Dead Like Me

Okay, so the posting at the Adventurer's Guild had been a little vague. Something about helping out a little old lady with a problem she has. The listing comes with her address in the poorer district of town and it isn't that hard to find. A polite knock grants you entry and there's the little old lady in question. She's barely five feet tall, which for a human is fairly short. She's robust and quite well into her years. Yet in spite of her apparent age she has a sparkle in her eyes that says she's still young at heart. She introduces herself as Barbra, and invites you in.

The house is filled with children getting ready for bed. She bustles about, chatting with this one and that one as she makes her way through her house to the living room where she invites you to sit down while she hurries about as quickly as she can manage to get the last of the little children to bed. You've seen at least twelve so far, and suspect that there's more.

With the last of the children put off to bed she waddles back into the living room with cups of tea and a freshly baked pie already sliced. She puts it on the table in the middle and invites you to take what you want before eyeing each of you in turn.

"Now dears, you're going to think me quite insane, but Death is coming for me. Little rascal that he is! I've fended him off by plying him with cookies and tea for three nights now, but I'm certain he's coming back tonight." She sighs. "I could keep giving him food, but I've little enough for the young ones as it is, and so... I went to the guild for help. I want you to tell him off for me. Give him a good talking-to and convince him to let me have a few more years to get the oldest of my fosters trained to look after the littlest of them." Her ernest blue eyes don't /look/ crazy.

Aznara, about to reach for pie, stops herself when the old woman mentions there's 'little enough' food for the children. "If it is death itself coming for you... it is acting strangely, to be put off by cookies. Are you certain it's not some hooligan trying to threaten you in some way?", she asks, moving away from the pie to lean her shoulders back against a wall.

No rest for the weary. Perhaps it isn't the better part of wisdom for Seldan to take up another job so soon after the events of yesterday, but vows and coin purses are both harsh taskmasters, so here he is. Pushing a lock of hair out of his eyes, he listens to this, but he, too, hesitates at the mention of little enough food for the children, and abstains. "Perhaps you could say more of him? How he looks, how he approaches you?"

Gregor listens to the woman and steers well clear of the pie. If the woman is this whacked, no telling what's in it. But he does nod as Aznara suggests an alternate theory, and he says, "We'll protect you, ma'am."

Merek has come with the others to assist. He doesn't talk to the woman, the mage has on his cloak while he nods a bit, hood up, listening also as well.

Erendriel has gotten settled into her new outfit (which sound weird until you remember some magical garments are meant to be worn all the time), and is making an appearance in it. Adjusting her backpack, waving at the kids as they blow by, then listening. The words make her face twitch sadly. "I'll do my best." She then examines the house to see what it's made of. Wood? Stone? Brick? Hopefully not straw?

Krom believes. The northman has full respect for his elders, and treats them with the utmost respect. Should he ever fail to do so, Grandma Bodic might find out and hunt him down. He does frown thoughtfully. "Krom has fought off Death before, but not directly on behalf of another. Krom will do his best."

The house itself is made of old wood. Sturdy but drafty at times. It's a bit like her really, older than it looks, but still full of warmth. "Well, I guess he could be some hooligan." She seems thoughtful of this, finally finding a spare seat and settling down carefully in it. Now that she's sitting she looks tired. "He comes floating in right through the front door though, all covered up by a black robe and holding a big scythe. The scythe has this... weird symbol on it, but I don't know what it's for. He comes in and says that it's time for me to go, and I tell him to wait one moment while I bake something or clean something, and ply him with treats to keep him preoccupied and when the sun rises he goes."

She suddenly looks even more tired. "I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in three days."

Erendriel takes a breath. "Is there.. any way you can try to describe the symbol you see? What shape it is? What color it is?"

Aznara looks as if she's about to speak, again, but Erendriel speaks first, and she closes her mouth, again, to listen. After a moment, however, she stands away from the wall and moves over to where the pie is, pulling out some silver coins to place on the table -- before returning to her spot on the wall.

Merek lifts up a coin to twirl it about his fingers, while he looks from beneath the hood, watching people. He then settles up next to Aznara while he lights tabacco into the paper it's rolled up into. He does wear a sigil that would say he's a cleric, although his attire is likely to say he's a wanderer.

Seldan nods agreement at Erendriel's question, with a look for the half-sil that assesses the new attire as well before turning back to listen to the old woman.

