Lady Kaede has been busy comforting the townsfolk, especially the women and children, helping them to gather up what little remains of belonging they could spare from the raging fires, showing the leadership that her supposed peer, King Lir, was afraid (or unable, she wasn't sure) to exhibit. While King Lir dwelled in his own sorrows, only thinking of himself, Lady Kaede displayed true, humble leadership while silently taking care of those less fortunate and likewise giving Lir the evil stinkeye every chance she could get.
In her ears, she could hear the ghost of her late father (Shōgun Ashikaga) whispering "In the eyes of mercy, no one should have hateful thoughts. Feel pity for the man who is even more at fault. The area and size of mercy are limitless."
"I know, father...I know. I am sorry."
She finally passes through the mirrors, carrying a weeping baby in one arm while hefting a large chest of household goods and farming implements in the other, leading a solemn and destitute husband and wife peasant farmer to escape to safety with their meager possessions.
Finding that it was time for withdrawal rather than rush in to another battle. Nodjeim stopped his advance and returned. He passed by the spots the Bull fell and paused for a moment, but just a moment. He passed by and amongst the straggling townsfolk and felt... Indifferent. It is not that he is without compassion but more that he reserves it for those he believes have earned it. In his short time here at Haggsgate he saw no indication that these people did anything to help themselves. Perhaps if he had spent more time here amongst them it would be different, as it was he saw them merely as a burden upon those who were acting for the betterment of themselves and others.
On the other hand, this land did provide him a chance to battle a monster and perhaps earn himself the right to carry his blades and the title Blade Dancer in the estimation of his people. He was eager to return to them and face their judgement... With that in mind he stepped through the mirror.
The return from Hagsgate, from the combined efforts of the AURYN Heroes to gain a better foothold in the battle for Hyboria, had passed nearly a week ago. In that time the heroes had returned to Skyloft with the refugees of Hagsgate and had tried to make sense of everything that had changed. They had watched all week as the Three Brothers, now eclipsed as one dark orange celestial entity, no longer trekked across the sky; instead, they seemed to circle around the rim of the world like a marble in a bowl. They dipped below one horizon to create a normal night, and the rest of the day they came up over the horizon and crawled along the edge of the world, leaving the sky dark enough to display the moons and stars brightly overhead, and just enough light to bathe the world in reds and violets.
The refugees from Hagsgate were camping in the courtyard of the Hall of the Celestials, lining up three times a day for meals the Elders were graciously able to provide while they sought for them a new way of life on Celestia. King Lir, crushed by the weight of his guilt and grief and his role in all this, had done what he could to help, but had denounced his title; with no kingdom, no realm, and great shame, he said, there was no reason for him to hold such a high title.
With all these developments came another that was, without a doubt, very distressing; Gandalf reported that his magic...and the magic of the Elders of Skyloft...seemed to be fading. While it none of the heroes had been effected yet, Gandalf's power had begun to go near the end of the Battle of Hagsgate, and the Elders were losing the magical abilities quickly.
Master Piccolo had been storming around the Hall of the Celestials for days being vocally upset about it.
They were fortunate enough to be blessed with a week of training, rest, and resupply before Atreyu had mustered them all for redeployment.
They found Atreyu, Gandalf, Lir, Falkor, and Man at Arms assembled in the broad courtyard as the Eclipse came up over the horizon, with a veritable squadron of Death Hawks and three Rocs waiting for them. Atreyu greeted everyone as jovially as possible, directing what had previously been four teams back into three, and slowly he separated them out into their groups and got them ready for departure.
"They'll be setting you down in the Spook City." Atreyu said as he approached the team comprised of what was left of the Twilight Embers and the Order of the Phoenix after so many had left or simply been too worn down by their struggles to continue. Amitola Dangira, the silver haired Dragonborn. Rumble of Hunger, the Tabaxi from Dragonclaw Monastery. Lady Kaede, the young Samurai from King's Landing. Jek Utinni, the Lightless who was the greatest professor of the Bright Lady. Amongst them were two of the newest AURYN Heroes; Kit-Tik, the Thri-Kreen inventor from the Stygian Wastes, who had helped free Godzilla and then gone to battle the Undead Army, and Wo-Dan Lassk, the oddly macabre flesh golum servant who had made his way to Celestia after losing contact with his former leige's, the Mystics. "I have...a lot to ask of the lot of you, but it's important, or I wouldn't ask at all. Subternia, the physical realm of Subternia not the mythological region of 'hell', is a series of open chasms beneath the surface of Hyboria. I don't know how many of you are familiar with it, or know anything at all about it, so I'll give a general overview.
There are five caverns down there. You'll go in through the Haunted Cavern, the northern most cavern beneath Hylia. South of that is the Great Cavern, which is where the Subhylian Sea is. A sort of underwater lake or ocean. But I don't think I'd want to cross it if I were you.
