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The evening air shivered and creaked as a great, old stone gate groaned open in the darkness. Beyond the opening gate, torches lit one after another, revealing what seemed like an endless cobble stairway that descended to an uncertain depth. The flames flickered upon the sudden gust of wind but held steady at its passing, casting eerie shadows on the old mossy wall of the narrow passageway. In spite of the gleaming light of the torches, a wintry mist swirled ominously at the end of the stairway, obscuring whatever lay beyond it.
Two figures stood silently outside the gate, hoods pulled over their faces, with a third one having its hand planted on a glowing rune in the ground right in front of the sliding stone gate. The chilly winds proved to be nothing against the shady adventurers that stood firmly beyond the opening gate.
"Yohoho! Our booty awaits!," The voice of Jack suddenly rang out of the brief silence, betraying the identity of the tallest figure among them, as the pirate hastily set his foot beyond the stone gate, his eyes gleaming with mischievous excitement.
"Hey! Shouldn't we check for traps before we proceed?," Sergeant Callon's voice came out from the hooded adventurer whose hand was on the ground, pulling the impulsive pirate by his leg.
"Arrr! Ye gettin' lily-livered are ye? 'Em booties right in front of us mate! We ain't backin' out now!," Jack complained, shrugging off the soldier's grip with a dismissive flick of his leg.
"I didn't say anything about backing out! I just think it would be wise if we proceed with caution!," the soldier retorted in a hushed tone, his eyes narrowed in suspicion beyond the mist-laden passage. Then, as if on queue, the sound of a breaking rock suddenly echoed from a distance.
"Arrrr! Fine! Then ye do yer thing and find us 'em traps!," the pirate mockingly acquiesced, pulling his leg back and crossing his arms impatiently.
The third figure, on the other hand, remained silent as the conflict between Jack and Michael ensued. The stranger, however, suddenly turned his head, seemingly drawn to something.
"Watch out you two!," Shinku's voice came out of the third hooded stranger, as the hooded figure turned sharply in the opposite direction, his fluttering hood momentarily revealing the face of the assassin of shadows. He opened his cloak and drew out his sheathed blade, holding it tightly before him, his gaze focused on the dark misty forest that surrounded the old fortress they were about to infiltrate.
"Arrr! What is it this time!," Jack grunted, turning along with Shinku, and similarly drawing his own gunblade, followed by the soldier who immediately pulled his sniper rifle. The trio stood with bated breath, their hearts pounding in anticipation of whatever Shinku cautiously reacted at.
It wasn't that long when a flicker of emerald light appeared beyond the misty forest, its almost dotted figure approaching at an insane speed. A light humming sound came along with the glimmer of light, which then burst into a crackling sound that grew louder as the unknown object darted closer.
Shinku quickly struck forward with his sword but the object was able to stop right at the tip of the assassin's blade before it could be cut in half. The object appeared as a mysterious bird-like creature gleaming in an elegant emerald-green glow. At closer inspection, it would turn out to be an origami creation, made out of a multicolored cloth rather than a biological bird. To the trio's surprise, it suddenly unfolded itself into a satin scarf, falling gracefully to the ground as its emerald glow slowly fainted.
Although hesitant, the assassin of shadows decided to reach down and pick up the enigmatic scarf from the ground. He could still feel the energy that surged from the scarf as his fingers touched the silken fabric. Nevertheless, he carefully picked it up, revealing intricate patterns woven into the fabric.
"What have ye there mate?," Jack walked forward in curiosity, his eyes catching the scarf whose patterns magically shifted into readable characters that formed quite a long message.
Shinku refused to respond but instead chose to spread the cloth open to read the message it held. His expression turned graver as the words unravelled before his very eyes.
Intrigued, Jack and Callon decided to move closer and read along with the assassin of shadows. An array of expressions crossed their faces as they soaked in the mysterious letter's contents.
"We've got to abort!," the assassin of shadows exclaimed in urgency, immediately disappearing in a puff of purple smoke in front of Jack and Michael.
"Wait what! How about 'em booties!," the pirate complained, turning to look at the open stone gate once again.
"Forget it! Let's hurry before we lose him!," Callon urged, immediately running at top speed after his vanished master.
"Arrr! Curse ye Shinku!," Jack bellowed in frustration, before activating his shadow bond that helped him chase after the teleporting assassin.