Krom considers several moments and nods. "This Death comes when? At sunset? Moonrise? Full darkness?"

Now the old woman is really thinking. "Oh the symbol? It looks like a skull with flaming eyes! The flames are real too, red and burning bright. Just looking at it fills me with dread. He comes every night the moment it's fully dark." She nods and glances toward the window. "Which will it will be any minute now."

Gregor nods about not getting sleep. "It doesn't sound like you've had any at all," he agrees. "But we will intercede." He looks like he's going to add more, but then doesn't. Telling her they'll see the kids OK is probably not what she wants to hear. He wonders, "How is your health? Have you checked with a priest about healing?"

GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/religion: (12)+6: 18
GAME: Krom rolls knowledge/religion: (20)+2: 22
GAME: Merek rolls knowledge/religion: (5)+7: 12

"Oh, I've had a blasted cough the last few days or so that won't go away. But it comes and goes. Really, I feel fine." She smiles sadly at you all.

Krom straightens slowly, glowering. "The Enduring One comes for all, in their time. To try and last past her gaze is bad." He flexes his hands. "But this is no servant of the Grey Lady, this death is of the Black Dream, Thul, the necromancer. By Sky and fields, Krom shall not let such a vile abomination pass."

GAME: Merek rolls heal: (20)+10: 30

"A death deity," Seldan murmurs thoughtfully, after a moment. "Thul, if I had to ...." He looks up and nods at Krom. "It does not seem like the Grey Lady's style. I agree, this shall not stand."

Aznara nods her head once. "I recommend we stand guard over Barbra", she says, with a gesture to the old woman. "...and await this charlatan's arrival."

Erendriel looks to the others. "So, it semes like we need to stop it from getting in here so that we can... stop it for good." She looks at the wooden beams in the ceiling, and shakes her head. "Can't do it in here, not at all."

Merek looks up while he glances towards Aznara, then he takes a moment to examine the woman from the scarf covering his lower face, "You're fine, i is allergens," he mentions, seeming to know about what he's speaking of when it comes to medicine. "You're probably being a bit too thoughtful of these things because you have a guy that keeps coming by. Whether it is a god or his priest, just some guy, we'll manage it."

Gregor listens as the wiser party mebers work this out. "Well, that's sorted out, then," he agrees. He nods to Aznara. "When he shows up, we'll ambush him. No vile servants must be allowed to work in the city."

Barbra looks at you all thankfully, eyes watering up a little bit. "Oh thank you. Thank you for beliving me. I was starting to think I /had/ gone mad." She blinks her tears away and you all prepaire for... Death. After a few moments of peace Barbra actually slips asleep, so exhausted and finally relieved to have help that she just drifts off right there on the chair. She snores gently.

At full dark, just as she promised a hooded figure comes in through the door, floating somewhat off the ground and brandishing a huge scythe. It's exacty how Barbra described. You can't see under Death's hood, but the scythe is worth an extra glance with the skull emblazoned near the haft but still on the blade and burning red flames glowing from the sockets.

"Barbra... I've come for you." It's voice hisses through the air like evil. It makes the hair on your skin crawl. It has the hint of nightmares in it and suddenly you're reminded of the thing that frightened you most as a child.

GAME: Seldan rolls will: (8)+10: 18
GAME: Krom rolls will: (17)+3: 20
GAME: Gregor rolls will: (10)+1: 11
GAME: Merek rolls will: (1)+12: 13 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Erendriel rolls will: (9)+6: 15
GAME: Aznara rolls will+3: (11)+3+3: 17

As the hooded being enters, Aznara raises her whip and lips part as if to speak... but then takes a half-step back, remaining silent with eyes widening a bit.

Krom draws his blades, the cold iron glinting in the light. "And Krom has come for a fight. Krom think he is the one who shall find what he came for." The north man raises one blade to his forehead, nicking the skin just under his forelock. A thin stream of blood soaks into the length of white hair, marking it crimson, the mark of the Fey. "Krom will let you leave, if you choose to go peaceful. Now."

Erendriel hides behind everyone else.

Gregor finds himself frozen at first, unable to move, unable to react, gripped by fear. But he grits his teeth, and mumbles, "No one's gonna get by. Not on my watch," and with a nervous effort, he will try and interpose himself between this Death and his intended victim.

