Eternal
While it probably would make some of your shadows happy, you just don’t trust Tyren at all. This all seems too straight forward and with these objects from Gloom he’s offering…well its almost as if he’s over eager for you to take the job.
“Tyren, I’m sorry you traveled all this way from wherever you previously were and dragged a bag of treasure with you along the way, but I’m going to have to say, this contract is not in the best interest of the shadows at this time.”
“What?!” Dravin asks.
“Are you serious?” Cyrus exclaims.
“Since when do the shadows turn down a contract?” Tyren asks.
“It’s been known to happen. Now if you please, leave these premises and don’t return.” You say ignoring Dravin and Cyrus’ outbursts.
“But this part of our history he’s got here! How can we not take the contract?” Dravin says.
“I realize that, but it’s the past, not the future and I believe taking this contract is not the best for our future.”
“But…”
“Dravin! I am Shadow Master here, do NOT question me further on this!”
“Hey, he’s asking a valid question. You don’t need to pull rank like that.” Cyrus adds.
“Cyrus, don’t you start too. This is not the time or place.”
While you bicker with Cyrus and Dravin, Tyren and his men begin to snicker which causes you to snap at them.
“Didn’t I tell you merc scum to get the fuck out of here?”
“Okay, okay, we’re leaving.” Tyren chuckles though they’re taking their time gathering up the valuables that they spilled on the table.
Meanwhile Dravin insists on arguing with Cyrus backing him up naturally.
“Look, I don’t mean to question you Shadow Master, but I just think Dendrin would want us to have our history back, if only part of it.”
“I agree. Besides I’m sure Talia would like some of these things as well.”
You can hardly believe the insubordination going on here.
“The both of you are unbelievable right now. Questioning me and arguing in front of fucking dark elves? Did we turn into a pack of orcs overnight? Attempting to use my wife as some sort of support for your disobedience? You want the past? Fine, let’s just take it!” you shout and you draw your weapon. Before anyone can do anything else you grab the nearest dark elf and run him through.
“Treachery! Defend yourselves!” Tyren shouts and drops some gems to pull his crossbow.
The skirmish in the tavern is quick and bloody affair. The dark elves fight the best they can, but the advantage is to you in every way. You allow none to escape and the tavern is littered with their dead and a couple of your own by the end of it. The bar staff peep out from behind their hiding places.
While the rest of the shadows gather up the valuables that are now all over the floor and place them into the bag, you search Tyren’s body on a hunch you had long before you engaged in this bloodbath and fortunately you find something in the form of a letter.
Tyren,
Make sure to wait a day before triggering the curse we put on those objects the rock eaters sold us. That should be more than enough time for the shadows to have placed them somewhere in their temple. The magic words are at the bottom of this letter and they should be simple enough even for you to memorize.
As for the shadow assassin squad they’ll send after me, don’t worry about that, I’ve got that covered and have the ambush ready. You just stay near the Delerg province and monitor the situation with the after effects of the wasting curse. If it looks like they’re severely weakened by it then by all means attack the temple yourself before I get there.
Also remember to destroy this letter, the last thing I need is for the shadows to kill you and find this on your corpse because you were an incompetent fool. Assuming you don’t mess this up on your end. We should at least be able to cripple the shadows to a degree that they’ll no longer be a threat to our livelihood.
Edolith
You figured it was something like this. Makes sense the svelk would see the shadows as major competition.
“Next time just listen to my orders instead of bitching like a couple of housewives at the market!” you say shoving the letter in Cyrus’ hand.
Cyrus looks it over.
“Okay, so you were right, but we outsmarted them, got their stuff and we can perform a sanctify ritual on these objects. This situation turned out better than if we had just let them go.”
You’re already angry at this whole situation and this is just the final straw for you.
“Cyrus that’s not the damn point. My point is you AND Dravin undermined my authority in front of not only the rest of the shadows but outsiders as well as if you knew better. When I told you to desist you continued to piss and moan…in fact you’re STILL doing it!”
Before Cyrus can come up with another snappy come back, you speed yourself up and punch him in the face. He reels backwards and you follow up with a kick sending him to the floor. He attempts to get up, but you kick him again in the face and then with a power stomp you smash his shin, breaking the bone through the skin. He bellows in pain and Dravin dares to try to stop you.
“Shadow Master plea…” is all he utters before you give him a chop to his throat and then twist his arm behind his back before slamming his face into the table.
“You! Stretch out his other arm across the table and take out your dagger.” You say to closest Blade, while continuing to hover behind Dravin. The Blade obeys without hesitation and Dravin is begging for mercy when he hears the unsheathing of a dagger. You can also hear Cyrus pleading for you not to harm Dravin.
