Mr. Nibbles is the first to go. Sensing danger, she instinctively leaps to Varel's defense, clawing and tearing at the incorporeal threat, but quickly succumbs to the life-sapping attacks of the shadows. Varel naturally goes after her, stepping outside of the radius of the sword's glow, and disappears into the black mists.And then the feeding frenzy begins in earnest. The shadows are perfectly concealed, and the heroes flail about as they are repeatedly struck. Every touch brings the cold of the grave, sapping their strength. After only a few seconds, Salbadore and Laurie find themselves struggling to remain standing.
Rolf attempts to exorcise the shadows in the name of Erochir, but the effect is not as forceful as he had expected. "Something is not right here!" He exclaims with alarm, and realizes, "These spirits are drawing their power from somewhere in this cursed house! We must find out where and destroy it if we are to defeat them!"
Mercurio, somewhat accustomed to hearing voices, is nevertheless surprised when he seizes the sword from Salbadore's outstretched hand and its voice rings in his head: By the Master’s hand was the world-fabric torn, the Darkness invited into this house and world; thus, by the Master’s hand must the fabric be stitched -- and I, the Needle, to lance the unholy wound!
Orthos unleashes a deafening bolt of lightning into the darkness, hoping to clear a path toward an exit, but just then Mercurio tries to hand him the sword.
"I don't know how--" Orthos begins, but Mercurio cuts him off. "It wants the Master," the scoundrel explains, his speech uncharacteristically clear. "Like it or not, that's you!"
Orthos reluctantly takes the sword. But Mercurio is hardly defenseless; reaching into his cloak, he retrieves a gem, and a vibrating, violet blade of energy extends from his hand! Feeling a sudden chill behind him, he whirls around and slices through a shadow with the blade, and is satisfied when it issues a shriek of pain and surprise.
The golden sword speaks to Orthos: I am Glorion’s Tear. Be not afraid, son of Man. Let Us cleave through the Shadows together, thou and I. Hold Me aloft and carve the circuit of the Sun above thy head, and then drive Me into the heart of Darkness with all thy might!
Orthos does as instructed. Swinging the sword over his head with a rapid, circular motion, its golden glow brightens and expands into a sphere as brilliant as daylight. It continues to expand, illuminating the entire gallery, evaporating the mists and forcing the shadows to retreat into the main hall.
Charge! The sword commands. As if compelled by heroism he did not know that he possessed, Orthos rushes into the main hall, and the shadows continue to flee before him. Their sinister, menacing laughter is supplanted by pitiful squeals for mercy, but Orthos is not in a charitable mood.
The new Master of Sudlow Manor opens the door to the cellar and, charging down the stairway, he clears it of webbing with ease. At the bottom, he sees it: the heart of darkness, a black hole like a wound in the Earth itself. He can feel it draining his life away even as Glorion's Tear struggles to replenish it. Destroy it now!
Orthos steps forward, but falls to the ground as a deathly cold hand takes hold of his ankle. It is none other than the wraith of Lothar Sudlow! "Foolish boy!" He chides his nephew. "Now you will pay the price for meddling in matters beyond your reckoning!" Orthos feels the cold spreading up his leg and into the rest of his body, threatening to leave him paralyzed.
With one last gasp of fortitude, Orthos drives Glorion's Tear into the center of the void. As each cancels out the existence of the other, there is a great explosion -- or is it an implosion? The words lose all meaning as reality itself threatens to unravel...
And then, it is over.
When Orthos awakens, his head is throbbing, and his companions are kneeling over him in the cellar. "Are you all right?" Laurie asks, as Salbadore examines him for injury. "What happened?"
"We did it," Orthos says, and smiles.
*****
The End? I hope not! Though I still have plans for this game and your characters, I understand that there are real-life issues that are a greater priority at this time. Some people have requested a break, which hopefully will not be permanent.
For those who are interested, I would like to use this time for mini-adventures taking place over the character blogs. These will be used primarily for character development. Meanwhile, the main blog will be placed on hiatus until circumstances bring the characters together again.
I hope it was fun, and I hope the fun will continue! As always, thank you for playing.
-HomoDM