East of the Haunted Cavern is the Garthim Cavern. It's below Thra, and named after the creatures the Skeksis use to do their bidding. Before they magic began to fade, when we began to see the changes to the world, it seemed to the Elders that Thra was flooding. Maybe from the Tsunami, I guess. Regardless, the cavern may be flooding too, so be careful. According to Aughra, the Shard of Division is hidden in a crystal alcove in the northern section of that cavern...but if the cavern is flooding or populated by Garthim or, worse, marching Imperials, it could be harder to get to them than just making the journey. I imagine after Lord Vader's death, one of his acolytes, probably an Inquisitor, is now in control of the army, and since Ganon is clearly still the dominating force in the world...I can't see that anything will have changed in regard to their mission.
The Orko Cavern lies below Eternia. Jek, you should like this. It was named after an ancient Lightless who once served as the High Mage of Eternia. As the tale goes, he was very brave and very powerful.
And below Fantasia is the Hydra Cavern. It branches into two subcaverns near its north end, thus the name.
All of these caverns are populated by dangerous tribes as well as creatures. Plants. Fungus. Every nightmare you have ever had is down there in the dark. There are bottomless chasms and a million decrepit and run down structures that could collapse at any time, so you must be careful and alert. There aren't many folks who go into the Underdark to wander who return.
A last thing. The caverns are connected by a series of portals, as indicated on the map. They'll move you instantaneously from one border of a cavern to another border. Each portal is shown on the map.
We need the Shard. And we need to know if there's a way into the bottom of the Palace of the Crystal through the Garthim Cavern. And we need to know what the Imperials or...whatever else is down there...is doing in the other caverns."
He reached his hand out, placing a map of the Underdark in Jek's hands.
Lady Kaede, resplendent in her perfectly donned armor, porcelain flawless skin, and well mannered style, approaches Atreyu and announces “I have but three questions, sir. One: how does a traveler in the underdark denote friend from foe, poisoned from clean, good from evil?”
”Two: How do we recognize the Shard of Division? Is it as large as Kit-Tik over there? Or as small as a jewel upon my finger(she shows off her royal signet)?”
”And three: Your map shows the portal between the Great Cavern and the Orko Cavern located across the Subhylian Sea, and yet you council to never venture upon the sea. How does one untie those contradictory statements? Are we to fly, somehow, across the expanse of the sea? Or are sizeable and defendable boats available for travel?”
"It's no different than denoting friend from foe on the surface world. Use your judgment." He says. "The Shard should be roughly six inches long, an inch or so across, from what I understand. As for the map...you may need to gain access to the Orko Cavern through the Garthim or Hydra Caverns. I know little of the sea, aside from a Tarrasque sleeps there, and there's always legends of other horrors in the depths."
After the Heorot, where Rum had kept mostly to himself with the exception of a discussion with Travin and Jek, he retreated further into himself. The events of the last couple of weeks played heavily on his mind. He had fallen to both the Gohma Queen and the Red Bull, and needed to be brought back from the jaws of death by his allies on both occasions. He had gone on to be victorious over both of course, but he felt it was not good enough.
Especially when he thought about the betrayals suffered by Lelith and Slade. The more he thought about it, the more he considered Ro’s actions a betrayal as well. He had been forced to attack his one time band mate on the journey due to the cube controlling him, and then he had gone beyond all sane thought and opened the very item that the Lord of Darkness had just tried to manipulate them into opening.
Could he really trust his allies to be there if he needed them again? That was the conundrum.
And then there was Greko. He had been ecstatic to learn of the return of his friend and fellow Twilight Ember, but a doubt grew in his mind that was only fed by the distance the old Lizardfolk kept.
The book and scroll given to him by Gandalf provided a welcome distraction, but he had to do more, to be stronger and faster and more aware of those around him. He had requested the use of Keg in the days that followed the Heorot, and would be seen leaving early each day, and not returning until late. Not that it was easy to tell time with the constant twilight.
As he flew away, he practiced balancing exercises on the Death Hawk’s back, and once he found a secluded spot he followed the instructions in the manual. Using the natural landscape, trees and rocky terrain to work on his speed and flexibility. He had thought he had reached the peek of what was possible, but slowly and surely the physical exertion coupled with lots of different stretches to augment his muscle mass started to improve him further.
In the midst of stretches, were periods of explosive energy release, as the muscles that were coiled and ready literally sprang into action. It was clear that his feline anatomy was perfect for this endeavour. Catching small game with nothing but his hands became easy as the days rolled by.
But it was not just flexibility and speed he was improving on those journeys away from Skyloft. Early on he had found an area with large boulders rooted to the ground, each one bigger than the next. It became his goal to move them simply by striking them. Each day he tried many times, and by the end of the week after his other training was complete, had managed to make the smallest boulder rock back and forth. More training was needed he knew, but time was short and it would have to wait.
The time spent at Skyloft was also purposeful. It was likely no coincidence that Gandalf had provided him with a scroll designed to help him read people. He used the times he was in the presence of others to watch their behaviours and interactions with each other. And the times he himself was amongst them socially, always he was practising the techniques the scroll detailed. A simple innocuous question here and there, watching for changes in body language, breathing and for micro expressions.
It was a complex endeavour because all the various races involved had slightly different tells. The scroll was very detailed in that respect, and his understanding grew.
This was not to say that he was unapproachable during this time, simply wary. He was aware that the Twilight Embers as he knew them were no more, with Ro gone and Greko, Lelith, Tuto and Oten all distant or having left. Lady Kaede was still with them, and he knew she was a powerful ally even though she was young. He wasn't sure he could call her an Ember after so little time with them, but she definitely had his respect.