Still holding on to Dravin’s other arm, you half turn around to face him.
“YOU shut the fuck up, before I break your other shin! I’m not killing him, but a lesson must be taught to both of you! Now you, what’s your name?” you ask the Blade since you never can keep track of these new eternals’ names, you swear they must’ve altered them all in those tanks to look similar or something.
“Glen, Shadow Master.”
“Glen, take Dravin’s pinky finger.”
“NO!” Dravin screams.
“Okay take his ring finger too!” you say and twist Dravin’s arm further. “You wanna go for the whole hand? Then keep fighting me! You’re lucky I’m not taking them from your dominant hand! Glen proceed.”
Glen cuts off Dravin’s pinky first which causes him to let out a stifled yelp. Glen moves on to the ring finger, and you’re not sure if it’s the combination of the shock and fear, but whatever the reason Dravin ends up passing out completely.
“Wrap up his hand and carry him back to the temple.” You tell Glen.
Cyrus is still on the floor sitting up with his shinbone sticking out of his leg. He’s still in great pain, but you believe he’s more upset about Dravin. You crouch down beside him.
“I’m sorry it had to be this way brother, but I spared your life once for a reason Cyrus. You agreed to obey my commands as Shadow Master and today you repeatedly defied my will. Am I going to regret that decision?”
“…no…no…” Cyrus says trying not cry out.
“No what?” you ask again forcing him to look directly into your eyes.
“No…Shadow Master…”
“Good. Good. Something like this can never happen again.” You say and stand back up.
You tell the other Blades to carry Cyrus and grab the ill gotten bag of loot back to the temple since you’re going on ahead of everyone else. You then turn your attention to the frightened tavern staff.
“Apologies for the mess. Leave them some gold to help clean up this filth off their floor and tables.” You say while stepping over a dark elf corpse and then heading out the door.
When you get back the temple Talia asks you what happened and where everyone else is.
“Had to put down some treacherous svelk, as far as I’m concerned all of their kind now has a permanent target on their backs if any us see one of them again. But we got some things off of them I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with, you’ll have to perform a sanctify ritual over them first though before bringing them into the temple. As for the rest of the Blades, they’ll be along shortly with said loot I imagine, oh and I’m dissolving the Council. Really no point in it anymore.”
“Wha…well you are Shadow Master, but did you mention this Dravin and Cyrus?”
“Oh trust me, they know.”
“Tyren, I’m sorry you traveled all this way from wherever you previously were and dragged a bag of treasure with you along the way, but I’m going to have to say, this contract is not in the best interest of the shadows at this time.”
“What?!” Dravin asks.
“Are you serious?” Cyrus exclaims.
“Since when do the shadows turn down a contract?” Tyren asks.
“It’s been known to happen. Now if you please, leave these premises and don’t return.” You say ignoring Dravin and Cyrus’ outbursts.
“But this part of our history he’s got here! How can we not take the contract?” Dravin says.
“I realize that, but it’s the past, not the future and I believe taking this contract is not the best for our future.”
“But…”
“Dravin! I am Shadow Master here, do NOT question me further on this!”
“Hey, he’s asking a valid question. You don’t need to pull rank like that.” Cyrus adds.
“Cyrus, don’t you start too. This is not the time or place.”
While you bicker with Cyrus and Dravin, Tyren and his men begin to snicker which causes you to snap at them.
“Didn’t I tell you merc scum to get the fuck out of here?”
“Okay, okay, we’re leaving.” Tyren chuckles though they’re taking their time gathering up the valuables that they spilled on the table.
Meanwhile Dravin insists on arguing with Cyrus backing him up naturally.
“Look, I don’t mean to question you Shadow Master, but I just think Dendrin would want us to have our history back, if only part of it.”
“I agree. Besides I’m sure Talia would like some of these things as well.”
You can hardly believe the insubordination going on here.
“The both of you are unbelievable right now. Questioning me and arguing in front of fucking dark elves? Did we turn into a pack of orcs overnight? Attempting to use my wife as some sort of support for your disobedience? You want the past? Fine, let’s just take it!” you shout and you draw your weapon. Before anyone can do anything else you grab the nearest dark elf and run him through.
“Treachery! Defend yourselves!” Tyren shouts and drops some gems to pull his crossbow.
The skirmish in the tavern is quick and bloody affair. The dark elves fight the best they can, but the advantage is to you in every way. You allow none to escape and the tavern is littered with their dead and a couple of your own by the end of it. The bar staff peep out from behind their hiding places.
