SHADOW of the DEMONWEB

Critical Memory 6 Unlocked
Directly related to the campaign

Feel Free to roll enemy counters in same post you roll your own actions to speed up progress and have less clustered combat.

@Uragu beats the crap out of Hagspawn Barbarian to death
Wave 1 completed

Miles away drow hunting party is chasing a survivor of Greenleaf Tribe, a wild elf girl. She appears to get away from them, using the advantage of wilds and because it is a day. But their numbers are not small. Drow's activity became louder in forest for last month. And the wild elf is still away from Lyonland, where she can be safe. Jrggred, the male drow leader of the hunting group appears to be big almost as a human. He wears heavy black armor, armed with greatsword and on his helmet is a symbol of Vhaeraun. He moves slower than others, and he is being followed by his shadowy dark elf brother, Nym, who appears to wear similar style like his bigger brother but in much lighter armor. He moves swiftly with two light blades and passes Jrggred quickly, charging towards the Wild Elf. Behnd Jrggred is a female drow, Rauva, dressed in black, but she does not show any symbol markings on her wears. However, the mask and huge amount of jewelry she has on herself, especially on her hands and rings on her fingers suggests that she could be a Kiaransalee's mage.

Jrggred: "Dalninuk! Do naut let the Darthiiri to ssuth, iL is the vane one!" ("Brother! Do not let the Elf to escape, she is the last one!")
Nym: "Xas! Il will naut!" ("Yes, She will not!") Nym moves forward even faster, joining the first wave of the drow attackers.
Rauva: "Il is ichl veir to Lyonland. Dos z'klaen huertar!" ("She is very close to Lyonland. You must hurry!")

Wild elf takes out a horn and blows in it. She knew that she still cannot reach Lyonland, but she used the horn anyway with hope that someone will come to help her before they catch her. The sound of the horn could be heard by Jennifer, who left Lyons Forest to gather some ingredients for her chocolate cake.

It is not the first time the Drowess called Jennifer ShadowKyss had ventured into the forests to find ingredients for her mushroom cakes. And she knows the sounds of the forests well. Something she had learned simply to stay alive, to be weary of the Black Archers. And every sound that was unusual, out of the ordinary, she would pick up immediately.

This sound of a horn, it was peculiar. The way it was blown, the sudden speed, and almost panicked pace of the sound. It was not a Minstrell trying to catch attention, nor an Elven patrol horn who always took their time making that distinct, elven horn sound. This was panic. a cry for aid. Jennifer looks to the gathered mushrooms in her linen bag, it was folded around her shoulder.

"What a shame."

And with these words Jennifer drops the bag from her shoulder, and makes speed to approach the place where the sound comes from. Carefull, jumping from Treeshadow to treeshadow. Oh how Leo would be mad if he would find out she ventured out from the Lyons's forest too far again! But such is the curiosity of the little Drowess.

The wild elf, Sylva Greenleaf, slips under a sword of one drow, escaping attempt to be hit, and the quickly stands up and moves between trees. But a couple of drow ends up in front of her, and she quickly becomes surrounded. Nym approaches to end her life, but Jrggred waves a hand to him to stop, and then himself comes very close to frightened Wild Elf.

Jrggred: "Tesso uns'aa, vel'klar is it!?" ("Tell me, where is it!?") The leader grabs Sylva for neck and with one hand lifts her in air. Sylva helplessly tries to release herself, but the male drow is too strong.

Rauva: "Elgg ilta! Xuil ilta aphyon udos orn inbal udossta ultrinnan." ("Kill her! With her death we will finally have our victory.")

Nym: "A vaen the To'rylllasse are naut mzild." ("At least, the Greenleaf are no more.")

Sylva: "I never tell!" The Wild Elf refuses to cooperate, she understands their tongue enough as she had experience with their kind before, she knew well that she will be dead either way, so she refuses to give them what they want. And then Jrggred red eyes start to glow with rage as he starts to grip her for neck stronger, not allowing Sylva to breathe, and Nym approaches behind her with his weapons to end her life. Well hidden Jennifer could see the event, but will she be brave to go against her own kind to help the wild elf?

Jennifer remembers again. So vividly. The torture and senseless killing of male Drow in the Drow camp, down below. The senseless torture that the Jaerles did one day. The same day she fled from them, not wanting to be part of such excesses. Yes. Jennifer remembers again what she chooses to ignore and what she will never tolerate.

Because that, was what brought her to the surface in the first place.