Merek does not like that, not at all, not after all he's been through, not after just being brought back. Instead of spiraling he instead begins to shout while he looks to the man that came in, "Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!" You know, friendly words you like your cleric to be shouting also.

The Death hissess, looks at you all as though seeing you for the first time. "You can not harm me. I am Death. But... perhaps if this one's life is so important to you... we can come to an arrangement."

GAME: Merek rolls knowledge/religion+3: (14)+7+3: 24
GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/religion: (7)+6: 13
GAME: Krom rolls knowledge/religion: (4)+2: 6

"What... what do you propose?", Aznara asks of Death, if that's who it really is. She keeps her whip in hand, but doesn't seem like she wants to be the one to pick a fight.

Gregor ehs? "An arrangement? No deals with villains," he shouts, spouting the party line. "You can just leave and not come back. Or we can give you a thrashing," he adds casually, as an afterthought. "Free of charge. We're with the Guild, we do that."

Krom doesn't stands down, but he doesn't attack either, considering a few moments. There's very little the men of the Far North won't face down, but Death? That's pretty powerful stuff. "....Krom is listening."

"Celestial, I don't care what you serve, no deals. You bring this feeling to people, there's no gods that we want a deal with who would use a being such as you," Merek then shouts, while he draws his black sword, and calls to the others, "KILL IT! KILL THE CELESTIAL!"

GAME: Erendriel casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 6 DC: 17
GAME: Erendriel rolls ranged: (14)+6: 20
GAME: Erendriel rolls 4d6: (14): 14

Erendriel feels a little less stirred when she gets behind the rest of the party. But looking up at the talk of negotiation, she points her finger accusingly. "Negotiate this," adding some magic words and firing a bright red ray right at it! Which... doesn't seem to bother it. But in the moment, Erendriel is pleased.

While the others are dealing with the reaper, Seldan seems to find his wits enough to open the scroll. Whatever it is, it seems to satisfy him. He walks over to the sleeping old lady, and casts it over her, a brief, shimmering silver circle appearing around the chair before fading out. The scroll crumbles to dust, and he turns back to the confrontation, standing in front of her.

GAME: Erendriel rolls will: (7)+6: 13

The Death stares at you. "I will let her go if you travel past the veil of shadows and go into the world of darkness. Survive there three days, and I will spare the woman." The Death holds up three bony fingers and then twists them; pointing at the cups of tea that had been laid out. The tea turns pitch black. "The drink will take you there."

The bolt of light turns its gaze toward Erendriel, and she SEES. Sees fear beneath its cowl.

Erendriel is maybe about to do a victory dance when it hits her. Not a physical thing, but the feelings. and Well, she turns around and starts looking for a back door to the place.

Krom stares for a moment, then laughs. "You speak of survival to a man of the MestNorr? Krom thinks you are less wise than you believe. Krom accepts such a bargain."

Gregor holds his ground, though he doesn't look happy about it. This is way more mystic than what he thought he was signing up for. "And how do we know you will hold your end of this ill bargain?"

"Not all evils are within my power to slay ... thus I shall face such evils as I may," Seldan murmurs to himself, the words having meaning seemingly only to him. It's almost as if he is talking to himself. He closes his eyes briefly, and murmurs a prayer, then opens them. "How shall we return, in three days' time? Will the magic return us?"

"... and does it apply to all who go, or need only one survive?", Aznara asks, though she starts as Erendriel suddenly bolts to seek escape.

"I am tired of things we can't kill, playing around with us, listen you," Merek points to the celestial, then he makes a gesture about the place, "By what right do you make such a challenge?" he asks.

"I will swear it upon the Frozen Dream; the Black Dream. I will swear it on the Seller of Souls, and know mortals that even Death is bound by such things. When three days have passed you will be returned to this place and this time. Time moves differently in /THAT/ realm. So long as one of you lives, you all live." The Death peers over at Merek. "You can not fight everything mortal. I am Death, and I make this challenge by the right of all Death; when Death is Seen."

Gregor will look to the others on this one. "I am not afraid," he lies. "I will so this if it's legitimate. I will not be the one that fails." He talks a good game, though the dread makes his voice crack.

"You will add to your deal, if EVERYONE makes it back, you will leave this realm to us, and go back to your own, I will agree if you accept that," Merek then compromises to the being.