While the rest of the shadows gather up the valuables that are now all over the floor and place them into the bag, you search Tyren’s body on a hunch you had long before you engaged in this bloodbath and fortunately you find something in the form of a letter.
Tyren,
Make sure to wait a day before triggering the curse we put on those objects the rock eaters sold us. That should be more than enough time for the shadows to have placed them somewhere in their temple. The magic words are at the bottom of this letter and they should be simple enough even for you to memorize.
As for the shadow assassin squad they’ll send after me, don’t worry about that, I’ve got that covered and have the ambush ready. You just stay near the Delerg province and monitor the situation with the after effects of the wasting curse. If it looks like they’re severely weakened by it then by all means attack the temple yourself before I get there.
Also remember to destroy this letter, the last thing I need is for the shadows to kill you and find this on your corpse because you were an incompetent fool. Assuming you don’t mess this up on your end. We should at least be able to cripple the shadows to a degree that they’ll no longer be a threat to our livelihood.
Edolith
You figured it was something like this. Makes sense the svelk would see the shadows as major competition.
“Next time just listen to my orders instead of bitching like a couple of housewives at the market!” you say shoving the letter in Cyrus’ hand.
Cyrus looks it over.
“Okay, so you were right, but we outsmarted them, got their stuff and we can perform a sanctify ritual on these objects. This situation turned out better than if we had just let them go.”
You’re already angry at this whole situation and this is just the final straw for you.
“Cyrus that’s not the damn point. My point is you AND Dravin undermined my authority in front of not only the rest of the shadows but outsiders as well as if you knew better. When I told you to desist you continued to piss and moan…in fact you’re STILL doing it!”
Before Cyrus can come up with another snappy come back, you speed yourself up and punch him in the face. He reels backwards and you follow up with a kick sending him to the floor. He attempts to get up, but you kick him again in the face and then with a power stomp you smash his shin, breaking the bone through the skin. He bellows in pain and Dravin dares to try to stop you.
“Shadow Master plea…” is all he utters before you give him a chop to his throat and then twist his arm behind his back before slamming his face into the table.
“You! Stretch out his other arm across the table and take out your dagger.” You say to closest Blade, while continuing to hover behind Dravin. The Blade obeys without hesitation and Dravin is begging for mercy when he hears the unsheathing of a dagger. You can also hear Cyrus pleading for you not to harm Dravin.
Still holding on to Dravin’s other arm, you half turn around to face him.
“YOU shut the fuck up, before I break your other shin! I’m not killing him, but a lesson must be taught to both of you! Now you, what’s your name?” you ask the Blade since you never can keep track of these new eternals’ names, you swear they must’ve altered them all in those tanks to look similar or something.
“Glen, Shadow Master.”
“Glen, take Dravin’s pinky finger.”
“NO!” Dravin screams.
“Okay take his ring finger too!” you say and twist Dravin’s arm further. “You wanna go for the whole hand? Then keep fighting me! You’re lucky I’m not taking them from your dominant hand! Glen proceed.”
Glen cuts off Dravin’s pinky first which causes him to let out a stifled yelp. Glen moves on to the ring finger, and you’re not sure if it’s the combination of the shock and fear, but whatever the reason Dravin ends up passing out completely.
“Wrap up his hand and carry him back to the temple.” You tell Glen.
Cyrus is still on the floor sitting up with his shinbone sticking out of his leg. He’s still in great pain, but you believe he’s more upset about Dravin. You crouch down beside him.
“I’m sorry it had to be this way brother, but I spared your life once for a reason Cyrus. You agreed to obey my commands as Shadow Master and today you repeatedly defied my will. Am I going to regret that decision?”
“…no…no…” Cyrus says trying not cry out.
“No what?” you ask again forcing him to look directly into your eyes.
“No…Shadow Master…”
“Good. Good. Something like this can never happen again.” You say and stand back up.
You tell the other Blades to carry Cyrus and grab the ill gotten bag of loot back to the temple since you’re going on ahead of everyone else. You then turn your attention to the frightened tavern staff.
“Apologies for the mess. Leave them some gold to help clean up this filth off their floor and tables.” You say while stepping over a dark elf corpse and then heading out the door.
When you get back the temple Talia asks you what happened and where everyone else is.
“Had to put down some treacherous svelk, as far as I’m concerned all of their kind now has a permanent target on their backs if any us see one of them again. But we got some things off of them I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with, you’ll have to perform a sanctify ritual over them first though before bringing them into the temple. As for the rest of the Blades, they’ll be along shortly with said loot I imagine, oh and I’m dissolving the Council. Really no point in it anymore.”
“Wha…well you are Shadow Master, but did you mention this Dravin and Cyrus?”
“Oh trust me, they know.”