The Shadows Deepen and the Truth is Revealed

((... and now to your regularly scheduled travel montage, already in progress ...))

As the last person steps into the trees following Sorno, you all hear strange and very loud rustling sounds behind you. After a moment or two what little light is left from the fire is snuffed out and you can all almost feel the sigh of relief that the forest gives. You all know that the camp that you just left behind you is no more. Youre committed to this path and must move forward.

You travel for well over an hour with the feeling that something is watching you, something angry and something that doesnt seem to care that you sense its presence. A few times you hear growling in the trees around you. A few times you watch a spritling leave their position in the line to go darting out into the woods. Soon the trees begin to thin out and you move into a younger seeming forest, leaving the watchers and the spritling lighted path behind you. Sorno is the only one who continues on with you.

You continue walking for another hour or following a small dear path through the trees. While you walk you see that Sorno has taken a position seated on Mirae's shoulder and they seem to be engaged in a spirited but hushed discussion. Finally you come to a small river and follow the river a ways until the path ends at a small waterfall. Denni at this point starts acting a little odd. As if sensing something nearby he begins hunting around the area. After a moment or two you notice a flash of something on the rockwall beside the falls. Denni immediately yowls in triumph and Sorno's jaw drops to his chest.

While he gazes at it, you see a keyhole in the face of the rock. When he turns back to look at you, pleased as punch with himself, it disappears again. As long as Denni looks to what he found it is a visible keyhole.

(Before the montage) "I dinnae say the little critters would intentionally mislead ye. But they may speak what they know to be true, and be lies fed to them. And he seems to have yeh well charmed. As fer what's got meh thinkin' I could read ther' books. Well that be a fine eye for detail, like only a dwarf could have." He raises his hand and taps a ring on his finger. "Got me entire family tree scribed on this here ring." ((This is funny if you know his last name.))

He walks over and grabs the Stew Pot, and lifts it in one hand. He then walks over Jaynna and takes the cumbersome water skin from her. ((Or offers to as politely as he can)). "Well ah'll follow the group."

(Grins.. when you have a str of 8, a full waterskin is very very unweildy)

(Before traveling)

::Jaynna nods her thanks to Ghalin, knowing that with the waterskin, she would have slowed the group down incredibly. She knows she is gonna have to step double time to keep up with most of her larger companions. She glances at the other waterskins and food laid in the clearing, certain the others will help themselves and not let it go to waste. She tucks a stray curl of hair behind her ear and nods to Hope..

(as we leave)

She takes one last look around her, at each of her new companions, her eyes intent as she studies each, as if filing away a detailed description of each, her smile gentle. Then she sighs, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, she follows along on Bulwark's heels. Pacing herself a bit faster than her normal walk to keep up with his strides.

(during the trek)

::Jaynna casts anxious looks at the darkened woods beyond the fae and their light balls, steeling her self not to jerk at every little growl, every crashing of the undergrowth. As they get further into the woods and the other fae gradually fade into the forest, she tries to get closer to Bulwark, her eyes nervously catching shadows, clutching Hope to herside.

When we reach the end of the river, she glances around. Watching the others, her eyes widen as she sees the keyhole appear under Denni's gaze. She smiles widely as the cat turns to the rest of the group, nodding to him as if she knew he could do it. ::

Gerbill nods in agreement and grabs what he can of the supplies before trekking out. After walking some distance those paying attention might notice him finger his bow nervously at the first growl, but then he settles down and begins playing some traveling music on his instrument.

This seems to calm his spirits and he manages to stay in step with his larger companions.

(During trip:)

Bulwark was slightly relieved he had kept his sword arm attached. Whatever was in the trees may not have attacked them with Sorno in the group, but perhaps the large sword was enough of an indication for them to think twice. . . . Not that Bulwark wanted to use it, of course.

As they traveled, Bulwark turned his head to look at the rest of the group behind him. He slowed his stride a bit, allowing a few people to pass him, to allow Jaynna to keep up to him -- he was assuming that's what she was doing, at the least. Even if she wasn't, best to keep both the front and back protected equally.

