Year 25

You settle into the bed of the dead Empire captain for the night. Normally you'd be a lot more alert, but you've got an entire group of shadows here at the conquered Empire outpost, not to mention several elven freedom fighters. You're fairly confident that they'll wake you if a counter attack comes.

For now though you really need to get a good night's rest. You've been fighting non-stop for the past couple of weeks and you need a quick recharge at least. It doesn't help that the use of shadow magic drains you as well and probably why you don't use it much. Not that you really need to anyway, your natural skills work well enough.

While the rebellion has only just gotten started, a lot of progress has been made. All the provinces from what you know of are suffering revolts on some scale. The worst of the lot being Rask where Cyrus has taken control of Fort Defiance. The shadow/orc alliance seems to be working well up there and the rest of the towns aren't exactly in line to help the Empire. Apparently the strongest resistance is from the second Empire fort called Destiny and another Eternal called Captain Kane is in charge. You barely remember him from class, though you heard he made a name for himself wiping out various barbarian tribes.

Speaking of Eternals, one has been personally put in charge of attempting to eliminate the shadow striker cells like yours. A Captain Roldan. You do vaguely remember him from class. Tended to follow orders to the letter during training. Sort of like you in a way, but different. He was more extroverted you think, you guess that's why he was chosen to be a soldier rather than a shadow. You still don't know the reasoning was for making you a Shadow Guard candidate anyway, if you had to guess it was to try to spy on them.

Of course this all makes you wonder what if you hadn't been chosen? What if you'd been a regular soldier? Would you have been content on just following Empire orders and never knowing any better? You'll never know of course. You've chosen your path and it's best to make most of it. Not that you regret your decision as the rebellion goes well.

And with that positive thought you fall asleep. As you drift off you find yourself back in the numbness of the void…

"It's finally happened. Rebellion across the Empire. Are you finally satisfied?"
"I'm satisfied in that I'm glad we've finally stopped sitting on our hands. Why ask me anyway? You're the one that's been guiding the shadows all this time for centuries to rebel. Shouldn't you be the one that's excessively happy about it?" you ask
"Oh I suppose…"
"You suppose? I don't get you. You act like you don't care one way or another about it!"
"Perhaps the time has passed."
"What?!"
"Oh don't get me wrong, I once wanted to see the Empire fall because it infringed on my own control over the mortals that were worshipping me at the time. And it's been interesting how over the decades and centuries that my little followers have been building up their strength to defeat them, but quite frankly I figured they would've done it long before then. Now? Well its okay, but I've lost a bit of interest since that time."

If you weren't floating in a void of sensory deprivation you'd yell and scream at Dendrin so loudly that the rage would be felt throughout your body right now.

"But that's your fucking fault. YOU were the one guiding them! If you wanted them to strike before now, you should've made some sort of sign to Master Ebon, or whoever was in charge at the time!"
"Quite frankly I stopped giving them any advice centuries ago. I found it was much more interesting to see them figure out things on their own. The only time I speak to any of them is during the ceremony process."
"If that's the case, why all the indoctrination, if you're such a fan of free will?"
"How long do you think that actually lasts? It's only temporary! Just long enough to get them to have faith in me. Whether they continue to follow me or not is all them and on a related note, whatever so called signs the shadow leaders have been talking about are either ones they made up or made up in their heads. Glad to see Ebon finally decided to get off his ass and do something and be interesting for a change though."
"So I was right! I've been right all along! You're nothing but a fucking fraud. You're not a god at all."
"No, Eternal YOU got it wrong. It isn't I who is a fraud. It's the religion itself! I didn't originally call ANYONE to worship me. They did that naturally when one of those big hairless monkeys stumbled into a cave and messed around with some lost magical Derro object that opened up a portal where I dwelled. I was perfectly content spending infinity in my own realm until that time, but things change and I took an interest in these new creatures and their world. Wasn't my fault that they saw me as some deity just because they couldn't comprehend me in any other way."
"You didn't exactly deter that thinking though."
"Well you have me there Eternal. And I say so what? I gave these creatures purpose, meaning and even magical power! In return they worship me and serve. If you really think about it, is that not the definition of a god? And so what if I have lost interest in my subjects? True, they have proven loyal, but I grow bored with their antics. I seek other stimulus now."

