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Post by Admin on Feb 4, 2023 4:50:01 GMT
From the smoke, fire, demons, and red magics of Eshanta, Ryland is hurled through a dull dark rainbow of shadow. Images of people and places unknown to him, shadows of dream and nightmare pass before his eyes. Time has no meaning in this vortex of darkness. It may have been an instant until, or an eon before, he is coughed up into regular shadow.
He is in a large, cold, dimly lit cavern. Two openings lead to the outside, and a bitterly cold wind blows snow and flakes of ice about him. One looks natural, the other carved by magic. All about him are the remains from a great battle. Demon bodies killed, dismembered, and ruptured lay frozen as far as he can see. Near the artificial opening, there is a point of dull orange light. It brightens for a moment, then dulls. Two yellow eyes slowly blink above it.
"They said someone was coming, but I didn't think it would be you," a deep voice says.
Ryland smells cheap tobacco smoke.
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Post by Ryland on Feb 5, 2023 16:15:43 GMT
“Why are you so surprised?”
Ryland lets his eyes adjust to the cave and tries to identify who is speaking.
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Post by Admin on Feb 7, 2023 0:50:17 GMT
A short demon waddles toward Ryland. Paunchy belly, stubby batwings, and a lit stogie between his fangs.
"They say a criminal always returns to the scene of the crime. Lords of Amber too. But you ain't on my list, so what ya here for anyways?"
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Post by Ryland on Feb 7, 2023 22:54:19 GMT
“I’m here because my cousin sent me here. Likely by mistake. And I don’t believe we have been introduced. I’m Ryland of Amber – but I think you knew that. You are called?” He asks.
"I don't often get to meet demons. Would you care to talk before I go on my way?" Ryland asks.
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Post by Admin on Feb 11, 2023 7:44:49 GMT
"Sk'bak, of the Shallow Pit Sk'baks."
"Actually, I didn't know it was you, Lord Ryland. I just recognized the whole thing-" he gestures with his tiny hand, the cigar clamped between his stubby fingers, looking outsized. "-as being all Amberish.
"Lemme guess: Leonil sent you here, right?"
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Post by Ryland on Feb 11, 2023 19:03:34 GMT
“Yes. Leonil sent me here. We were about to have a disagreement.” Ryland simply states.
“It is my pleasure to meet you, Sk’bak, of the Shallow Pit Sk’baks. Next time I drop by, I’ll try to bring you some more cigars. As I make it a point not to drop in without showing respect.”
“Are we in Shallow Pit Sk’baks? And are those in what Amber calls ‘the Demon Lands’ in Chaos?” Ryland asks politely.
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Post by Admin on Feb 13, 2023 5:54:04 GMT
"Leonil makes sense. There was a big to-do here, as you can see, and Leo had a significant part in it. He'll be back again or send others like you here.
"The shallow pits here? No, they are much more inviting and better furnished. This is some hellhole in Shadow built to hold something very special. A thing that was removed during the battle."
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Post by Ryland on Feb 14, 2023 3:07:18 GMT
“So Sk’bak, of the Shallow Pit Sk’baks, how did you end up here? And what is beyond the cave mouth?” Ryland asks with some curiosity.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2023 6:31:11 GMT
"A guy tries to take a nap, and once out, his friends leave him alone so the first boss to come by can grab him and set him on a task. Never nap around a boss, Ry. That's some Courts of Chaos advice for ya.
"One way, this one -" he points to the magically cut opening, "-is nothing but a long dive down. It could work for ya if you got wings. It's how I got here. Mind the crosswinds and downdraft. The other is a more gentle path along a ridge heading down to a valley. It's all mountains and valleys here. Boss said this is Nepal or something like that. All just shadows to me."
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Post by Ryland on Feb 15, 2023 6:18:19 GMT
“I will keep that bit of advice." Ryland laughs.
"I’m not ready to fly out, so I will try the ridge. But when I get some time, I will look you up. I’m sure I can make a deal that will interest you. I know that some demons can roam shadow. If you are like that, I would have a meal with you sometime." Ryland pauses then goes on.
"Are you planning on staying here, flying out, or walking out the same way that I am heading?”
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Post by Admin on Feb 16, 2023 5:40:44 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/X8SMLfH/dem~png "The boss' got be freezing my butt here for the foreseeable future. Or until Leonil returns.
"See you around, Lord Ryland."
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Post by Ryland on Feb 16, 2023 6:00:38 GMT
“Farewell Sk’bak, of the Shallow Pit Sk’baks.” Ryland says and heads out to follow the gentle path along the ridge heading down to a valley.
Once his path is clear, he will try to shift out. If that doesn't work, he will use his senses to detect a shadow opening. Including using his Pattern Sense to learn what he can of this shadow.
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Post by Admin on Feb 18, 2023 7:05:11 GMT
It is bitterly cold on the ridge overlooking a mighty glacier. Gale-force winds nearly push him off the edge and down the cliff. he nearly trips over the frozen bodies of dead demons as he trudges and slides down the way.
OOC: Want to describe the shifting through shadow and where he heads?
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Post by Ryland on Feb 20, 2023 1:40:46 GMT
Ryland focuses his mind on Amber and starts shifting toward it. First, he lessons the winds from gale to storm, to blustery, to breezy, to none. Then he shifts the glacier to snow, to a winter trail out of the mountains, to a meadow. Next, he tackles the temperature; he shifts from freezing to cold to normal. Then he shifts the snow to patches of snow, to trace snow, to a meadow. Finally, he shifts to a fall day in Ireland walking across the meadow.
From there, he starts to speed up his travel. Letting the sky turn colors that never appear in nature, letting plants he has never seen go past in colors he has never seen.
He chooses to stay alone in his travels until it is time to eat. Then he slowly shifts until he finds an inn for travelers that welcomes all. Before he walks in the door, he will shift some local coins in his pocket.
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Post by Admin on Feb 23, 2023 7:34:12 GMT
The inn is hard by a small river. A waterwheel out back grinds the grain they use to bake bread. A few horses and mules are tied up to the hitchingpost outside, two wagons are pulled up, their horses drinking from the trough, one young boy with a cudgel standing guard.
Inside the proprietor is friendly, the staff are friendly, the merchants are friendly. Some local folk dressed in homespun, dour clothes are less impressed by him. Overheard talk in the place is gossip from towns nearby where a lady of Amber tried to arrest a prince of Chaos, and a demon was preying on the young ladies in another town. Ryland can tell that these are not usually occurrences around this part of Shadow.
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