Eternal
Felkan soldiers aren't going to be a problem, but you need to get rid of Dusk and perhaps a few others before you get to the palace because you aren't going to have time to do it when you need to focus on assassinating the king. You approach Dusk as she stands away from the rest of the group examining the map.
"Sister Dusk, why don't we split up and meet at the palace?" you ask.
"For what purpose, brother? It would be more efficient to just all go together." Dusk replies.
"If we run into major trouble during our journey in Felkan territory, it would be better if some of us still got to the palace in a timely manner. Besides a larger group will attract more attention."
"And neither of those things are going to be a problem since we'll be cloaked the whole time."
"Well how do we know the Felkans don't have something to prevent that? Wouldn't it be better to remain on the side of caution?"
"I think it would be better for you if you had more faith in Dendrin's protection and stopped speaking nonsense. I'm in charge and I'm telling you we're all going as a group. Besides I don't want all five of us running around separately, because as you say if we do run into trouble, we'd be stronger as a group."
"I didn't mean all five of us go separately, we could still be in groups. Like you and I go as one group and the other three go as another."
"You and I? Seems like you've thought this out."
"Despite Murk constantly failing to impress Bianca, they work very well together, so they should stay together and I assumed Talia would be the logical choice as a leader. Her skills are better than Bianca and Murk's so she could lead them. Granted my combat skills are probably better, my magic is not. I believe I would be better off with you where your magic and my combat abilities can complement each other. We're going to have to split up when we get to the palace anyway if our intent is to sow as much chaos as possible before escaping, better that we do it now before we get too comfortable with a larger group."
Dusk still doesn't look entirely convinced, however she tells you to wait and she goes over to speak to the others. After a few moments of discussion, she turns back to you.
"Okay, you might have a point. You'll come with me and we'll approach the Felkan capital Dessle from the north, Talia and the rest will approach it from the south. Neither of us are going to reach it today, but we'll definitely make it by tomorrow night where we can meet up and I'll relay the next course of action. Try to stick to the wilderness and non-populated areas until then. May Dendrin guide us all."
Dusk and you set off, about five minutes in she states that she forgot to mention that the area Talia is suppose to be heading into is supposed to be have regular patrols, so she should be warned about that. You wait for Dusk to return pondering when the best time would be to kill her. Probably not until you a good ways into Felkan territory, maybe just before you get into Dessle. Eventually Dusk comes back and you're on your way again.
Crossing into Felkan territory is very easy. The outposts aren’t nearly as well guarded as they should be and combined with sticking to the wilderness and using magic to cloak yourself it's incredibly simple. You eventually camp out in a secluded wood where Sister Dusk becomes more talkative.
"We made pretty good time, with minimal problems. I guess you had a good idea. I suggest we both get some rest, tomorrow will be the big event."
"Yeah, hopefully the rest are doing just as well." You remark.
"Oh I wouldn't worry about them. I'm sure they're fine."
Nodding in agreement, you decide this would probably be the best place as any to get rid of Dusk. You figure you'll pretend to go to sleep, wait until she's asleep and make your move.
After waiting for about an hour, you finally get the impression she's asleep thanks to the sounds of snoring. Not very quiet for a shadow, but it helps you any way. You slowly get up and make your way towards her.
Your blade is drawn and just before you strike, you feel a bolt go into your side.
"Ah shit!" you cry out and fall to the ground. Another bolt goes into your leg and Dawn "wakes up". She wasn't the only one faking sleep it seems.
"I knew it! I knew Brother Cyrus wasn't just ranting and I knew you probably were involved with killing my mate Shade. Filthy traitor!" Dusk exclaims, kicking you in the face.
Talia, Murk and Bianca all come out from the underbrush. Dawn must've told them to follow you the whole time. They all look on in disappointment at you, but Talia especially.
"I didn't want to believe it…how could you betray Dendrin like this? How long have you been a traitor?" Talia asks while reloading her armbow.
"Me a traitor? No, it is YOU who is the traitor! All of you! All of you have betrayed the Emperor for your pitiful god who cares nothing for you!" you shout in defiance. "I know this because Dendrin himself has spoken to me on several occasions trying to convert me to his will, but it didn't work."
"He does care, or else he would not have tried to bring you into the fold. How sad that you did not learn his wisdom and accept his mercy." Murk says.
"How sad that you actually believe that. You're more pathetic than he is. If he really cared for any of you, he would've warned you about having a so called traitor in your midst. He didn't, so that says a lot about your revered deity."
"Enough! I won't hear anymore of these vicious lies! Your treachery ends here today traitor." Dusk shouts back and attempts to finish you off with a sword blow, but you've got enough fight in you to roll out of the way and return with your own attack, hacking Dusk's foot off.