Callon on the other hand, was left with no choice but to follow traces of both his companions' trails. It was a challenging, yet no impossible feat for the soldier who was trained as a scout and hunter. The lone soldier navigated through the dense forest, stopping on occasion to observe clues left behind by Shinku and Jack for him to follow until finally, the assassin's shadowsteed appeared to grant him transport. With an agile swing, Callon mounted the dark horse, which immediately soared to the sky and chased after the pirate and its master.
The trio raced through the large expanse of the dreary forest, before the scenery changed into lush woods. In spite of the large distance they covered, however, Shinku's pace did not seem waiver.
"Where away we be mate!," Jack hollered at Shinku, the moment he got a chance to get near the assassin of shadows amidst their relentless race.
The assassin of shadows remained silent, his eyes focused on the path ahead. Finally, they stopped at the edge of the forest right in front of Arcadia. It was then that Shinku finally decided to slow down and entered the city as calm as he could compose himself.
"Arrrr! Won't ye at least tell us what this be all about!," Jack continued to demand, frustration building up in his voice.
"Didn't you read the letter? You should realize that by now, we've got no time to lose," Shinku finally responded in a hushed voice laced with a tone of impatience. Callon arrived with the shadowsteed after just a few seconds, giving him a chance to catch up with his master and Jack. After quite a long walk, they finally stopped in front of a closed clothing shop.
The door immediately opened, as if the person on the other side knew that they just arrived. "Hurry! We can't waste anymore time!," the female kobold that stood right behind the opened door urged.
Without uttering a word, Shinku joined the kobold inside along with his companions. All their steps were quick and purposeful as they followed the kobold deeper into the dimly lit corridors of an underground hideout.
Two figures stood silently outside the gate, hoods pulled over their faces, with a third one having its hand planted on a glowing rune in the ground right in front of the sliding stone gate. The chilly winds proved to be nothing against the shady adventurers that stood firmly beyond the opening gate.
"Yohoho! Our booty awaits!," The voice of Jack suddenly rang out of the brief silence, betraying the identity of the tallest figure among them, as the pirate hastily set his foot beyond the stone gate, his eyes gleaming with mischievous excitement.
"Hey! Shouldn't we check for traps before we proceed?," Sergeant Callon's voice came out from the hooded adventurer whose hand was on the ground, pulling the impulsive pirate by his leg.
"Arrr! Ye gettin' lily-livered are ye? 'Em booties right in front of us mate! We ain't backin' out now!," Jack complained, shrugging off the soldier's grip with a dismissive flick of his leg.
"I didn't say anything about backing out! I just think it would be wise if we proceed with caution!," the soldier retorted in a hushed tone, his eyes narrowed in suspicion beyond the mist-laden passage. Then, as if on queue, the sound of a breaking rock suddenly echoed from a distance.
"Arrrr! Fine! Then ye do yer thing and find us 'em traps!," the pirate mockingly acquiesced, pulling his leg back and crossing his arms impatiently.
The third figure, on the other hand, remained silent as the conflict between Jack and Michael ensued. The stranger, however, suddenly turned his head, seemingly drawn to something.
"Watch out you two!," Shinku's voice came out of the third hooded stranger, as the hooded figure turned sharply in the opposite direction, his fluttering hood momentarily revealing the face of the assassin of shadows. He opened his cloak and drew out his sheathed blade, holding it tightly before him, his gaze focused on the dark misty forest that surrounded the old fortress they were about to infiltrate.
"Arrr! What is it this time!," Jack grunted, turning along with Shinku, and similarly drawing his own gunblade, followed by the soldier who immediately pulled his sniper rifle. The trio stood with bated breath, their hearts pounding in anticipation of whatever Shinku cautiously reacted at.
It wasn't that long when a flicker of emerald light appeared beyond the misty forest, its almost dotted figure approaching at an insane speed. A light humming sound came along with the glimmer of light, which then burst into a crackling sound that grew louder as the unknown object darted closer.
Shinku quickly struck forward with his sword but the object was able to stop right at the tip of the assassin's blade before it could be cut in half. The object appeared as a mysterious bird-like creature gleaming in an elegant emerald-green glow. At closer inspection, it would turn out to be an origami creation, made out of a multicolored cloth rather than a biological bird. To the trio's surprise, it suddenly unfolded itself into a satin scarf, falling gracefully to the ground as its emerald glow slowly fainted.
Although hesitant, the assassin of shadows decided to reach down and pick up the enigmatic scarf from the ground. He could still feel the energy that surged from the scarf as his fingers touched the silken fabric. Nevertheless, he carefully picked it up, revealing intricate patterns woven into the fabric.
"What have ye there mate?," Jack walked forward in curiosity, his eyes catching the scarf whose patterns magically shifted into readable characters that formed quite a long message.