Of everyone at Skyloft, it was his old friend Jek that he was most comfortable with, and it was quite a natural thing for the remaining members of the Order and the Embers to become closer.
Meeting with Atreyu
Rum listens to Atreyu detail the mission of the newly amalgamated Twilight Embers and Order of the Phoenix impassively. It mattered not to him where he was being sent, after the last week spent healing, studying and practicing he was just eager to be out making a difference again.
“To find anything but enemies down there would be a surprise, allies even more so”, he adds after Atreyu responds to Lady Kaede. He looks around at the rest of the band, making it clear that the sentiment might even extend to them. He had not forgotten the recent betrayals, and trust no longer came easily.
“The Merregon the Embers fought in the Great Deku Tree, that was a denizen of Subternea according to what Oten read in the Lord of Darkness’s book. Possibly the Gohma as well. Neither the most hospitable of creatures, and both servants of the Lord of Darkness and now likely Ganon. We should not take them lightly. What can you tell us of these Garthim? I have not come across them before. Any weakness we can exploit?”.
After the events of the crazy day, Jek returns to his room. He takes off his pack and equipment and tosses it down and starts to disrobe for a bath. As he does, he notices a book that fell out of his pack. It was the book that Slade stole for him. A complex feeling of emotions come over him, remember his friend and the betrayal. It was just a few hours ago, it happened so fast. Slade appeared, and there was hope. Slade presented the Tri-force to Vader, and there was betrayal and pain. Then Delph came and killed Slade, so quickly. He takes a deep breath and opens the book. As he looks at it, the words start to get blurry as the tears start to fill his eyes. He lost a friend. And he took a life. He tosses the book to the side and falls to his knees. He calls out to the void. "Why? Why did he do it? Why did I do it? He veered so far from the light. Is it that they can't see the path?... I didn't mean for him to die. I just wanted us to get away. But... I'm not sorry he died. He did many evil acts. His was the path of darkness... I don't want my friends to fall down the wrong path. But, I don't know what to do." He puts his head in his hands as the tears flow.
A quiet voice, barely above a whisper, comes to Jek's ear. It's a voice he recognizes, one that spoke to him before. "You are the world's shade now, Jek Utinni.. "
Jek's head snaps up, and he looks behind him at the empty room. Then, he feels a tingling pain, starting with his fingers, then moving all over his body. He looks at his hand, at his void skin that absorbs all light and sees.... stars. Pin pricks of blue light flowing all over his hands and into his sleeves. He skin looked like the night sky, a mix of light and dark. But, as quickly as it came, it went away. But he felt different, changed, touched by something greater than himself. He looks up and starts laughing. But that turns back into tears. "Thank you." He allows the tears to flow, not stopping himself until he is ready. Then he gets ready for bed.
During the week after the Heorot, Jek spends his time reading the book he got from Slade, or in the gardens of Skyloft practicing. He is trying to tap into the natural shadows, get them to move, encompass, hide. This could help save lives. He also tests the new found power bestowed on him by the Bright Lady. It's different from what he is used to, but it is amazing.
The rest of his time, he goes to find his friends and other AUYRN chosen. For each person, he asks the same question. "Are you a traitor or are you mind controlled?" Some people are offended. Some answer with a sadness. But... he needs to at least ask. What else could he do? They might not even know themselves, this might help.
Rumble seemed quieter than usual. That was to be expected, with everything that happened. He felt the betrayal much deeper than Jek's. He had know and fought alongside Lelith for a good amount of time before the betrayal. And then Greko's death, and Ro's.... Nope, not thinking about that. Jek spent some time with Rumble when he had the chance. Not necessarily talking, just being near each other. He figured Rumble would talk if he needed to. Might as well train in the company of friends.
Jek accepts the map, although is a little bit shocked. "Wait, why do I get the map. Oh no, I'm not in charge again, am I. I don't like that kind of responsibility!"
He listens to the others questions, then says, "We should probably get the Shard first, right? Mother Aughra, she said it would be easier to find the Shard with a Gelfling. What did she mean? Is there one that can help us?"
As they look at the map, He will say "Orko, he was supposedly very powerful. I'm excided to go to his Cavern! Who know's what might be lurking in there! Maybe even Orko is still there."
Wo-Dan spends his time during the meeting commiting to memory all that Gandalf and Atreyu have shared with the various bands. Of particular interest to him was the mention of the loss of magic experienced by the beings of power. Fingering the heavy collar around his neck he muses to himself.
"This loss of magic.... it is highly disturbing. It would explain the silence from you...."
Wo-Dan speaks to Gandalf.
"If you have seen or heard from the Mystics of late, can you please tell them that I have taken it upon myself to aid you in this? I have never gone so long without orders from my masters and I fear what they will think if I do not attempt to keep in contact."
Wo-Dan spends the time after the meeting getting to know his fellow travelers. At one point he is approached by a small creature shrouded in shadows, there is a moment of serious concern for the golem when the lightless stands before him and demands to know,
"Are you a spy? Are you mind controlled?"
