I found Nina, and was quickly introduced Coral who wasted little time with greetings and quickly set about weaving a portal to Dires. "When its done, step through quickly" she advised. I invoked the magics embedded in my items, as did Nina. The portal flashed into existence. "Follow me closely and head for the outpost" shouted Nina, and with that plunged through. For a moment I hesitated. Even at my best, I was little match for shadows, and this night vitae still hung about me like wet wool on the hottest summer day. Coral grunted her impatience. I leapt into the portal.

It was hot, humid, a rotting smell hung in the air. Nina at full run before me….I focused on the point between her shoulders…hunched slightly from tension and effort. We ran, plunging into the swamp, and towards the small outpost ahead. Wasps stung, but I dared not look to see what kind, for fear of losing sight of Nina. Ahead, the shores in turmoil, bodies littering the ground, shadow and human in terrible melee. I paused to help one who had fallen…then a shadow! Before I could react, a rain of arrows took it down. I scrambled to my feet desperately seeking Nina.

Again we ran…this time for the passes beyond the outpost. Another portal….to a small plateau. Here we waited for others to join us. Nina spoke quickly…"when you go through….be ready to fight….head for the tower"….My thoughts turned fearful….the Dires….Shadows….I hid the fear from Nina. Coral…and Jolie…Josephine, then Viscera arrived. Quickly plans outlined…advice shouted to me…and into the next portal. Battle was already underway….as undead swarmed my companions….I fumbled with my bow….then an arrow was away. Spells fell upon us like rain….some taking effect, some not….my foe went down, only to be replaced by another. My wounds accumulated quickly. "run for the tower" Nina said, and I did. The shadows sprang from around its corner…I tried to dodge…and keep running…more wounds….and them on me, like hounds on the fox. I cut behind the tower, and then cut off by more of the undead. Frantic now…I tried to dodge through them.

Pain, screamingly hideous, suddenly falling, nauseous hum and spiral, the shocking to life, and left feeling as kicked by a horse tens of times. Nina’s tell shouted concern with my name, I responded. A "wait till its clear" voiced her relief. In short order, she beckoned to me through our link and I again stepped into the portal. Most of the fighting had abated…though some undead remained about the field…those that lingered were quickly dispatched. We moved out.

We had not traveled far when more of the shadows were spotted, both Umbris and Panumbris among them. Quickly we made ready as they moved to attack. Stepping back in fear as the dark ones closed, with unsteady hand, I let loose arrow upon arrow with little or no effect. One split the line before me, sweeping between Nina and Viscera with apparent disdain. Its hands reached out and I screamed, but sound and soul died in that next instance. Asheron’s magic reached out, pulling me from the terrifying obscurity that threatened to consume all that was I, this time the wrenching return to life as a sunrise ‘gainst the darkness of a most horrifying death. Again the "tell"…Nina concerned, I denying the pain, her help to return to the field, my hiding determination to stay no matter the cost to self…..With vitae hanging about me, a thick web of numbing ache and dulled wits, I allowed a small pleading to the others for the Fellowing. Viscera obliged creating the bond among us all….and though but small, the flow of energy from the others was enough to sustain me….Coral…now demanding…."your bow"…I held it forth…her castings wrapped about it with magiks most heavy….till I could see glow of the arcane….she turned energies upon the others…and we set back to the grim task at hand….

The shadows came…wave upon wave…to be met with flight upon flight…Coral danced a frenzied waltz of dodge and heal, enchant and heal…to the tune of bows hum and arrow whine…the shadows fell…and vitae poured away as icemelt in summer sun…wounds came and went in moments….bodies shuddering with the constant pain of wound and heal…wound and heal….all standing firm…unmoving before the onslaught…..a quick glance…Nina grimly determined…blood covered with fresh and stale….but once she ran….till Coral’s heals took hold….then again took position, as firm as the rock upon which she stood….still shadows came….and other creatures…drawn by sound and smell of battle….tuskers…of kinds I had ne’er seen…then the golems….cut of black gem….all fell…as arrows upon arrows rained down….how long? I know not…but then the silence…but for gasping breaths…adrenaline fled…I staggered…pain of sinew and bone mending, the burning of air upon new skin…and tired…tired beyond imagination…

Others had joined us…when? I had no remembrance…and news of the shadow defeats whispered upon the winds…Nina gently helped me away. And to the plateau…I knew from her look she meant to return, but I…I could barely mumble farewell and luck….I stumbled to the portal that would take me to the outpost…and from there…an awkward jog toward the portal home…still remnants of the shadow army lingered…and in effort to avoid them, I found myself lost more than once…then…finally…the portal home…I stepped through…I limped down and up hill…coming to Thorsten’s Rest…his kindness afforded me a private room…and I tumbled to bed.