The Coming Darkness
Spring has come at last to the world of Haven, bringing with it the fresh scent of rain and new growth. Along with it, the wandering heart yearns to explore again. For a young journeyman Bard, this all too true. Her apprentice studies are complete, and in record time according to her tutor, so now, its off into the world to find new stories, and entertain the populace with her singing skills. After spending as night in a small cave sheltered from one of the worst storms the season has to bring, DreamSinger is on the move again. Not only to survey the damage in the forested foothills, but to also experience the fresh clean world she travels through, unsuspecting of anything that might come her way from out of the darker shadows of the wood.
Shadowstone watches from those shadows, his eyes a dark evil reddish colour. As he stands there, a cold wind starts up, swirling around before darting off to the clearing; carrying with it a strange pungent stench. There is a sudden unearthly quiet, a sense of foreboding, and an overpowering feeling of...something.
Stopping dead in her tracks, the lone white wolf femme looks about, already on edge. Only a soft whisper of fear, "... no..." can be heard drifting on that vile smelling breeze. Alert eyes almost immediately go blank, but the look is quickly shook off and she's off and running through the unfamiliar wood.
Shadowstone laughs darkly, muttering arcane words as he watches, dark skeletal hands reaching from the earth and grabbing at feet that pass. The words form a chant, words dark and otherworldly.
Were it not for the fact the forest is unfamiliar, the wolfess would be able to avoid those evil hands. Be as it may, she's caught after trying to avoid thick brush in her near panic. A screach, high pitched and frightened, turns into a long wavering note of song fueled by the magics she had learned over the winter in hopes it could free her.
Shadowstone blinks, taken aback, his chant ends and the hands rot, breaking off at bones some even sticking in place like old roots. "This cannot do." he whispers to himself, not willing to show himself, no not yet, it's not the time. Closing his eyes, he thinks and conjures another spell, summoning phantoms of those lost in this wood. Though harmeless, the dead walk again, moving through the area, crying for help, gnashing their teeth and looking all together menacing. Perhaps the saddest of the spirits are those of cubs lost in this wood.
Ears and eyes dart about, trying to find the source of the magic, other than her own. Still paniced, she races off on another trail, following her nose and the glimpse of a vision towards safety. Before she gets too far onto the new trail, the spirits have her skidding to a stop. They aren't the first she has seen, but they certainly are the most fearsom she's seen to date. A quickly made bannishing spell is put to song so the spirits could find their eternal rest.
Shadowstone groans, his anger rising. With that anger rises his powers, they become harder to control, though he doesn't care. The feeling is palpable, as if lightening is about to strike, the scent of death stronger by the moment. Near where he hides, the darkness gets darker, if possible, trees wilting in moments, birds and animals trotting out of the woods, only to die and even rot before the wolfess' eyes. One, a large roan trots six feet before its skeleton crumbles to dust.
DreamSinger whips around to see the animals exiting the darker parts of the forest, then dieing. If she wasn't scared before, she certainly is now. Quite litterally quaking in her boots. She can almost feel the darkness reaching out for her to do the same, just as her visions had foretold. Fright and instinct take hold, forcing all else from her mind as she turns and beats a hasty retreat towards a far off clearing filled with sunshine. There's no singing, or summoning of magic, just the wild flight of a femme trying to escape the inevitable.
Shadowstone laughs evilly, watching her run. He knows she can't get too far, this is his wood. His home. Still, he's content to let her go. For now anyway. As he laughs, control regains, his anger subsiding, "Run little wolf." he yells, letting the magick carry his words to her. "Run all you want. You'll not get far."
The words just add to DreamSinger's fright, adding speed to her already fast moving feet. Wild fright is what eventually causes her to fall when a foot gets caught in an exposed root. The scream is cut off when she hits the ground, knocking the breath from her and stunning the poor femme.
Shadowstone materializes slowly, shadows forming into a darkness as he appears. Changing his demeanor, he steps from the shadows, taking on the look of a fellow traveler as he lowers his cloak. Walking over, his boots making no impression but the scent following him slightly he kneels down and lightly touches the poor femme's shoulder. "Miss. Art you well?" he says with mock concern.
DreamSinger is already so frightened, that even the mock concern brings a frightened eep to her lips while she cringes away from the touch. A chance glance up to see who touched her brings an unbidden vision, more frightening than she has ever seen before. Wide blank seeing eyes stare past the traveler as she all but screams, "No..! Go away! Run... the shadows are coming!!" Panic, mixed with the struggle to shake off the vision and free her tangled foot keep her firmly planted to the spot.
Shadowstone looks around. "I know." he says honestly. "this forest, it's full of them." his gaze is strange for a moment before he looks at the foot. Muttering some words he points his finger at the root, magically a small green flame appears and severs it. "But, running won't do you much good. You're in the forest of the dead." he says honestly. "You certainly have heard the story of the lost legion. Well, this is where they died." he says calmly, trying to act nice.