As strange as it may seem you sort of understand Dendrin's point of view. He views humans and mortals in general as you would watch insects. They're interesting to watch for awhile, but after some time has passed you're ready to move on. And really who's to say that if you weren't some powerful being you wouldn't do the same? Still, you have more questions.

"Okay, but why not move on then if you're so bored?"
"Because I'm not quite THAT bored yet. Besides when you arrived things started to get interesting again. Never had anyone resist my indoctrination so strongly before. I probably could've increased it, but that might've killed you besides I thought it would be more interesting to see if you followed me even without the indoctrination. It's interesting to see that while you have decided to follow the shadow's cause, you have been nothing but indifferent to outright hostile towards the religion even before you found all this out. That displays a grain of imagination and it's mainly why I've been in contact with you. In fact you're about the only mortal I've spoken to on a regular basis in centuries."
"I guess I'm the lucky one then." You remark.
"Your sarcasm aside, you actually are lucky, because I'm about to give you some friendly advice. Namely, don't go back to Gloom."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"That's all you get Eternal. Heed my advice or don't, it makes no difference to me. Talk to you again later perhaps."

Once again you wake up though this time Dendrin gave you some direct information. Quite a bit of it really. You aren't even sure of what to make of all of it. You mean you always knew something was off with the whole shadow religion, but you didn't think he'd actually admit it all to you. Makes you wonder why he did, when he's been so cryptic in the past. Then against perhaps he knows you can't actually tell anyone, or rather you could, but wouldn't be believed and most likely attacked as a heretic. Perhaps that's his little joke on you. Yeah sounds like him.

Still he's also given you a warning of not going back to Gloom. Why? Is something terrible going to happen there? Does he mean forever or just in the near future or is he just trying to play head games with you as usual?

In reality, you aren't even scheduled to go back to Gloom anytime soon. Your job has been to sew as much chaos as you can across the Quala province. Still, if something bad IS going to happen there, maybe you should try to prevent it or warn somebody or something because right now Brother Gray and Master Ebon are supposed to be preparing a proper army of shadows to march directly on the capital, though not in the traditional way. Apparently they're going to try to use a magical gate to travel through the shadow world and pop up right in the heart of the Emperor's Palace. Such magic is very powerful to use, but also very time consuming and fatiguing. You know they have been going through some sort of long involved ritual which is involving several of the more powerful shadows to link their energy and even draw upon some of the weaker ones. You know Murk and Bianca are there rather than working in a shadow guerilla detachment. (They never quite looked at you the same way again after the incident with Shade.) Talia is also there, though she's one of those lending her powerful shadow magic skills to the ritual.

And despite one of the most important events occurring at Gloom right now, the ONLY reason why you'd return there to possibly risk your own life is for Talia. You've grown closer to her in a way that you never thought possible. The relationship you've experienced with her is just one more reason why fighting against the Empire is the best idea you ever had.

Still all of this might be for naught if something happens to Gloom. You still don't know WHAT that could be and for all you know it could just be something that will affect your life not anyone else's. (And from Dendrin's tone, not for the better)

You send another shadow back instead

Knowing Dendrin, he's probably warned you after something bad has already happened at Gloom and is toying with you just to see what you'll do. You're just hoping Talia is all right, but you can't go back just for one woman and your actions here are more important to the cause right now. If some major tragedy already has happened, then you probably won't be able to do anything about it.

While you're a necessity here, that doesn't mean you can't send another in your place to check on Gloom. You call to speak to one of your fellow shadows that you believe to be the most skilled.

