Eternal
“We’re going to have to clear out of here soon, the Empire is finally getting their ass in gear to retake this camp. Captain Roldan himself is supposed to be on his way and he’s been pretty efficient in squashing shadow cells as of late.” Talia remarks.
“Yeah I know. He’s proven as hard to kill as ol’ butcher Kane. Both have survived several assassination attempts. Heh, this war would’ve been a lot easier had they been put into the Shadow Guard too.”
“Well, what are we going to do about him? Because while we can clear out the camp and collapse the rest, it doesn’t stop the fact that Roldan is our biggest potential threat. He’s proving to be the most competent Empire commander they have.”
“Yeah I know…I’ll have to think on it. So how many of the new eternals can we save?”
“Well there are still hundreds in those tanks and quite frankly I dunno if half of those are even functioning properly anymore. Some were empty to begin with too. I know we’ve open up at least a hundred or so of those tanks and some of the children had to be…dealt with immediately. I’d say we got around sixty or seventy that are still undergoing re-education. And of those? I’d say only about nine that have taken to it completely.”
You exhale deeply; you knew it was going to be tough, but only nine? That really puts a crimp in your plans for a potential army of loyal eternal shadows on your side.
“Those tomes I gave you didn’t help open a portal to Dendrin so you could do the indoctrination ceremony?”
“I couldn’t find anything in them about it. The best thing I found was in one of the Empire mage’s spellbooks. A mind control spell which has helped in the conditioning process. Not shadow magic, but whatever works right?”
“You’ll get no argument from me. Might as well take those with you, what about derro equipment?”
“Mostly hand weapons that we don’t need or machinery that we can’t use. However there were schematics for stuff laying about. Mostly on those explosive weapons they were using during the troll fight. Sister Yvette has mostly been studying those since I believe it troubles her less than indoctrinating these new eternals. There’s a lot of that explosive stuff unused too. We’ll use that to destroy this complex.”
“Maybe we could use it to set up a trap as well.” You say forming a plan.
“How so exactly? I mean I sort of get where you’re going with your thought process; when Roldan arrives we could blow up his army, but there’s no guarantee we’d get all of them or even him and we’d have to stick around which would most likely be suicide as his army is reportedly the best around and we severely lack in numbers. Hell, I’m not even sure some of those kids we’re educating wouldn’t help the Empire.”
“Except those nine right?”
“Well yes, except them. What are you suggesting?”
You explain to Talia that you all will evacuate this camp as planned, taking with you spellbooks, derro tech schematics and those children that are in the process of being re-educated. What’s staying are the explosives and those nine children…
“Wait, wait, you seriously want these children to sacrifice their lives?”
“It’s not like they’re doing it for no reason. They’ll be striking a blow against the Empire, and dying in the service of Dendrin. You told me they were loyal didn’t you?”
“Well yes, but…”
“Well when the army comes through Roldan will have it searched from top to bottom. He’ll probably even do a little wandering himself when everything appears to be in order. Then when he’s got his guard down, these nine you’ve told me about will come from their hiding spots light the fuses in the strategically located areas. Just to make sure they accomplish their missions, they will also be carrying explosives on their person. They probably aren’t expecting the new eternals are indoctrinated and some aren’t going to expect finding so called helpless children at all. In fact maybe we should tell one to play up the victim role about the terrible shadows and when Roldan wants to hear their story…BOOM! He’s no more.”
While this seems like a solid plan to you, Talia once again is showing reservations about your ideas.
“But these children have worked so hard to devote themselves to Dendrin. The odds were so against them, yet their trust and faith helped them overcome their Empire brainwashing. It doesn’t seem right for them to die when they have only just awakened. There are other shadows here. Adult ones who would also gladly sacrifice themselves, could we not use one of them instead?”
“Normally I’d say yes, but an adult shadow is of much more worth in case of a major battle in the near future. Now I’m aware these children are eternals, but they are still children. They are not even the same age that we were when were first exposed to the shadow way. I can’t wait for them to grow and I can’t use any of ones you’re still in the process of educating because I can’t risk any of them not following through with the plan. Talia, I know this is grim business and I know you may have even gotten attached to them…like any mother would. But there comes a time where even a mother has to let go, and really, you knew that something like this might be a possibility. Take comfort in the fact that their actions will save other shadows and their siblings.”
“I know the reasons. I know the stakes, but I won’t take comfort in it. And I can’t be the one to send them to their deaths. You’ll have to do it.” Talia says and looks away from you, obviously trying to hide her eyes, which are tearing up.
“Very well. I suppose I owe them that much.” You say and ask where they are.
When you go to the room where they’re located, they are all in prayer to Dendrin. They don’t even stop to notice you until they’re finished. Well they’re definitely loyal to Dendrin that’s for sure.
They recognize you as a shadow and ask who you are. When you tell them your name, their eyes get wide and they suddenly start to get very excited.
“You’re Mother Talia’s husband!”
“You’re the one who speaks to Dendrin!”
“You’re the scourge of the Empire!”
Looks like Talia’s been speaking about you in high regard to these children as well.