Aznara looks to the old woman, and back towards the parts of the house where the children sleep. "I'll do it", she says, quietly.

Krom snorts. "All things may be fought. Battle is its own victory. But Krom still accepts your challenge." Sheathing one blade, he takes up one of the altered tea's, and tosses it back in one gulp.... maybe not wise if the tea is still hot, but it's not about being wise, it's about being bold, right? ...right?

Erendriel finds a back door, gets out, and gets some distance! Before she gathers herself and slowly starts walking her way back.

Seldan hesitates rather more openly, but nods once. "For the life of an innocent woman and these children, I will go," he states, turning to the table and taking another cup of tea. His family and faith would hear of him doing no other thing, and well he knows it.

After her whip's been coiled up, Aznara reaches for a teacup. Hesitantly, she takes a sip from it, then puts it back down.

The moment that the tea hits your tounge your body begins to smoke. Black clouds rise up off your skin and you watch as it begins to eat away at your flesh. Slowly but surely the darkness consumes you. The last thing you see is the Death's staff, it's flaming eyes wafting through the shadows before it finally winks out and you are left... In darkness. Pure and simple black as far as the eye can see. It weighs on you. There's no way to tell where the ground is. Where the sky is. Everything is impenetrable shadow. You, all of you are the only things you can see, and even you seem... gray somehow. Lacking the color that you should have. Silence, a thick and heavy silence permeates everything.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+12: (9)+12: 21

Aznara looks about, getting her whip back into her hand. "Anyone able to see anything... aside us, ourselves?", she questions, her voice just above a whisper.

Krom swiftly draws his second blade again, slightly comforted by having both hands armed. Black on black on black is new, in the northlands, the ice glimmers, even at night. But that's fine, Krom never cared for the ice that much anyway. But the lack of Sky... he grips his blade tighter, trying not to let it rattle him. "Three days. Krom think we shall need rest. Some sleep, other's keep watch. Dream of bright things."

The eerie behavior of the smoke is enough to set Seldan's teeth on edge, but stand still he does, and when it is done, and he stands with the others, the first thing he does is draw the longsword at his hip. This he holds in his off hand, the tip just above his head, and makes a quick gesture before touching the tip of the blade.

GAME: Seldan casts Light. Caster Level: 1 DC: 13

Merek looks about within the place, from the cloak he has on, he then nods to the others also.

Erendriel would attempt the same thing Seldan does, creating some Dancing Lights, muttering and waving her hands. She would be distressed when the light blots right out.

"This is a place of darkness", Aznara says. "... of Darkness", she says, though the way she says it, she's not simply repeating herself. "It would take light of great power to exist in this place."

GAME: Merek casts Create Water. Caster Level: 5 DC: 13

"Also, since we didn't bring a lot of supply," Merek says, then he makes a few canteens filled with water, also potion bottles, anything he has with him, then he's giving each of the people some water also.

Gregor looks around. Nothing but shadow and darkness. "Well," he says. "We're really in the kacky now." He sighs wearily, nervously, a cavalryman afoot. He'll take his shield from his back and wield it, for the feeling of protection it offers, and look around while we figure out what comes next. He's actually got food and water with him, but he won't complain about more being passed out.

GAME: Gregor rolls perception: (14)+7: 21
GAME: Merek rolls perception: (1)+14: 15 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Krom rolls perception: (19)+8: 27
GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (20)+2: 22
GAME: Aznara rolls perception: (5)+11: 16
GAME: Erendriel rolls perception: (17)+5: 22

The light is extinguished at once, and Seldan nods, but takes a deep breath, looking disappointed. He does not have food and water with him, so someone thinking of that is helpful. Letting his eyes adjust to the darkness, he looks around him, trying to get a sense of up or down, day or night.

GAME: Erendriel casts Burning Hands. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+3: (6)+3: 9

Krom straightens, stepping towards.... something... out in the darkness. "We are not alone." He settles into a fighting stance, blades ready. But.... maybe they're friendly? ...maybe?

"Company!" Seldan's voice suddenly snaps out of the darkness, and without thinking, he points the sword in the direction of the incoming. "I doubt it," he tells Krom as the fire flies.

GAME: Erendriel rolls 5d4: (10): 10

Erendriel sees something, and reflexively, with a squeak, she waves her hand and blasts fire at the darkness.