Wo-Dan panics thinking perhaps his past had come back to haunt him, it has been so long since his mistake. No, it can't be that. What did Gandalf say? Ah yes, the Leprechaun he had been sent to collect before losing contact.
"Greetings to you Master Trollan! I can understand your suspicions over that, all I can do is try to prove to you that I hold no ill intentions. I intend only to be of service, however I might."
Wo-Dan spends the time after the meeting getting to know his fellow travelers. At one point he is approached by a small creature shrouded in shadows, there is a moment of serious concern for the golem when the lightless stands before him and demands to know,
"Are you a spy? Are you mind controlled?"
Wo-Dan panics thinking perhaps his past had come back to haunt him, it has been so long since his mistake. No, it can't be that. What did Gandalf say? Ah yes, the Leprechaun he had been sent to collect before losing contact.
"Greetings to you Master Trollan! I can understand your suspicions over that, all I can do is try to prove to you that I hold no ill intentions. I intend only to be of service, however I might."
Jek tilt's his head curiously. "Umm.... My name is Jek Utinni, not Trollan. And I didn't mean to make you nervous. I'm sure we will work together well! But... the tree you carry, he broke something, and I don't know if I can get it back." Jek looks away for a moment. Then he walks away.
As he waits for Atreyu's answers to their questions, Rum's eye is drawn to the wooden figurine attached to Wo-Dan's belt.
He can't help but speak out on the matter, moving to stand before the large figure clad in bones.
"What is that you carry on your belt? I swear it looks just like...", he asks motioning at the belt and not quite bringing himself to complete the thought.
"You see this, friend Jek?", he says drawing Jek's attention to it also.
Wo-Dan looks to the cat-folk before him. He holds up the tiny figure so Rum can get a better look.
"This? This is why I was sent here by the mystics. As for who I am? I serve the uuRu Mystics in all things, wherever a creature of darkness rises they send me to combat it, contain it, or destroy it. This Leprechaun had the potential to become a minor player for the forces of Darkness and I regret I was not able to locate him before he stole the Triforce. As he is now dead my orders are to bring him back for safekeeping by my masters, however with the strange dulling of powers world-wide I can no longer speak to them. Instead I must keep it with me until such a time as I am able to meet with them."
"It is perhaps good to have a reminder that we must be vigilant, no matter how difficult it is to see", Rum says, looking to Jek again when mentioning the difficulty. "The forces of darkness have ways of turning us against each other. Be it direct control or offering something to entice us. Lady Kaede and I have seen first hand the former, I believe you may wear evidence of the latter, although I never did find out why he did it".
"I am Rumble of Hunger, but most call me Rum", he adds, inclining his head and placing his fist over his heart in greeting.
Jek looks at the wooden figure then turns away. "I saw it, yes. Both at the Heorot and when it was made. And I agree, we need to be vigilant against the darkness."
He will look to Wo-Dan. "So, tell me, when was the last time you spoke to the Mystics? Do you know where they are now?" Jek asks, trying to see what this Wo-Dan knows.
Wo-Dan bends lower to meet the Lightless' gaze, "I left my masters 15 days ago to retrieve the Leprechaun, shortly after that I was told they were taken by Lord Vader and being held prisoner. I asked if they needed me to return and aid them but was ordered to finish my task and to not concern myself for their safety as they had a group of adventurers called 'The Order of the Pheonix' assisting them. My last communication from them was as they were making their way through the Sphinx Gate when I was given instructions to meet with Gandalf after retrieving this." Here he taps Slade "I have heard nothing more from them since beyond a parting warning to avoid any form of mental communication as our enemies have discovered a way to overhear it."
Jek's eye's widen at the mention of the Sphinx Gate. He has told very few people where the Mystics went. "Yes, mental communication has been compromised, but the AURYN is still protected. It seems you do know the Mystics. We helped them escape from the Tower of the Elephant. Vader wished to kill them, we had to get them out. Some of us are of the Order of the Phoenix, some from Twilight Embers, and some new faces, yours included Wo-Dan. Since we are a new group, we should have a new name. Isn't that right Rum. Maybe some kind of combination of the two.... OH I GOT IT! We can be the Order of the Embers! ... No, no, that doesn't work."
Lady Kaede, rather meekly as she's completely confused about the stories the rest of the group is talking about, calls out from the back of the group "Oooh-oooh! Shichinin no samurai! It means Seven Samurai in my tongue. We're seven noble warriors, no?"
Darla looks at Lady Kaede, then turns to look at everyone in the group. She slowly turns back to and lets out a loud honk. Jek turns and realizes what happened. "No, Darla, I'm sure she didn't mean to forget to count you! Maybe she didn't count someone else? Darla, it's okay, you are a member of the band, don't worry. Darla, no, don't...." Jek goes to catch Darla, but isn't fast enough. Darla runs around Jek, wings out wide, rushes toward Lady Kaede hissing! "Darla, she's a friend! A FRIEND!"
Lady Kaede has been busy comforting the townsfolk, especially the women and children, helping them to gather up what little remains of belonging they could spare from the raging fires, showing the leadership that her supposed peer, King Lir, was afraid (or unable, she wasn't sure) to exhibit. While King Lir dwelled in his own sorrows, only thinking of himself, Lady Kaede displayed true, humble leadership while silently taking care of those less fortunate and likewise giving Lir the evil stinkeye every chance she could get.