DreamSinger flattens her ears as the root is cut to free her foot. The moment she's free, she's scrambling back and onto her feet. Dirt and debris cling to her clothes and fur, but that is the furthest thing from her mind at the moment. Right now, its getting to the sunshine she can sense not too far ahead. Blinking, she turns her gaze to the elf, then shakes her head, "I.. I I-I-I-I-I-I didn't know that thi.. this was the Forest of the Dead." Her eyes dart about then she tries to politely make her way past as she dips her head and murrs, "If you'll excuse me.. I..I.. I must be on my way."
Shadowstone smiles evilly, "Yes, you're in their land." he says pointing over her shoulder. Standing there is another of the dead, not recent either. The creature might have been canine in life, but in death it is nothing more than a rotting beast with rotting leather armour and spear. With a dark chuckle, the stranger vanishes, melting into the shadows from whence he came. "Have fun." he says, letting the wind carry the words.
DreamSinger eeps then takes off running towards the hope of the clearing she knows is near. Along the way, she looses her silver flute and the single pouch from her belt, her most personal of all her possessions.
Shadowstone hmms. Casting a small spell on the itmes, why one can only guess, but the flute and pouch vanish for a moment. When she reaches the edge of the wood, they're waiting for her, though tinted with the darkness and icy cold. As if she had left them there all along. The strange thing, outside their being there, is the grass around them is very dead. Barren in fact.
DreamSinger starts to slow as she nears the edge of the wood, panting from the running and fright. Only then does she notice her flute and pouch are missing. While feeling around her person for them, she looks about on the forest floor until the glint of silver finally catches her attention. Still new to bardic magic, the darkness and cold go unnoticed as she tucks them back into their proper places and makes sure both are secure.
Shadowstone laughs evilly, the shadows reaching out from the wood, daring her to come back as the trees seem to close ranks and the sounds of an army of the dead move further in.
DreamSinger gasps as she looks over her shoulder into the forest. The dare isn't taken, she's not that foolish, so she takes those last steps into the clearing. Only in the touch of sunshine does she think she's safe from the darkness of the evil forest.
Shadowstone steps to the edge of the forest, standing there, his eyes dark and evil. "You're not safe there. Not hardly." he says slowly, as if calling to her. "However, I do not feel up to the chase, so you may go...this time." he makes sure she sees him as he says. "We shall meet again cub, you can bet your soul on that."
Shadowstone is gone with a brush of wind and the forest goes silent.
DreamSinger clutches her paws over her heart, eyes wide once again with fright as the elf disappears once again. What a day. It started so nice for her, and now... its going down hill quickly. Tired from all that running, she makes her way further into the clearing, then settles down beside a boulder to catch her breath and rest. During that time, she takes out her flute and starts to play, not even noticing the change in the tone it gained from the spell.
Shadowstone watches, not saying anything, knowing that big changes are in store. Things are getting interesting, very quickly.
DreamSinger allows herself to drift along with the music she creates with the flute, finding it relaxing, if strange that the notes are leading towards a different end than what she's accustomed to.
Shadowstone inhales softly, letting her play. He knows that the more she does that, the easier it will be for him to venture out onto the plain. The more she plays, the stronger he gets. Even now, he can extend his dark hand into the sunlight without it burning right away.
DreamSinger's eyes drift closed while she tries to will the music towards brighter, more calming tunes, but each attempt heads more and and more towards darkness. Every lesson she has learned is put to use, from the ones she learned a little girl at her mother's side, to the most recent in Silver Forest. Still, the music forms images and tones she doesn't want or intend, but keeps playing to try to change the musical path.
Shadowstone chuckles darkly, taking a moment to tenatively reach out with his hands, seeing how far he can go. One step, followed by a second, he smiles. Pulling up the hood he walks slowly, his power noticably diminished by the light, but enough to draw some darkness around him. He stands there, on the edge of the wood, waiting to be noticed, or see if she plays more.
Not one to let her music guide her, DreamSinger keeps playing, putting more and more of her will into the song so it'll flow the way she wants it too. The more will she puts into it, the darker the tune gets and more away from her guidance.
Shadowstone opens his arms, drawing the dark spell to him, with each note getting stronger. Laughing evilly, he casts off the spell of his own, letting hers wrap him with the dark power he needs. He doesn't walk in her direction, no he basically materializes nearby, sitting on a rock with his hood down. "You play I see?" he says trying to sound kind, though the question how he got there might weigh. That and why it seems that he's in a shadow of a tree that does not exist. Maybe it's just a cloud.
DreamSinger swivels an ear towards the elf when he speaks, but the gasp of fright from the suddeness of his appearance is shown only in a few misplayed notes. She has every intention of bringing her own music under control to follow her designs. To answer, she simply nods, too engrossed to stop and answer him properly. Though the shadow is noted, its a curiosity since she has seen many things in her travels.