It's a small victory though, the rest of the shadows move in and run you through several times. Defiant to the end you laugh and state that they've won nothing here and the Empire will survive as you die.
"Sister Dusk, why don't we split up and meet at the palace?" you ask.
"For what purpose, brother? It would be more efficient to just all go together." Dusk replies.
"If we run into major trouble during our journey in Felkan territory, it would be better if some of us still got to the palace in a timely manner. Besides a larger group will attract more attention."
"And neither of those things are going to be a problem since we'll be cloaked the whole time."
"Well how do we know the Felkans don't have something to prevent that? Wouldn't it be better to remain on the side of caution?"
"I think it would be better for you if you had more faith in Dendrin's protection and stopped speaking nonsense. I'm in charge and I'm telling you we're all going as a group. Besides I don't want all five of us running around separately, because as you say if we do run into trouble, we'd be stronger as a group."
"I didn't mean all five of us go separately, we could still be in groups. Like you and I go as one group and the other three go as another."
"You and I? Seems like you've thought this out."
"Despite Murk constantly failing to impress Bianca, they work very well together, so they should stay together and I assumed Talia would be the logical choice as a leader. Her skills are better than Bianca and Murk's so she could lead them. Granted my combat skills are probably better, my magic is not. I believe I would be better off with you where your magic and my combat abilities can complement each other. We're going to have to split up when we get to the palace anyway if our intent is to sow as much chaos as possible before escaping, better that we do it now before we get too comfortable with a larger group."
Dusk still doesn't look entirely convinced, however she tells you to wait and she goes over to speak to the others. After a few moments of discussion, she turns back to you.
"Okay, you might have a point. You'll come with me and we'll approach the Felkan capital Dessle from the north, Talia and the rest will approach it from the south. Neither of us are going to reach it today, but we'll definitely make it by tomorrow night where we can meet up and I'll relay the next course of action. Try to stick to the wilderness and non-populated areas until then. May Dendrin guide us all."
Dusk and you set off, about five minutes in she states that she forgot to mention that the area Talia is suppose to be heading into is supposed to be have regular patrols, so she should be warned about that. You wait for Dusk to return pondering when the best time would be to kill her. Probably not until you a good ways into Felkan territory, maybe just before you get into Dessle. Eventually Dusk comes back and you're on your way again.
Crossing into Felkan territory is very easy. The outposts aren’t nearly as well guarded as they should be and combined with sticking to the wilderness and using magic to cloak yourself it's incredibly simple. You eventually camp out in a secluded wood where Sister Dusk becomes more talkative.
"We made pretty good time, with minimal problems. I guess you had a good idea. I suggest we both get some rest, tomorrow will be the big event."
"Yeah, hopefully the rest are doing just as well." You remark.
"Oh I wouldn't worry about them. I'm sure they're fine."
Nodding in agreement, you decide this would probably be the best place as any to get rid of Dusk. You figure you'll pretend to go to sleep, wait until she's asleep and make your move.
After waiting for about an hour, you finally get the impression she's asleep thanks to the sounds of snoring. Not very quiet for a shadow, but it helps you any way. You slowly get up and make your way towards her.
Your blade is drawn and just before you strike, you feel a bolt go into your side.
"Ah shit!" you cry out and fall to the ground. Another bolt goes into your leg and Dawn "wakes up". She wasn't the only one faking sleep it seems.
"I knew it! I knew Brother Cyrus wasn't just ranting and I knew you probably were involved with killing my mate Shade. Filthy traitor!" Dusk exclaims, kicking you in the face.
Talia, Murk and Bianca all come out from the underbrush. Dawn must've told them to follow you the whole time. They all look on in disappointment at you, but Talia especially.
"I didn't want to believe it…how could you betray Dendrin like this? How long have you been a traitor?" Talia asks while reloading her armbow.
"Me a traitor? No, it is YOU who is the traitor! All of you! All of you have betrayed the Emperor for your pitiful god who cares nothing for you!" you shout in defiance. "I know this because Dendrin himself has spoken to me on several occasions trying to convert me to his will, but it didn't work."
"He does care, or else he would not have tried to bring you into the fold. How sad that you did not learn his wisdom and accept his mercy." Murk says.
"How sad that you actually believe that. You're more pathetic than he is. If he really cared for any of you, he would've warned you about having a so called traitor in your midst. He didn't, so that says a lot about your revered deity."
"Enough! I won't hear anymore of these vicious lies! Your treachery ends here today traitor." Dusk shouts back and attempts to finish you off with a sword blow, but you've got enough fight in you to roll out of the way and return with your own attack, hacking Dusk's foot off.
It's a small victory though, the rest of the shadows move in and run you through several times. Defiant to the end you laugh and state that they've won nothing here and the Empire will survive as you die.