“Are you here to send us on a mission to kill Empire soldiers?” one of them asks.
“Oh yes. I am here to send you all on a mission. Possibly one of the most important in the war against the Empire. We haven’t much time though and I will have to explain quickly, are you all ready to serve in Dendrin’s name?”
“Yes! For Dendrin!” they all shout in unison.
While everyone else starts evacuating the camp, you start taking the children through the plan. Sister Yvette briefly shows you and the children where she’s placing the explosives to collapse the underground complex. She also shows the children how to use the explosives. She’s noticeably unnerved by the fact that these children are going to sacrifice themselves. She never agreed with saving the eternals to begin with, but apparently she has now grown a little more used to the children and isn’t happy about seeing them going to their deaths.
You haven’t been around these children long enough to get so attached to them, but you can understand it. Even within the short time you’ve spent with these nine you can appreciate their enthusiastic potential. It is sort of a shame since who knows what they would accomplish if they were to grow up, but there are still several dozen more that will be saved and hopefully they will eventually become just like these nine.
Towards the end of the evacuation, you wave good-bye to the nine and remind them of their duty and how Dendrin will accept them when their work is done. Talia also sticks around to say her farewells.
“Children, remember all that I have taught you and remember that Dendrin loves you…and that…(sniffle) I love you…(sniffle) and will always do so.”
“We love you too Mother Talia.” They all say in unison and go up to hug her.
After a couple seconds of this, Talia tells them good-bye and leaves with you. The pair of you travel behind the rest mostly in silence. No sooner have you traveled out of sight of the camp, Talia breaks down and cries. A few shadows turn around wondering what’s going on, but you tell them all to go on ahead and that you’ll both be along shortly.
You stand beside her during her sorrow, but you offer no words of comfort since there are none. In fact chances are you’ll make her feel worse as it was your decision after all. Eventually after she lets it all out, she pulls herself together. Still sad of course, but ready to put it behind her. You continue your journey to Brother Theo’s hideout that he’s prepared for the evacuation.
A few days later you get word from contacts of an Empire army being nearly wiped out by a series of large explosions. For a brief moment the Empire first thought it might even be a Felkan attack due to their use of gunpower weaponry, however it was confirmed by the few survivors that it was another shadow ambush. Naturally you are painted to be the lowliest of villains due to children being used, but Empire propaganda has always been so over the top that you doubt if people will even believe it, and those that do…well they were probably never going to be on your side anyway.
The best news is when you hear that a funeral will be held in Captain Roldan’s honor as he died during one of the blasts.
You have won a great victory and confirms that your decision to save the eternals was a good one. Even if all the others prove to be untrainable, those nine were more than worth it.
“Yeah I know. He’s proven as hard to kill as ol’ butcher Kane. Both have survived several assassination attempts. Heh, this war would’ve been a lot easier had they been put into the Shadow Guard too.”
“Well, what are we going to do about him? Because while we can clear out the camp and collapse the rest, it doesn’t stop the fact that Roldan is our biggest potential threat. He’s proving to be the most competent Empire commander they have.”
“Yeah I know…I’ll have to think on it. So how many of the new eternals can we save?”
“Well there are still hundreds in those tanks and quite frankly I dunno if half of those are even functioning properly anymore. Some were empty to begin with too. I know we’ve open up at least a hundred or so of those tanks and some of the children had to be…dealt with immediately. I’d say we got around sixty or seventy that are still undergoing re-education. And of those? I’d say only about nine that have taken to it completely.”
You exhale deeply; you knew it was going to be tough, but only nine? That really puts a crimp in your plans for a potential army of loyal eternal shadows on your side.
“Those tomes I gave you didn’t help open a portal to Dendrin so you could do the indoctrination ceremony?”
“I couldn’t find anything in them about it. The best thing I found was in one of the Empire mage’s spellbooks. A mind control spell which has helped in the conditioning process. Not shadow magic, but whatever works right?”
“You’ll get no argument from me. Might as well take those with you, what about derro equipment?”
“Mostly hand weapons that we don’t need or machinery that we can’t use. However there were schematics for stuff laying about. Mostly on those explosive weapons they were using during the troll fight. Sister Yvette has mostly been studying those since I believe it troubles her less than indoctrinating these new eternals. There’s a lot of that explosive stuff unused too. We’ll use that to destroy this complex.”
“Maybe we could use it to set up a trap as well.” You say forming a plan.
“How so exactly? I mean I sort of get where you’re going with your thought process; when Roldan arrives we could blow up his army, but there’s no guarantee we’d get all of them or even him and we’d have to stick around which would most likely be suicide as his army is reportedly the best around and we severely lack in numbers. Hell, I’m not even sure some of those kids we’re educating wouldn’t help the Empire.”
“Except those nine right?”
“Well yes, except them. What are you suggesting?”
You explain to Talia that you all will evacuate this camp as planned, taking with you spellbooks, derro tech schematics and those children that are in the process of being re-educated. What’s staying are the explosives and those nine children…
“Wait, wait, you seriously want these children to sacrifice their lives?”
