "Hah. YOU don't get off quite that easy. I've put up with your sass for years; you don't get to have the last word by dying. Oh no my little Eternal I have some important plans for you. Wonderful plans. We've got a whole new generation of shadows to oversee!"
  
  At this point your borrowed time is up, and you are unable to argue with Dendrin anymore. He's gotten the last word, but perhaps his last word wasn't an overly malicious one and somehow your mind feels like it's undergoing a transformation...
  
  The shadow order thrived under Tulla, who did indeed prove to be one of the better Shadow Masters in the long line of them. She would always speak highly of you and teach the other shadows that you were the example that should be followed. To never give in, to always fight injustice and above all survive at all cost, if only so one could continue to fight another day.
  
  She also heeded your advice in keeping the core of shadows more or less confined to the borders of Delerg where no single government ever took influence, keeping the place a disconnected collection of towns that only banded together in times of great danger. It was a system that worked well under shadow guidance.
  
  Still the shadow faith did spread far and in its wake, to those that possessed a much more extremist mindset. The chaos that followed may have been worse than that of the fall of the old Empire.
  
  The Nalin Empire suffered the brunt of it at first. The fighting was so great one could mistake it for the original Shadow-Empire War. Nalin ultimately ended up much in the same way its parent had. Broken into several pieces and never the same again.
  
  Shadow influence also spread to the Felkan Kingdom, which had been more or less a benign government for a majority of its existence. It didn't matter as it was seen as just another dictatorship that needed to be overthrown. Didn't take long for the Felkans to outlaw the "religion of anarchy" but by then the seeds of chaos had already taken root.
  
  The orcish hordes of Rask initially fared a little better given that their rabble was barely unified at the best of times. Still, the shadows always made it a point to assassinate potential chieftains that looked like they were on their way to ruling any group bigger than a small tribe. After enough of these "visionary" leaders were killed all that was left were the shortsighted and unintelligent. Eventually Rask ceased being "civilized" in any fashion altogether and the wilderness reclaimed it leaving only small war bands of ogres and the like to fight over simple things like food.
  
  And eventually just as Dendrin predicted, when there were no major systems of authority any more, the shadows began to turn on each other. The organization splintered into several smaller groups each lead by their own "shadow masters" and all accusing the other ones of being tyrants and not living up to the true ideal of Dendrin. Holy Wars plunged the surrounding lands into a dark age for centuries.
  
  Still, despite the chaos, the shadow never wiped themselves out. Even when others finally rose up against them claiming theirs was a religion of was insanity and violence, the shadows were never wiped out. The religion sometimes teetered on the brink of extinction, but all it ever took was a few to keep its spirit alive and eventually gather its strength again.
  
  Sometimes even just one to start the cycle all over again.
  
  And this is due to your influence. No matter how extreme, no matter how open minded, no matter what their interpretation of shadow doctrine. The shadows always remembered the stories about the one shadow that survived long enough to keep the faith alive. Above all else, survive.
  
  Sometimes there are stories of a being of pure shadow that will manifest itself to the faithful in more grim times to give advice on how to best endure their dire situation.
  
  One of the more popular tales now is how at times you've managed to manifest yourself on the battlefield in shadow form to distract enemy giving shadows a chance to escape a losing battle. These stories have become so prevalent that even foes of the shadows have been known to believe them.
  
  But of course these are just stories...or are they?
  
  Whether such stories are true, half true, or completely false, what is certain is that you have maintained your influence over the shadows and you remain ETERNAL.