"Sister Yvette, I need you to go back to Gloom and check on things there."
"What? But brother, we are to assault a supply caravan to Roldan's camp soon. You know it'll be heavily guarded and it would be best to utilize all the strength we have on it."
"I know. That's why I will have these people here and the cell we have in the Guf Hills to help. Don't worry about it."
"Brother, my place is here to fight along side you against the Empire. We are not due to check in at Gloom anytime soon and Master Ebon is performing the important ceremony there. I don't understand why you would want me to disturb that for no reason."

You didn't really want to get into this because it's likely to bring forth more questions, but Yvette is proving to be unmoving on this request.

"Sister Yvette I have reason to believe Gloom may be in danger. Call it instinct, call it a premonition or call it the will of Dendrin, I don't care, but I REALLY feel someone needs to check in on Gloom. I'd do it myself, but seeing as my mission here takes priority it would be irresponsible for me to leave my command. So I'm sending you. Now I hope you will obey my orders and if everything is in fact okay there you can make a complaint to Master Ebon at his earliest convenience. If not, well I believe we'll have bigger problems."

Your explanation still doesn't tell her much and you can sense that she's very hesistant about just following through on your order based on a hunch, but given that it's Gloom then it's still worth checking out even if nothing is going on there. It also helps that you've been a very effective cell leader. Sister Yvette has certainly been a shadow longer than you, but your skills and leadership have established your dominance. Despite how everyone is supposed to be equal in the shadows there will always be those who are leaders and those who are followers.

"Very well…I will go. What should I do if there is trouble?" she asks.
"Help in any way you can then return to me as soon as possible unless you bump into Master Ebon and he has different order for you. As I said I will be meeting with the cell in the Guf Hills and we will probably be making that a temporary base of operations."
"Okay, I'll take my leave as soon as possible. My Dendrin watch over you and guide you to success on the next mission…and I hope you're wrong about Gloom, brother."
"Me too."

The next day you make your way to the Guf Hills, thinking not only about Gloom, but Dendrin as well. You briefly wonder if there might be a way of telling the shadows about Dendrin, but you quickly dismiss the idea. None of them would believe you and it wouldn't do much good right now any way. The Empire is still the major threat and until that enemy is defeated only then will you even have the time to worry about the shadows's sham of a religion.

When you try to make contact with Brother Theo in the Guf Hills, it isn't a straightforward process. Naturally there is always a little caution, but those under his command are a suspicious violent lot even before the rebellion broke out. The rebels he's been directing primarily consist of criminals or ignorant peasants that have always made their homes in these hills and most of them are both. Many of them make racial slurs at the elves in your own company and if you had to guess there's evidence of some inbreeding going on with some of these hill peasants.

After a short stand off, Brother Theo comes out and admonishes all of them for their behavior towards you. Most of them grumble and go back to doing what they were doing. You tell your own people to find a spot and keep away from the others while you and Brother Theo talk to each other.

"Glad you're here brother and with a couple of fellow shadows I see. That's good, because we could use more disciplined types here!"
"Brother Theo, what is going on here? I mean I know we're using anyone who has a grudge against the Empire, but these people have to be some of the lowest dregs of humanity."
"You'll get no argument from me brother. It is truly Dendrin testing my patience with these people, but I will pass that test and besides after this is all said and done, the Empire will fall and that's the major goal right now."
"True, but are these people actually any good in a fight?"
"Hah! That's all these people practically know. These folks might be unruly, but they know these hills better than anyone else, so we manage to stay hidden from Empire search teams for long periods of time. And if we can't, then we stay one step ahead of them before we're discovered. Having had to listen to their stories over and over, the families around this region have chaffed living under the Empire rule for almost as long as the shadows. Apparently they've been planning and building up supplies for a very long time. Pity we didn't know about them sooner, but as you can tell they aren't very trusting of anyone who isn't family."
"I'm sort of surprised the Empire didn't stomp them out of the hills given their problem with authority figures."
"Eh, they might seem like idiots, but they're smarter than they look and can obviously play the waiting game. Also I guess when the Empire discovered there weren't even any minerals worth mining in these hills, they took less notice of the place and basically just left the Guf people to their own devices as long as they paid their taxes on time. Most were wise enough to at least obey that one law and even those that didn't pay knew the hills so well it simply wasn't worth the Empire's time to track down an evader. Oh sure every once in awhile the Empire would sometimes send a few dark elven mercs to track down the more serious criminals, but that had mixed success and at the time the Empire was always more concerned with either conquest or territory that was actually worth something. Probably never believed that these hill folk could ever be a legitimate threat to them either. A bit short sighted of them, but then that's the Empire for you."