“It’s not like they’re doing it for no reason. They’ll be striking a blow against the Empire, and dying in the service of Dendrin. You told me they were loyal didn’t you?”
“Well yes, but…”
“Well when the army comes through Roldan will have it searched from top to bottom. He’ll probably even do a little wandering himself when everything appears to be in order. Then when he’s got his guard down, these nine you’ve told me about will come from their hiding spots light the fuses in the strategically located areas. Just to make sure they accomplish their missions, they will also be carrying explosives on their person. They probably aren’t expecting the new eternals are indoctrinated and some aren’t going to expect finding so called helpless children at all. In fact maybe we should tell one to play up the victim role about the terrible shadows and when Roldan wants to hear their story…BOOM! He’s no more.”
While this seems like a solid plan to you, Talia once again is showing reservations about your ideas.
“But these children have worked so hard to devote themselves to Dendrin. The odds were so against them, yet their trust and faith helped them overcome their Empire brainwashing. It doesn’t seem right for them to die when they have only just awakened. There are other shadows here. Adult ones who would also gladly sacrifice themselves, could we not use one of them instead?”
“Normally I’d say yes, but an adult shadow is of much more worth in case of a major battle in the near future. Now I’m aware these children are eternals, but they are still children. They are not even the same age that we were when were first exposed to the shadow way. I can’t wait for them to grow and I can’t use any of ones you’re still in the process of educating because I can’t risk any of them not following through with the plan. Talia, I know this is grim business and I know you may have even gotten attached to them…like any mother would. But there comes a time where even a mother has to let go, and really, you knew that something like this might be a possibility. Take comfort in the fact that their actions will save other shadows and their siblings.”
“I know the reasons. I know the stakes, but I won’t take comfort in it. And I can’t be the one to send them to their deaths. You’ll have to do it.” Talia says and looks away from you, obviously trying to hide her eyes, which are tearing up.
“Very well. I suppose I owe them that much.” You say and ask where they are.
When you go to the room where they’re located, they are all in prayer to Dendrin. They don’t even stop to notice you until they’re finished. Well they’re definitely loyal to Dendrin that’s for sure.
They recognize you as a shadow and ask who you are. When you tell them your name, their eyes get wide and they suddenly start to get very excited.
“You’re Mother Talia’s husband!”
“You’re the one who speaks to Dendrin!”
“You’re the scourge of the Empire!”
Looks like Talia’s been speaking about you in high regard to these children as well.
“Are you here to send us on a mission to kill Empire soldiers?” one of them asks.
“Oh yes. I am here to send you all on a mission. Possibly one of the most important in the war against the Empire. We haven’t much time though and I will have to explain quickly, are you all ready to serve in Dendrin’s name?”
“Yes! For Dendrin!” they all shout in unison.
While everyone else starts evacuating the camp, you start taking the children through the plan. Sister Yvette briefly shows you and the children where she’s placing the explosives to collapse the underground complex. She also shows the children how to use the explosives. She’s noticeably unnerved by the fact that these children are going to sacrifice themselves. She never agreed with saving the eternals to begin with, but apparently she has now grown a little more used to the children and isn’t happy about seeing them going to their deaths.
You haven’t been around these children long enough to get so attached to them, but you can understand it. Even within the short time you’ve spent with these nine you can appreciate their enthusiastic potential. It is sort of a shame since who knows what they would accomplish if they were to grow up, but there are still several dozen more that will be saved and hopefully they will eventually become just like these nine.
Towards the end of the evacuation, you wave good-bye to the nine and remind them of their duty and how Dendrin will accept them when their work is done. Talia also sticks around to say her farewells.
“Children, remember all that I have taught you and remember that Dendrin loves you…and that…(sniffle) I love you…(sniffle) and will always do so.”
“We love you too Mother Talia.” They all say in unison and go up to hug her.
After a couple seconds of this, Talia tells them good-bye and leaves with you. The pair of you travel behind the rest mostly in silence. No sooner have you traveled out of sight of the camp, Talia breaks down and cries. A few shadows turn around wondering what’s going on, but you tell them all to go on ahead and that you’ll both be along shortly.
You stand beside her during her sorrow, but you offer no words of comfort since there are none. In fact chances are you’ll make her feel worse as it was your decision after all. Eventually after she lets it all out, she pulls herself together. Still sad of course, but ready to put it behind her. You continue your journey to Brother Theo’s hideout that he’s prepared for the evacuation.
A few days later you get word from contacts of an Empire army being nearly wiped out by a series of large explosions. For a brief moment the Empire first thought it might even be a Felkan attack due to their use of gunpower weaponry, however it was confirmed by the few survivors that it was another shadow ambush. Naturally you are painted to be the lowliest of villains due to children being used, but Empire propaganda has always been so over the top that you doubt if people will even believe it, and those that do…well they were probably never going to be on your side anyway.
The best news is when you hear that a funeral will be held in Captain Roldan’s honor as he died during one of the blasts.
You have won a great victory and confirms that your decision to save the eternals was a good one. Even if all the others prove to be untrainable, those nine were more than worth it.