GAME: Erendriel rolls 7d6: (36): 36
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL)

Erendriel follows up her blast of fire with an attempt at a MIGHTY FIREBALL, before hightailing it back behind the others, doing a happy giggling dance as she does so.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (13)+4: 17
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (6)+4: 10
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (5)+4: 9
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (6)+4: 10
GAME: Aznara rolls weapon2: (17)+12: 29
GAME: Aznara rolls 1d3+7: (3)+7: 10
GAME: Aznara rolls 1d100: (60): 60
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (2): 2

Like the wraiths of shadows they are /things/ come in from the dark. Darker than shadows these things. They reach out with black hands to steal what is not theirs to take, but come back with empty fingers... for now.

GAME: Aznara rolls weapon2: (4)+12: 16
GAME: Aznara rolls 1d3+7: (1)+7: 8
GAME: Aznara rolls 1d100: (82): 82
GAME: Aznara rolls intimidate: (1)+11: 12 (EPIC FAIL)

Aznara cracks her whip at the shadow that comes after her, spins away from its reaching, shadowy clawlike fingers... and twirls out of its reach even as she cracks her whip at it once again! It's a shadowy figure, though... it seems impossible to tell if her weapon's even having any effect on it.

GAME: Gregor rolls 1d20+7: (18)+7: 25
GAME: Gregor rolls 1d8+3: (7)+3: 10
GAME: Gregor rolls 1d100: (20): 20
GAME: Merek rolls knowledge/the planes: (15)+7: 22

Gregor's bold resolve from earlier drive him forward to attack, and with shield up more out of habit than anything, he swings with his flail. It's a solid hit, or it would have been if it didn't sail right through the thing with no effect. Undaunted, he stands boldly resolved, if useless.

GAME: Merek casts Spear of Purity. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15
GAME: Merek rolls ranged: (19)+8: 27
GAME: Merek rolls 5d6: (21): 21
GAME: Krom rolls weapon8: (5)+15: 20
GAME: Krom rolls weapon9: (4)+15: 19
GAME: Krom rolls weapon8-5: (2)+15+-5: 12
GAME: Krom rolls weapon9-5: (6)+15+-5: 16

Merek seems to think about it, "Light will affect them, if you can manage it," he tells the others, then he lifts up a hand to chant, calling his spear of light which is then cleanly thrown into one of them, nicely.

GAME: Krom rolls 1d100: (38): 38
GAME: Krom rolls 1d100: (80): 80
GAME: Krom rolls damage9: aliased to 1D4+7: (3)+7: 10

Krom blades spin and flash as he attacks, a blur of motion. The curved blades pass though wisps of shadow, then catch, ripping as much as they cut, tearing the shadow asunder.

GAME: Seldan spends ONE use of HEAVENLY FIRE.
GAME: Seldan rolls ranged + 3: (14)+4+3: 21
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d4+1+4: (3)+1+4: 8

Undecided as he dodges a claw of shadow, Seldan hears Merek's words. Light, is it...of course! "Her light take you, ravening thing!" he shouts, backpedaling a step and lowering the sword to raise his free hand. A bolt of golden divine fire shoots from his upraised palm, vanishing into the shadow being.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (17)+4: 21
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (18)+4: 22
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (5)+4: 9
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (5): 5
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (2): 2
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (2): 2
GAME: Gregor rolls 1d20+5: (20)+5: 25
GAME: Gregor rolls 1d100: (1): 1
GAME: Merek casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
GAME: Merek rolls melee: (20)+6: 26 (THREAT)
GAME: Merek rolls 4d6+4: (12)+4: 16

Gregor, so much weaker than before, manage to catch the thing unaware that he's still got a bit of fight left in him. But not enough, it turns out, his flail whiffs through the creature without effect.

Merek lifts up both hands a moment, then he maneuvers to send lightning into one of the shadows, green in color from the acid within that begins to move into the shadow itself as well.

GAME: Seldan rolls ranged +3: (19)+4+3: 26
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d4+1+2: (3)+1+2: 6
GAME: Erendriel casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16
GAME: Erendriel rolls 4d4+4: (11)+4: 15

Erendriel has done lots of running away today. Some of it intentional. But she wheels around, and gesticulates, firing magic missiles into the darkness.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (4)+4: 8
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (4)+4: 8

The shadows are all over Krom now, trying to drain the strength from his very bones, but the wily warrior keeps just shy of those fingers which reach for him.