In her ears, she could hear the ghost of her late father (Shōgun Ashikaga) whispering "In the eyes of mercy, no one should have hateful thoughts. Feel pity for the man who is even more at fault. The area and size of mercy are limitless."
"I know, father...I know. I am sorry."
She finally passes through the mirrors, carrying a weeping baby in one arm while hefting a large chest of household goods and farming implements in the other, leading a solemn and destitute husband and wife peasant farmer to escape to safety with their meager possessions.
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Finding that it was time for withdrawal rather than rush in to another battle. Nodjeim stopped his advance and returned. He passed by the spots the Bull fell and paused for a moment, but just a moment. He passed by and amongst the straggling townsfolk and felt... Indifferent. It is not that he is without compassion but more that he reserves it for those he believes have earned it. In his short time here at Haggsgate he saw no indication that these people did anything to help themselves. Perhaps if he had spent more time here amongst them it would be different, as it was he saw them merely as a burden upon those who were acting for the betterment of themselves and others.
On the other hand, this land did provide him a chance to battle a monster and perhaps earn himself the right to carry his blades and the title Blade Dancer in the estimation of his people. He was eager to return to them and face their judgement... With that in mind he stepped through the mirror.
I thought this song may be fitting...
https://youtu.be/3kmL0p5D24o
AURYN
The Depths of Subternia
Part I
I find it is everyone's inalienable right...
...to find their own way to hell...
The world had fallen into twilight.
The return from Hagsgate, from the combined efforts of the AURYN Heroes to gain a better foothold in the battle for Hyboria, had passed nearly a week ago. In that time the heroes had returned to Skyloft with the refugees of Hagsgate and had tried to make sense of everything that had changed. They had watched all week as the Three Brothers, now eclipsed as one dark orange celestial entity, no longer trekked across the sky; instead, they seemed to circle around the rim of the world like a marble in a bowl. They dipped below one horizon to create a normal night, and the rest of the day they came up over the horizon and crawled along the edge of the world, leaving the sky dark enough to display the moons and stars brightly overhead, and just enough light to bathe the world in reds and violets.
The refugees from Hagsgate were camping in the courtyard of the Hall of the Celestials, lining up three times a day for meals the Elders were graciously able to provide while they sought for them a new way of life on Celestia. King Lir, crushed by the weight of his guilt and grief and his role in all this, had done what he could to help, but had denounced his title; with no kingdom, no realm, and great shame, he said, there was no reason for him to hold such a high title.
With all these developments came another that was, without a doubt, very distressing; Gandalf reported that his magic...and the magic of the Elders of Skyloft...seemed to be fading. While it none of the heroes had been effected yet, Gandalf's power had begun to go near the end of the Battle of Hagsgate, and the Elders were losing the magical abilities quickly.
Master Piccolo had been storming around the Hall of the Celestials for days being vocally upset about it.
They were fortunate enough to be blessed with a week of training, rest, and resupply before Atreyu had mustered them all for redeployment.
They found Atreyu, Gandalf, Lir, Falkor, and Man at Arms assembled in the broad courtyard as the Eclipse came up over the horizon, with a veritable squadron of Death Hawks and three Rocs waiting for them. Atreyu greeted everyone as jovially as possible, directing what had previously been four teams back into three, and slowly he separated them out into their groups and got them ready for departure.
"They'll be setting you down in the Spook City." Atreyu said as he approached the team comprised of what was left of the Twilight Embers and the Order of the Phoenix after so many had left or simply been too worn down by their struggles to continue. Amitola Dangira, the silver haired Dragonborn. Rumble of Hunger, the Tabaxi from Dragonclaw Monastery. Lady Kaede, the young Samurai from King's Landing. Jek Utinni, the Lightless who was the greatest professor of the Bright Lady. Amongst them were two of the newest AURYN Heroes; Kit-Tik, the Thri-Kreen inventor from the Stygian Wastes, who had helped free Godzilla and then gone to battle the Undead Army, and Wo-Dan Lassk, the oddly macabre flesh golum servant who had made his way to Celestia after losing contact with his former leige's, the Mystics. "I have...a lot to ask of the lot of you, but it's important, or I wouldn't ask at all. Subternia, the physical realm of Subternia not the mythological region of 'hell', is a series of open chasms beneath the surface of Hyboria. I don't know how many of you are familiar with it, or know anything at all about it, so I'll give a general overview.
There are five caverns down there. You'll go in through the Haunted Cavern, the northern most cavern beneath Hylia. South of that is the Great Cavern, which is where the Subhylian Sea is. A sort of underwater lake or ocean. But I don't think I'd want to cross it if I were you.