Shinku refused to respond but instead chose to spread the cloth open to read the message it held. His expression turned graver as the words unravelled before his very eyes.
Intrigued, Jack and Callon decided to move closer and read along with the assassin of shadows. An array of expressions crossed their faces as they soaked in the mysterious letter's contents.
It is my fervent hope that this communique reaches thee on swift wings. I am Xa'Therickax, or Pincushion, the kobold for whom thou hast once done a great service unto Lord Archivist Hammuzi of the Dragonspine mountains. Pray, lend an ear to my plea.
Since our fateful meeting, I have uncovered a most troubling truth regarding Lord Hammuzi's aims... The data you so graciously procured was not intended to further the acquisition of magical knowledge, but rather as a means of unlocking the dismal sorceries contained within the 'Eclipse Grimoire.'
The Eclipse Grimoire is an archaic volume of incalculable potency, thought to harbor malevolent invocations of such magnitude as to alter the essence of existence. In sinister hands, it could bring untold devastation to Arcadia, and I dread that Lord Hammuzi may seek to use its nefarious power for his own clandestine ambitions.
I reach out to you, knowing your reputation for bravery and resilience among similarly clandestine folk. I implore you to join me in a quest to thwart Lord Hammuzi's plans and prevent him from gaining control over the Eclipse Grimoire. The only path to triumph lies in... obliterating this dangerous artifact.
Verily, I have discovered that the Grimoire is concealed deep within the cursed Shadowfen Forest, a treacherous and mystical place guarded by ancient spirits and large, flesh-eating beasts of terrible might. It is within the possession of an old druidess named Tuatha who lives in an ancient glen within the forest. I fear Hammuzi intends to slay her and take the Grimoire for himself.
We must venture into the heart of the forest before Lord Hammuzi lays claim to the dark magic within, reason with Tuatha to allow us to destroy that old book, and then await Hammuzi's arrival.
Meet me at Adelaire's Emporium, where we first met. We shall there strategize to stop Lord Hammuzi, safeguard Arcadia, and ensure the Eclipse Grimoire remains locked away... forevermore.
I trust in your strength and... sense of justice, Shadow Assassin. The fate of our realm hangs in the balance, and together, we can stand against the encroaching shadows.
With hope and determination,
Xa'Therickax
"We've got to abort!," the assassin of shadows exclaimed in urgency, immediately disappearing in a puff of purple smoke in front of Jack and Michael.
"Wait what! How about 'em booties!," the pirate complained, turning to look at the open stone gate once again.
"Forget it! Let's hurry before we lose him!," Callon urged, immediately running at top speed after his vanished master.
"Arrr! Curse ye Shinku!," Jack bellowed in frustration, before activating his shadow bond that helped him chase after the teleporting assassin.
Callon on the other hand, was left with no choice but to follow traces of both his companions' trails. It was a challenging, yet no impossible feat for the soldier who was trained as a scout and hunter. The lone soldier navigated through the dense forest, stopping on occasion to observe clues left behind by Shinku and Jack for him to follow until finally, the assassin's shadowsteed appeared to grant him transport. With an agile swing, Callon mounted the dark horse, which immediately soared to the sky and chased after the pirate and its master.
The trio raced through the large expanse of the dreary forest, before the scenery changed into lush woods. In spite of the large distance they covered, however, Shinku's pace did not seem waiver.
"Where away we be mate!," Jack hollered at Shinku, the moment he got a chance to get near the assassin of shadows amidst their relentless race.
The assassin of shadows remained silent, his eyes focused on the path ahead. Finally, they stopped at the edge of the forest right in front of Arcadia. It was then that Shinku finally decided to slow down and entered the city as calm as he could compose himself.
"Arrrr! Won't ye at least tell us what this be all about!," Jack continued to demand, frustration building up in his voice.
"Didn't you read the letter? You should realize that by now, we've got no time to lose," Shinku finally responded in a hushed voice laced with a tone of impatience. Callon arrived with the shadowsteed after just a few seconds, giving him a chance to catch up with his master and Jack. After quite a long walk, they finally stopped in front of a closed clothing shop.
The door immediately opened, as if the person on the other side knew that they just arrived. "Hurry! We can't waste anymore time!," the female kobold that stood right behind the opened door urged.
Without uttering a word, Shinku joined the kobold inside along with his companions. All their steps were quick and purposeful as they followed the kobold deeper into the dimly lit corridors of an underground hideout.
Quest: A Very Personal...Mistake? with John Connor
Word Count: 1189 / 10,000
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