GAME: Gregor rolls 1d20+5: (20)+5: 25
GAME: Gregor rolls 1d8+1: (1)+1: 2
GAME: Gregor rolls 1d100: (18): 18

Gregor's opponent is down, thanks to magic. But he's no slacker. Even weak as he is, under the dread effect of this place and these things, he boldly strikes at one of the creatures fighting his allies. But he has not worked out how to strike them, and his flail passes through without effect.

GAME: Merek casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
GAME: Merek rolls melee: (19)+6: 25
GAME: Merek rolls 4d6+4: (16)+4: 20

Merek shifts away from the shadow a bit, then he's arcing more lightning into them, the green shimmering within the shadow even if the color isn't as obvious as before. He then nods to Krom, "Looked like you can use some assistance," he says. He seems to be doing well with this also.

GAME: Seldan casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 1 DC: 14
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d4+1: (2)+1: 3
GAME: Erendriel casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 6 DC: 17
GAME: Erendriel rolls ranged: (2)+6: 8

Erendriel sees that they're almost done, and doesn't want to be upstaged too hard by Merek, so she fires another scorching ray herself. Sadly her aim isn't as great as her fire.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (14)+4: 18
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (5): 5

The shadow turns on Gregor, almost invisible amid the darkness. It turns and wraps its hands around his neck. It's touch is like fire and ice at the same time draining away his life.

GAME: Gregor rolls 1d20+2: (7)+2: 9

Gregor tries to swing back, to drive his attacker back, but in his weakened condition, he is unable to muster the strength to do so, lifting his flail halfway up, but then his arm falls to his side again and he almost drops his weapon.

GAME: Merek casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
GAME: Merek rolls melee: (6)+6: 12

Merek doesn't hit this time, but his lightning is arcing all about anyway, while he maneuvers as well.

GAME: Erendriel casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 6 DC: 17
GAME: Erendriel rolls ranged: (16)+6: 22

Erendriel tries again. She speaks carefully, she points her finger, closing one eye, and fires two shots this time. The fire blazes, albeit briefly, from her fingertip.

That's how your three days goes. Three days of constant attacks by the shadows. It never lets up, you never get to sleep. It's like waves though. Lulls during which your strength returns and then you're fighting again. There's no way of telling how much time has passed. No way to know how long you've been here because there's no sunrise or sunset. Just empty darkness and the shadows that never cease. You start to think that you've been tricked, and that there is no such thing as three days here. Then, just as another cresting wave of shadows comes you see smoke at the edges of your fingertips and you find yourself disappearing back the way you came.

There's no sign of the Death that brought you here. No sign that it had ever been here. Barbra sits on her chair peacefully asleep and lightly snoring as though you never left. Just as promised. As you stand there the ebbing strength in your bones slowly returns. That time in the dark a nightmare that's slowly fading.

Loathe to wake the woman whilset she gets some much-needed rest you leave her in peace. However, you feel a certain obligation, and so the next day finds you at her front door bright and early. She opens it with a broad smile and a twinkle in her eye, clearly feeling much better. There are children playing already upstairs and downstairs. "Oh! It's you! I didn't die last night, so I assume it went well?" She sounds hopeful more than anything, but there's a certain tension in her body that says she's still expecting something terrible.

Erendriel smiles brightly. "That wasn't death after you. But it was an impostor. We insisted the impostor not come back." We? Well technically she wasn't running away the ENTIRE time. Just half.

Gregor is using a staff to walk, and looks worse for wear. He nods mutely in agreement with what Erendriel says.

Still weary and with much on his mind, Seldan nonetheless nods, his smile tired but genuine. "If it comes again, it will pay," is his answer to the oldster. "And pay dearly."

Barbra's grin widens and suddenly she flings open the door. "I insist you come in and share breakfast with us. We might not have much, but we have enough for you. I can't imagine... well, I'm just so glad that you were here to help."

Merek nods a bit to the others also, "Anyway, that went well," he says.

Seldan runs a weary hand through his hair, but nods. "Breakfast would be welcome, although I would bring foodstuffs for you, if you feed all of us."

-End