East of the Haunted Cavern is the Garthim Cavern. It's below Thra, and named after the creatures the Skeksis use to do their bidding. Before they magic began to fade, when we began to see the changes to the world, it seemed to the Elders that Thra was flooding. Maybe from the Tsunami, I guess. Regardless, the cavern may be flooding too, so be careful. According to Aughra, the Shard of Division is hidden in a crystal alcove in the northern section of that cavern...but if the cavern is flooding or populated by Garthim or, worse, marching Imperials, it could be harder to get to them than just making the journey. I imagine after Lord Vader's death, one of his acolytes, probably an Inquisitor, is now in control of the army, and since Ganon is clearly still the dominating force in the world...I can't see that anything will have changed in regard to their mission.
The Orko Cavern lies below Eternia. Jek, you should like this. It was named after an ancient Lightless who once served as the High Mage of Eternia. As the tale goes, he was very brave and very powerful.
And below Fantasia is the Hydra Cavern. It branches into two subcaverns near its north end, thus the name.
All of these caverns are populated by dangerous tribes as well as creatures. Plants. Fungus. Every nightmare you have ever had is down there in the dark. There are bottomless chasms and a million decrepit and run down structures that could collapse at any time, so you must be careful and alert. There aren't many folks who go into the Underdark to wander who return.
A last thing. The caverns are connected by a series of portals, as indicated on the map. They'll move you instantaneously from one border of a cavern to another border. Each portal is shown on the map.
We need the Shard. And we need to know if there's a way into the bottom of the Palace of the Crystal through the Garthim Cavern. And we need to know what the Imperials or...whatever else is down there...is doing in the other caverns."
He reached his hand out, placing a map of the Underdark in Jek's hands.
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Lady Kaede, resplendent in her perfectly donned armor, porcelain flawless skin, and well mannered style, approaches Atreyu and announces “I have but three questions, sir. One: how does a traveler in the underdark denote friend from foe, poisoned from clean, good from evil?”
”Two: How do we recognize the Shard of Division? Is it as large as Kit-Tik over there? Or as small as a jewel upon my finger (she shows off her royal signet)?”
”And three: Your map shows the portal between the Great Cavern and the Orko Cavern located across the Subhylian Sea, and yet you council to never venture upon the sea. How does one untie those contradictory statements? Are we to fly, somehow, across the expanse of the sea? Or are sizeable and defendable boats available for travel?”
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Atreyu nods as he listens to Kaede's questions.
"It's no different than denoting friend from foe on the surface world. Use your judgment." He says. "The Shard should be roughly six inches long, an inch or so across, from what I understand. As for the map...you may need to gain access to the Orko Cavern through the Garthim or Hydra Caverns. I know little of the sea, aside from a Tarrasque sleeps there, and there's always legends of other horrors in the depths."
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
After Heort
After the Heorot, where Rum had kept mostly to himself with the exception of a discussion with Travin and Jek, he retreated further into himself. The events of the last couple of weeks played heavily on his mind. He had fallen to both the Gohma Queen and the Red Bull, and needed to be brought back from the jaws of death by his allies on both occasions. He had gone on to be victorious over both of course, but he felt it was not good enough.
Especially when he thought about the betrayals suffered by Lelith and Slade. The more he thought about it, the more he considered Ro’s actions a betrayal as well. He had been forced to attack his one time band mate on the journey due to the cube controlling him, and then he had gone beyond all sane thought and opened the very item that the Lord of Darkness had just tried to manipulate them into opening.
Could he really trust his allies to be there if he needed them again? That was the conundrum.
And then there was Greko. He had been ecstatic to learn of the return of his friend and fellow Twilight Ember, but a doubt grew in his mind that was only fed by the distance the old Lizardfolk kept.
The book and scroll given to him by Gandalf provided a welcome distraction, but he had to do more, to be stronger and faster and more aware of those around him. He had requested the use of Keg in the days that followed the Heorot, and would be seen leaving early each day, and not returning until late. Not that it was easy to tell time with the constant twilight.
As he flew away, he practiced balancing exercises on the Death Hawk’s back, and once he found a secluded spot he followed the instructions in the manual. Using the natural landscape, trees and rocky terrain to work on his speed and flexibility. He had thought he had reached the peek of what was possible, but slowly and surely the physical exertion coupled with lots of different stretches to augment his muscle mass started to improve him further.
In the midst of stretches, were periods of explosive energy release, as the muscles that were coiled and ready literally sprang into action. It was clear that his feline anatomy was perfect for this endeavour. Catching small game with nothing but his hands became easy as the days rolled by.
But it was not just flexibility and speed he was improving on those journeys away from Skyloft. Early on he had found an area with large boulders rooted to the ground, each one bigger than the next. It became his goal to move them simply by striking them. Each day he tried many times, and by the end of the week after his other training was complete, had managed to make the smallest boulder rock back and forth. More training was needed he knew, but time was short and it would have to wait.
The time spent at Skyloft was also purposeful. It was likely no coincidence that Gandalf had provided him with a scroll designed to help him read people. He used the times he was in the presence of others to watch their behaviours and interactions with each other. And the times he himself was amongst them socially, always he was practising the techniques the scroll detailed. A simple innocuous question here and there, watching for changes in body language, breathing and for micro expressions.
It was a complex endeavour because all the various races involved had slightly different tells. The scroll was very detailed in that respect, and his understanding grew.