Shadowstone listens, the music seeming to draw to him. "You can't stop can you?" he says softly, almost kindly. "And yet you wonder why your music turns so dark. It's not what it used to be is it?" the wind kicks up slightly, carrying a coldness with it, as if a coming storm.
DreamSinger furrows her brow, and narrows her eyes as she glances up at the elf, a little annoyed at his assumption. With ears pinned back, she keeps trying to change the tune. Music seems to be the only thing she has a truely strong will, but even here, its not winning. As the wind rises, she shivers and huddles closer to the rock she's leaning against.
Shadowstone laughs softly, making a slight gesture. "If you're cold I can make fire." he says conjuring up an unearthly green flame in his hand. Tossing it before her, it splashes and then flares up burning brightly but not putting out heat. "Or maybe you need something else to keep you warm." he says darkly, eyes flashing as it grows darker with each note.
DreamSinger growls around the mouthpiece of her flute while still playing, a true talent indeed. Somehow, the dark magic in the music is affecting the gentle wolf maid but not just by frustrating her. As she glances at the green fire, she kicks dirt at it then stands and turns her back on the elf.
Shadowstone is in front of her, sitting on another rock when she turns. "Now now, leaving dear wolf?" he chides. "I'm not done with you child. Surely you are curious about me. Wouldn't you like to be like me? To have power beyond your belief?"
Bringing all of her will to bear, she pulls the flute from her lips and tucks it away in her belt. Her eyes narrow further as she glares at the elf, huffing, "I don't want power." She then looks towards the sky for a moment then walks off towards the far end of the clearing. Everything she had put into the music lingers long after it has stopped.
Shadowstone hmms, saying aloud. "What do you want? Money? Love? Recognition?" to her. "I can give you that." he says temptingly to her. "It won't cost you much."
DreamSinger glances over her shoulder, then snorts, "Nothing you'd understand." She keeps walking, making herself head towards the far edge of the clearing.
Shadowstone moves, appearing before her again. "Try me." he says sitting there on the edge of the clearing. "You'd be surprised what I could offer. What harm in telling me? I'll not steal your soul or anything for just a question." he says, laughing softly and looking kind for a moment. Sure, it's an act, but he's good at it.
DreamSinger doesn't try looking at the elf again as she moves to walk around him, already feeling the twinges of a vision starting to form. Her eyes close, following instinct towards the proper trail. "I know your type," she says sternly, "Mother warned me of elves like you."
Shadowstone laughs softly. "Oh really? What do you think I'm after?" he says casting a small spell to make the path frought with perils of roots. Shadowstone adds. "Tell me what you want."
DreamSinger smirks a little, "No one is to trust a drow and their shadow magics." The path she chooses, though dangerous with all kinds of roots, she sings to create a path through free of obsticles. Her steps slow as she steps onto the trail created and stares off into wood without seeing it.
Shadowstone hehs. "Who said I was a drow? Besides, you've not told me what you want. Perhaps love? I can swing a heart to yours, make someone you wish love you..."
Distracted by the new vision, her reply sounds rather emotionless, "I don't want or need forced love, drow..." Still caught in those ghostly images, she continues to speak, without even realizing what she's saying, "I need freedom."
Shadowstone hmms. "Freedom from what?"
Shadowstone gestures, trying to draw her back to the clearing without going out himself. "Come, sit and talk to me.
The gesture appears to be a distant shadow among the images only she can see. What ever is happening in her vision, it has her completely entranced for the durarion so she is unaware of what is going on and answers automatically. "Freedom from the vision shadows." is what she whispers.
Shadowstone nods slowly. "What will you give me to be free?"
That turns out to be a question she can't answer. The white wolf has nothing to give that she would be willing to part with.
Shadowstone hmms. "How about this. I free you now, and later when I want something, you'll give it to me? That way you don't have to pay me now. Consider it a favor."
DreamSinger nods slowly, still unaware of her actions because of the vision she sees. Just as she starts to turn towards the woods again, the vision ends and she looks around, blinking.
Shadowstone looks over. "Is it a deal?" he asks, extending a tattooed hand.
DreamSinger huhs? softly as she automatically reaches for the hand and nods, "I.. guess so."
Shadowstone laughs evilly as she touches his hand, shaking it slowly. "The deal is set." he says vanishing in a flash of darkness. "You'll not have them again, but I will come for you sometime. And then you'll repay me."
Still confused, DreamSinger blinks again and lets her paw fall to her side, "Deal... what deal? What won't I have again?" She looks and sounds confused, but, since the elf had disappeared, she shrugs, and wanders off down the path she had chosen.
Shadowstone watches, and waits. Soon, his time will come.
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