You nod and agree. As fascinating as all this is, your mind is still on Gloom. Of course you're not going to mention any of that to Brother Theo, so you ask him what the plan is to assault Captain Roldan's supply caravan. He tells you it's a simple plan, the caravan is going to be passing through a nearby area that leads into a valley in a couple of days and in that time you'll be setting an ambush from both sides as well.

"Actually I'm glad you've brought some elves with you, we could use more archers." Theo remarks.
"Yeah, well don't believe all the myths. They aren't all expert marksmen, but the ones with me are still good enough for this ambush." You reply. "Still, something about this seems a bit too easy. The Empire has to know that running a supply line through that valley is an all too tempting target especially with a known enemy making their home nearby."
"That supply caravan is going straight to Captain Roldan, it's going to be very heavily guarded. Chances are they're just arrogant enough to believe that any possible attack isn't going to succeed. This is the Empire after all."
"Hmm, maybe…"

After Brother Theo reassures you of the success of the plan you head back to your own people who thankfully haven't gotten into any fights with the hill folk. Fortunately the next two days of preparation also pass without too much incident. Some the elves get a few more slurs thrown their way, but nothing that they haven't been called before. One the hill folk actually speaks to you at great length asking you questions and such. You get the impression he was trying to get a feel of not only who you are, but the shadows in general. He wasn't hostile towards you though, they apparently know better than to anger shadows too much.

In the back of your mind during all this is still Gloom. Yvette wouldn't be back yet even if she hadn't found anything, but you still fear the worst. Makes you wonder if you shouldn't have gone yourself. It's too late now though and you need to focus on the task at hand.

The day finally comes and the supply caravan enters the valley. You on one side with your group and Brother Theo with his group on the other. He also has people ready to cut the supply caravan off from the front and from retreat as well.

The large group of wagons and carriages are heavily guarded as expected. Several soldiers of the elite variety and you see an Empire battle mage as well. You wait for Brother Theo's signal…

But before that can happen, the supply wagons suddenly stop and the battle mage suddenly casts a faint blue barrier over the entire supply caravan. Brother Theo orders his people to fire arrows at them, but they bounce harmlessly off the barrier. You shake your head cursing because you knew this was going to be too easy.

"Rebellious fools, did you really think you were smart enough to ambush the Empire so easily? Flee now and enjoy your worthless lives for a little while longer or face your death with a smidgeon of honor by coming down into this valley!" the soldier in charge of the caravan shouts.

"Looks like we're going to have to do this the hard way." You say to yourself.

You've still got them outnumbered and surrounded even if you can't rain a bunch of arrows on them, not to mention your own combat skills are more than a match for most Empire soldiers.

Still there's no reason to be foolish, you don't tell your people to charge down the valley, you let the Gufians do that, since they seem eager to do that sort of thing. Even the ones directly under Brother Theo's command are rushing past him. As for the empire troops, they seem content on waiting for you inside the safety of their barrier. Unfortunately some of them have bows too and theirs work perfectly well from inside the barrier.

You, Theo and the other shadows easily dodge such attacks thanks to your shadow magic ability to speed yourself up to quickly close the gap. Most of the non-shadows aren't as lucky. The numbers are evened up a bit more by the time the major close combat occurs.

The Empire battle mage releases the barrier and then casts some sort of speed spell on his own people. Again, this merely matches the shadows, but it's a severe advantage against the non-shadows. You need to eliminate that mage quick.

You fire a bolt at the mage

You try to get a clear shot at the mage with your armbow. Despite the chaos your aim is true and the bolt flies directly at the mage's head…only for an Empire soldier to step in the way and get killed instead.