This was not to say that he was unapproachable during this time, simply wary. He was aware that the Twilight Embers as he knew them were no more, with Ro gone and Greko, Lelith, Tuto and Oten all distant or having left. Lady Kaede was still with them, and he knew she was a powerful ally even though she was young. He wasn't sure he could call her an Ember after so little time with them, but she definitely had his respect.
Of everyone at Skyloft, it was his old friend Jek that he was most comfortable with, and it was quite a natural thing for the remaining members of the Order and the Embers to become closer.
Meeting with Atreyu
Rum listens to Atreyu detail the mission of the newly amalgamated Twilight Embers and Order of the Phoenix impassively. It mattered not to him where he was being sent, after the last week spent healing, studying and practicing he was just eager to be out making a difference again.
“To find anything but enemies down there would be a surprise, allies even more so”, he adds after Atreyu responds to Lady Kaede. He looks around at the rest of the band, making it clear that the sentiment might even extend to them. He had not forgotten the recent betrayals, and trust no longer came easily.
“The Merregon the Embers fought in the Great Deku Tree, that was a denizen of Subternea according to what Oten read in the Lord of Darkness’s book. Possibly the Gohma as well. Neither the most hospitable of creatures, and both servants of the Lord of Darkness and now likely Ganon. We should not take them lightly. What can you tell us of these Garthim? I have not come across them before. Any weakness we can exploit?”.
After the events of the crazy day, Jek returns to his room. He takes off his pack and equipment and tosses it down and starts to disrobe for a bath. As he does, he notices a book that fell out of his pack. It was the book that Slade stole for him. A complex feeling of emotions come over him, remember his friend and the betrayal. It was just a few hours ago, it happened so fast. Slade appeared, and there was hope. Slade presented the Tri-force to Vader, and there was betrayal and pain. Then Delph came and killed Slade, so quickly. He takes a deep breath and opens the book. As he looks at it, the words start to get blurry as the tears start to fill his eyes. He lost a friend. And he took a life. He tosses the book to the side and falls to his knees. He calls out to the void. "Why? Why did he do it? Why did I do it? He veered so far from the light. Is it that they can't see the path?... I didn't mean for him to die. I just wanted us to get away. But... I'm not sorry he died. He did many evil acts. His was the path of darkness... I don't want my friends to fall down the wrong path. But, I don't know what to do." He puts his head in his hands as the tears flow.
A quiet voice, barely above a whisper, comes to Jek's ear. It's a voice he recognizes, one that spoke to him before. "You are the world's shade now, Jek Utinni.. "
Jek's head snaps up, and he looks behind him at the empty room. Then, he feels a tingling pain, starting with his fingers, then moving all over his body. He looks at his hand, at his void skin that absorbs all light and sees.... stars. Pin pricks of blue light flowing all over his hands and into his sleeves. He skin looked like the night sky, a mix of light and dark. But, as quickly as it came, it went away. But he felt different, changed, touched by something greater than himself. He looks up and starts laughing. But that turns back into tears. "Thank you." He allows the tears to flow, not stopping himself until he is ready. Then he gets ready for bed.
During the week after the Heorot, Jek spends his time reading the book he got from Slade, or in the gardens of Skyloft practicing. He is trying to tap into the natural shadows, get them to move, encompass, hide. This could help save lives. He also tests the new found power bestowed on him by the Bright Lady. It's different from what he is used to, but it is amazing.
The rest of his time, he goes to find his friends and other AUYRN chosen. For each person, he asks the same question. "Are you a traitor or are you mind controlled?" Some people are offended. Some answer with a sadness. But... he needs to at least ask. What else could he do? They might not even know themselves, this might help.
Rumble seemed quieter than usual. That was to be expected, with everything that happened. He felt the betrayal much deeper than Jek's. He had know and fought alongside Lelith for a good amount of time before the betrayal. And then Greko's death, and Ro's.... Nope, not thinking about that. Jek spent some time with Rumble when he had the chance. Not necessarily talking, just being near each other. He figured Rumble would talk if he needed to. Might as well train in the company of friends.
Jek accepts the map, although is a little bit shocked. "Wait, why do I get the map. Oh no, I'm not in charge again, am I. I don't like that kind of responsibility!"
He listens to the others questions, then says, "We should probably get the Shard first, right? Mother Aughra, she said it would be easier to find the Shard with a Gelfling. What did she mean? Is there one that can help us?"
As they look at the map, He will say "Orko, he was supposedly very powerful. I'm excided to go to his Cavern! Who know's what might be lurking in there! Maybe even Orko is still there."
Rum can't help but grin good naturedly at his Lightless friend's discomfort at being put in charge of the map.
"Don't lose it, friend Jek", he whispers mock seriously, a little of the old Rum briefly showing through.
He looks back to Atreyu, his demeanour back to business.
Wo-Dan spends his time during the meeting commiting to memory all that Gandalf and Atreyu have shared with the various bands. Of particular interest to him was the mention of the loss of magic experienced by the beings of power. Fingering the heavy collar around his neck he muses to himself.
"This loss of magic.... it is highly disturbing. It would explain the silence from you...."
Wo-Dan speaks to Gandalf.
"If you have seen or heard from the Mystics of late, can you please tell them that I have taken it upon myself to aid you in this? I have never gone so long without orders from my masters and I fear what they will think if I do not attempt to keep in contact."
