The Danger Gang Auxiliary Enter The Realm Of Shadows
The Danger Gang Auxiliary rise early, ready to face the horrible realm of Luanna Death Knight Mistress of Shadows. They decide that it might be best for the children if they're left here. Arben is about to give the kids a rousing speech about not losing hope, blah blah blah, but Wirshin entreats him to just let them sleep. They look like little angels.
And so, with heavy hearts, our heroes enter the mists. When they emerge, they find themselves in a land of shadows. Plants are whithered from the lack of sunlight. This place makes Dumetrescu look like I don't know what. This place is terrible.
Xenon trips over a dude. The dude curses at him in Romanian, then introduces himself as Pashka. His eyes are entirely grey and he has a small set of fingers growing out of a wound on his shoulder where his arm might normally be. They begin to schmooze. He explains that he used to work with Luanna until he got kicked out and replaced by The Phantom Blot. It seems he and The Blot both used to work for a guy by the name of Koschei the Deathless (along with another guy named Aggatay). Ironically, Koschei died, and so the three of them were out of work. Pashka was helping Luanna get control over the Shadows, as her control was limited, what with them being so chaotic. She has some kind of staff that makes them explode, and that helps, but she doesn't understand that sometimes it's better to be loved than feared. Anyway, the boys say they'll try to take down this Phantom Blot (who's real name is Oberod) as thanks for all the great intel they got from Pashka, and if he ever needs work, he should just head down to Chrysopolis and say that Arben sent him. In exchange, Pashka points them in the direction of Luanna's lean-to.
With that, they part ways, and the Auxiliary presses on into the realm of shadows. This place is so depressing. Soon, they hear a clatter of hooves behind them. Knowing that the Kalalalt can play tricks, they rapidly form a circle. None the less, they are still surprised when a mottled grey Unicorn appears on the opposite side of the footsteps. Several people run off in fear. Wirshin casts Cloak of Bravery, aiding all but Patricius and Mirella, who have dashed off. Xenon immediately get gored by the Unicorn; its horn ablaze. Fighting commences. It seems this cowardly horned horse does not travel alone, and some sort of special Winged Shadow leaps from, well, the shadows. It tries to use some kind of crazy power to command Cyril's mind, but his will is too strong and the attempt stuns the shadow temporarily. There is more fighting. Soon, our boys stand triumphant. Patricius wanders back, but there is no sign of Mirella. They look for maybe five whole damn minutes, but without a ranger, they have no hope of tracking her. Xenon snaps off the Unicorn's horn for his prize bag, and Arben snips a lock from its mane, figuring that this is probably what Eorl was talking about, or it's close enough, anyway.
Soon, they find a cadre of Shadows. They part, revealing Luanna, and her companion, the mysterious Phantom Blot. Luanna's skin is pale and drawn, her armor and helm is decked in obsidian and jet. She has a sword that looks pretty shitty, other than being swathed in flame, tied with twine to a black rod. This must be the rod that makes shadows explode, because Arben immediately recognizes it as a Rod Of Shadow Destruction. Arben tries to shoot the shit, briefly, claiming to be an ambassador from Chrysopolis, meeting with assorted lords and ladies of the Teramul Kalalalt, since its power is waxing. She seems trully immune to his charms, however, and there's a spark on her helm. Wirshin and Patricius immediately both cast Dispel Magic, Patricius on the ensuing Fireball and Wirshin on the helm. Another fight starts, and they didn't even have time for a nap. Xenon squares off against the Phantom Blot while Cyril steps up to the deadly Death Knight. The Shadows seem divided as to what to do, but some of them leap up to take on our stalwart heroes. Wirshin and Patricius are able to turn those chumpos, thank god. It is then that the mighty Xenon gets chumped out. He falls to the ground, having the shit stabbed right out him. The weird part is, out of nowhere, he seems to have this new fancy cloak on his back, and that thing starts glowing. Glowing insanely brightly. So much so that the Phantom Blot gets kind of freaked out and starts running away. Olybrius gives chase, but the Blot disappears into one of the many shadows. In the mean time, the Dispel on Luanna's helm is wearing off. With but a thought, she unleashes a terrible Prismatic Spray. Dudes get the shit burned out of them and Cyril is driven insane. Luckily, he's become a maniac obsessed with destruction, and his first impetus is to take it out on Luanna. So he keeps on chopping. Arben, running out of tricks, starts casting spells out of his spellbook. Consequently, he loses Fumble, Levitate and Magic Missile from his book; and, perhaps most painfully, Wind Blade from his mind. Still, eventually, with their powers combined, they are able to defeat the terrible Death Knight. It is then that they notice the shadows eyeing them, hunger in those shadowy eyes. Wirshin and Patricius try to turn these guys, but there are just so many. Arben grabs the Rod of Shadow destructions and tells them that he and his crew have no beef with the Shadow People. If they can just rest here for a few hours, they'll get out of here and they'll take the Rod with them to never trouble them again. The Shadows agree and leave our boys unmolested.
Arben sets up a Secure Shelter while Olybrius restrains the now bat shit insane Cyril. Wirshin and Patricius strip Luanna of her arms and armor, cut off the finger with the accursed ring, and give her a proper Christian burial befitting a holy knight. They drag Xenon's corpse inside, hoping that Gebertus might be able to bring him back or something. Then they try to get some much needed rest.
Two hours later, Xenon is up and walking around. His cloak is glowing brightly. He says he's feeling much better. They try to examine this crazy cloak, and the only thing they can really figure out is that this thing aint coming off. They're kind of worried about its high visibility, since they're supposed to be the covert half of this operation, but they decide to worry about it later. They go back to bed.
Then, two hours later, there's a knock at the door.