Another shadow tries to follow your lead by firing at the mage as well, but at this point he's put up his own personal barrier. Realizing he's in danger, he raises his hand up and a large arc of electricity emanates from it hitting several of your allies as well as Empire soldiers. Fortunately you were far enough away and quickly cloak yourself to avoid being targeted more directly.

You run around one of the wagons and see the mage is still focused on frying his victims. You quickly load up another bolt and fire again, this time you don't miss this time as the bolt enters his temple killing him instantly. With the mage dispatched the Empire soldiers suddenly slow down to their normal speed and the battle swings in your favor once again. Still after it's all said and done, this was more costly than it should've been. Brother Theo's lost more than half of his "hill folk" and you've suffered some losses as well and you've still got Gloom to worry about.

You can't take the waiting anymore and you decide after a short rest period, you're heading back to Gloom with the remaining shadows under your command. You get some questions, but you simply tell them that Dendrin himself told you go back and much like Yvette they back down and fall in line.

You half expect an encampment of Empire troops surrounding the entrance of Gloom, but instead what you find is worse. The rock that acted as the concealed entrance to Gloom is gone, or rather reduced to rubble.

You and the rest of the shadows with you dig in the rubble for quite a while, but you don't even reach where the stairs would be, its just more debris. It's apparent that the entire entryway has been collapsed from beneath; possibly even all of Gloom has been buried. There's no sign of Yvette either, but you can assume since she never reported back to you, she must've entered Gloom before whatever happened here.

While the rest of shadows start lamenting what might've become of Master Ebon and the rest, you on the other hand mourn quietly for Talia. You also silently curse yourself for not going back to Gloom immediately, if you had maybe you could've done something.

With this destruction of Gloom, the shadows have been dealt a crippling blow. Possibly one they can't come back from. You're going to have to try to regroup what cells you can and try to alter a strategy plan. The main problem with that plan isn't so much the sheer impossibility of it, so much as with Talia gone you don't know if your heart going to be completely in the "cause" anymore. Really she was one of your main motivations, and now that Dendrin has flat out told you how he doesn't give a damn about the shadows, you sort of have inside information on how this rebellion is likely to turn out.

Only time will tell you suppose…

Year 30

"Has nobody been able to contact Cyrus up in Rask?" you ask.
"Minimal contact brother. As I said, last time we did it was two years ago and he said he couldn't spare anyone. Reports also said he lost his orc allies up there." Brother Theo remarks.
"Wonderful, the Empire is closing in on us and we can't even count on the bare minimum support."
"We shouldn't give up hope brother. Dendrin has preserved us this long."

You ignore Theo's remarks since you don't feel like spending what will probably your last moments in life, on a religious debate. Suffice to say, the few shadows that remain with you know full well of your feelings on Dendrin. If you weren't such a desperate situation, you'd be correct in believing that they'd kill you as a heretic. However, when someone has kept you alive for five years in a grim situation, people tend to overlook certain things they find spiritually offensive. And that's what you've been trying your best to do on sheer determination and revenge, but in the end the numbers have always been against you, and the Empire has finally managed to focus on eliminating the shadows. Stopping their war with the Felkan Kingdom helped, but the efforts of Captain Roldan have probably been the most damaging to the shadows in recent years (Along with Captain Kane in Rask).

You briefly wonder why you stayed to fight seeing as you had no faith in Dendrin and Talia was gone, but ultimately it was always your desire for battle that kept you around. Maybe it always was leading you to do the things you did.

And now here you are hold up in a cave in the Guf Hills where you were five years ago. The Empire has soldiers and dark elven mercs sweeping the hills looking for you. It'll only be a matter of time. You just hope Captain Roldan himself will be the one to find you. You'd like to at least face the man who's been hunting you for years in combat before you die.

When the cave is swarmed with enemies, you don't get your wish. Still, you give a fight that satisfies you when sheer numbers finally bring you down.

The best thing is, you never have to worry Dendrin ever speaking to you again.