Wo-Dan spends the time after the meeting getting to know his fellow travelers. At one point he is approached by a small creature shrouded in shadows, there is a moment of serious concern for the golem when the lightless stands before him and demands to know,
"Are you a spy? Are you mind controlled?"
Wo-Dan panics thinking perhaps his past had come back to haunt him, it has been so long since his mistake. No, it can't be that. What did Gandalf say? Ah yes, the Leprechaun he had been sent to collect before losing contact.
"Greetings to you Master Trollan! I can understand your suspicions over that, all I can do is try to prove to you that I hold no ill intentions. I intend only to be of service, however I might."
Jek tilt's his head curiously. "Umm.... My name is Jek Utinni, not Trollan. And I didn't mean to make you nervous. I'm sure we will work together well! But... the tree you carry, he broke something, and I don't know if I can get it back." Jek looks away for a moment. Then he walks away.
As he waits for Atreyu's answers to their questions, Rum's eye is drawn to the wooden figurine attached to Wo-Dan's belt.
He can't help but speak out on the matter, moving to stand before the large figure clad in bones.
"What is that you carry on your belt? I swear it looks just like...", he asks motioning at the belt and not quite bringing himself to complete the thought.
"You see this, friend Jek?", he says drawing Jek's attention to it also.
He turns back to Wo-Dan, "Who are you?".
Wo-Dan looks to the cat-folk before him. He holds up the tiny figure so Rum can get a better look.
"This? This is why I was sent here by the mystics. As for who I am? I serve the uuRu Mystics in all things, wherever a creature of darkness rises they send me to combat it, contain it, or destroy it. This Leprechaun had the potential to become a minor player for the forces of Darkness and I regret I was not able to locate him before he stole the Triforce. As he is now dead my orders are to bring him back for safekeeping by my masters, however with the strange dulling of powers world-wide I can no longer speak to them. Instead I must keep it with me until such a time as I am able to meet with them."
Wo-Dan replaces Slade on his belt.
"It is perhaps good to have a reminder that we must be vigilant, no matter how difficult it is to see", Rum says, looking to Jek again when mentioning the difficulty. "The forces of darkness have ways of turning us against each other. Be it direct control or offering something to entice us. Lady Kaede and I have seen first hand the former, I believe you may wear evidence of the latter, although I never did find out why he did it".
"I am Rumble of Hunger, but most call me Rum", he adds, inclining his head and placing his fist over his heart in greeting.
Jek looks at the wooden figure then turns away. "I saw it, yes. Both at the Heorot and when it was made. And I agree, we need to be vigilant against the darkness."
He will look to Wo-Dan. "So, tell me, when was the last time you spoke to the Mystics? Do you know where they are now?" Jek asks, trying to see what this Wo-Dan knows.
Wo-Dan bends lower to meet the Lightless' gaze, "I left my masters 15 days ago to retrieve the Leprechaun, shortly after that I was told they were taken by Lord Vader and being held prisoner. I asked if they needed me to return and aid them but was ordered to finish my task and to not concern myself for their safety as they had a group of adventurers called 'The Order of the Pheonix' assisting them. My last communication from them was as they were making their way through the Sphinx Gate when I was given instructions to meet with Gandalf after retrieving this." Here he taps Slade "I have heard nothing more from them since beyond a parting warning to avoid any form of mental communication as our enemies have discovered a way to overhear it."
Jek's eye's widen at the mention of the Sphinx Gate. He has told very few people where the Mystics went. "Yes, mental communication has been compromised, but the AURYN is still protected. It seems you do know the Mystics. We helped them escape from the Tower of the Elephant. Vader wished to kill them, we had to get them out. Some of us are of the Order of the Phoenix, some from Twilight Embers, and some new faces, yours included Wo-Dan. Since we are a new group, we should have a new name. Isn't that right Rum. Maybe some kind of combination of the two.... OH I GOT IT! We can be the Order of the Embers! ... No, no, that doesn't work."
“Friend Jek speaks truly, we are but the ardent remnants of the bands that came before”, Rum replies whilst surveying the group he was now a part of.
He shakes his head at Jek’s suggested name, a frown crossing his feline face, “No, it doesn’t have a great ring to it at all”.
”Perhaps Twilight Order? Or Twilight Phoenix?”, he says, looking to the others for input.
Lady Kaede, rather meekly as she's completely confused about the stories the rest of the group is talking about, calls out from the back of the group "Oooh-oooh! Shichinin no samurai! It means Seven Samurai in my tongue. We're seven noble warriors, no?"
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Darla looks at Lady Kaede, then turns to look at everyone in the group. She slowly turns back to and lets out a loud honk. Jek turns and realizes what happened. "No, Darla, I'm sure she didn't mean to forget to count you! Maybe she didn't count someone else? Darla, it's okay, you are a member of the band, don't worry. Darla, no, don't...." Jek goes to catch Darla, but isn't fast enough. Darla runs around Jek, wings out wide, rushes toward Lady Kaede hissing! "Darla, she's a friend! A FRIEND!"
Kaede runs away, yelling "Wild Goose Chase! I meant Wild Goose Chase!"
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?