(Upon arrival:)

Bulwark glanced around, taking in the scenery. A flash caught his eye, and he nodded at Denni and the new-found keyhole. "That would be our exit, I am assuming." Bulwark took a moment to unfasten his sword arm, almost delicately taking the key out from the joint. He re-attached the sword, and curled his thick fingers around the key. Eager to help the group get home, he walked to the front of the group and inspected the keyhole. Nodding to himself, he carefully slipped the key into the hole and turned it. His hand remained on the key, but he looked around, as if expecting something to happen.

((During departure))
Rima nodded and followed after the others. Having nothing with her that was not on her person, she was one of the first to leave. Those standing close to her can here her quietly singing some sort of chant to herself that she marches in time to. However, it is so quiet you can't make out the words.

Kree perched on her shoulder for the journey. She grew increasingly nervous during the trip on account of the growls from the woods, but other than a bit of fidgeting did not express it.

When they got to the clearing and Bulwark began to open the door, Rima turns to Mirae, "Please thank Sorno for all he has done for us. I have much respect for him and, if ever there is an opportunity, will repay him for his service." Then she turns her attention to Bulwark and the door.

Glancing back to see if everyone is following, Mirae sees the campfire fade away and almost hears the relief that everything is returning to normal. Once they are gone from this place, the forest will be as it should and its children can live in peace. Turning back to the path she moves forward with quiet confidence, unperturbed by the watchers within the trees, leaving no trace of her passing. When the forest thins and they leave the messengers behind, she calls out softly to them in Sylvan to thank them for their service.

The extended walk is no hardship for one who has lived on the move for some time, and Mirae has plenty of energy to converse with Sorno as they follow the path to its end. She is delighted by the sight of the waterfall, and takes a moment to breathe deeply and enjoy the freshness of the air.

Her attention is drawn to Denni's antics, and she gapes as what looks like a keyhole is found. "Look at that!" she exclaims, speaking in Common for the first time since leaving the camp. "His eyes are like a light in the darkness, showing us the way..." She hurries over to kneel beside her companion, hugging and praising him before encouraging him to keep looking at the keyhole.

Glancing up at Rima, she smiles at the girl... woman... whatever she was, it was hard to tell under that hood... and conveys the thanks to Sorno, then waits to see what will happen when Bulwark turns the key.

THe key turns easily in the keyhole and you hear two resounding clicks from inside the rock face. Then key glows brightly and disappears. Slowly the face of the rock changes, swirling and shifting until it is solid rock no more, but a hallway that extends away from the clearing.

Problem is, theres two of them, one on either side of where the keyhole appeared. At a glance they seem to be exactly the same, clearly not part of the rock it is a stone hallway, the walls, floor and ceiling inscribed with magical runes. As you examine the two gates, you hear an ominous sound.

Drums and the racous braying of a battle horn. And they arent far away.

Suddenly each of you is plunged into complete darkness. You can hear the others around you. You can hear something else, the banshee like screams of a wraith approaching. For a moment the sound freezes you in your tracks.

Then a woman's voice screams, "RUN FOR THE GATE!!!"

Her voice frees you from your fears and you each run. You remember where the doors were when the darkness descended and aim in that direction. You leap through the door into the enchanted hallway. For a brief moment you can see the armies of the dead descending upon the ravine from above, see the trees withering at their approach, then you feel the sickening pull of a plane shift....


((Fade to black))


((Here is the forum equivalent to an end of session. You have achieved the goals set out to you this session and like any good GM youre being left with a bit of a cliffhanger. I am leaving the thread open for another 24 hours or so in case any who havent had a chance to post recently have an opportunity to do so. Come Wednesday after I get up I am going to tie up any loose ends for this thread and post the start of the next one. Great work guys, keep it up. Also if you havent posted a respone to the question about splitting the group up please do so plarticularly if you have an objection to the idea. I am flexible its not written in stone anmd certainly can be reconsidered if folks arent happy with the idea.))