"ShadowKyss has no love for senceless murder.
ShadowKyss herself faced many moments of fright.
She knows the fright of being killed almost.
And she will have none of this!"

But Jennifer also knows her number, and their numbers. Even if she can surprise one, there are others. It is time for deceit. She begins to have her hands. Fingers moving at incredible speed. From the shadows of the two trees she hides behind rise two shadows, they look exactly like her. And they leap forward. Confusing the Drow that were in the back.

Then she leaps forward. A Mask she wears, so the Drow could never see what she was. Her Moonblades shining in the light. Jenniffer turns the blades, and Blinds Jrggred. Followed by Nym. They stumble backward. For a moment blinded by the bright light that Jennifer's Moonblades had caused. Quick strikes. Jennifer finishes of two of the Drow in the back, and leaps back, to grab Sylva. Her element of surprise was over now. They had to move quick. Jennifer's Mask, painted in Shadow Smile turned to Sylva. "Nau time to loose. My kin are quick, and well trained!"

On the big surprise, Jennifer was able to kill two of the drow hunting party, and set free Sylva from Jrggred's grip. Confused herself, Sylva did not know what she was doing, but she was running with Jennifer, holding her for hand, away as possible from the drow group. Jrggred growls in rage from having the last survivor of the Greenleaf Tribe sleeping through his fingers. Rauva frowns at the rescue and points at the direction where Jennifer and Sylva escaped. All the drow run after them. With Jennifer's good stealth skills, she was able to find good spot to hide with Sylva under a tree. And the drow party passed by them very fast, without noticing them. When the spot became safe at the moment, finally realizing what happened and coming to herself, Sylva pulls her hand away from Jennifer and steps away from her.

Sylva Greenleaf: "Who be you? You not be a true elf!" She steps to one side, and proudly examines Jennifer to see if she can recognize her race through the mask. "Leaf Lord sends you, does he?"

"Your horn did. A sound so alarming, it sent me to you." How many times did Jennifer not get into this situation. Her mask to hide her identity well, it also attracts attention. Mistrust perhaps. A distance that she now could not need. But how could she get more trust from this Elf. Her surface brothers and sisters have been known for their mistrust around her. And for good reason! A gesture. A thing she never did, outside of the Lyons forest. Everything within her heart said to not do this. no, don't do this! But there was no other way to reach out better than this.

She turns to look at Sylva Greenleaf, and with one hand Jennifer slowly removes the Mask from her face. The mask of the Shadow Puppet player had now played it's part. It was time to take the gamble, and reveal her identity. "I am Jennifer Illianna ShadowKyss, and mean no harm. Do not be alarmed."

The Wild Elf frowns as she sees that her savior is a drow. She steps back against a wall of a tree and growls quietly, giving a confused look at Jennifer. "You be them. Enemy of tribe. Why you kill your kind?" She could smell the aroma of Lyons Forest upon Jennifer, which made her relax little, guessing form where she may come from, but she was still very cautious. She then glances at her horn again, and at symbol of Rillifane Rallathil on it. "This be a sign. How can this be?" Sylva looks at Jennifer in eyes and carefully approaches, continuing to talk with her broken common. "You answer call of Leaf Lord, there must be no mistake. Where you come from?" Sylva starts to scan Jennifer to see if she wears anything that marks her patron.

Zbrezza:
"Fey magic served one once well,
when she dared to use it to come here where we dwell.
Bzzzzz.
To uncover secret of the forest her goal was,
and now I wonder what is your cause?
Bzzzzz.
What is the secret that I keep,
why did you come here, what do you seek?
What is the price you are ready to pay
if you want me, Zbrezza, anything to say?
Bzzzz..."

The queen addresses to her guests with cheerful and questionable tone.
Mylanis looks between them all, seeing that no one wants to answer. “Might I ask who you are?”
Zbrezza looks at Mylanis and smiles, then answers the asked question:

"You might ask, yes, which you just did.
How strange wording that was indeed.
Bzzzz.
I am Mother and Queen of this place, Sbrezza is my name.
But who might you be? I want to know the same.
Bzzzz.
What brings you here in my dark and honey home?
Curious you are like a gnome? Bzzzz."

And then she giggles, and her voice echoes the cave halls.

"Your rumors appear to be true Enia." Leo glances at Enia and nods.
Celinette frowns and adds to Leo's words: "Looks so. I will start to hate when she is right."
Mylanis: “I'm Mylanis, I came here with my companions here. Looking for a blond girl by the name Maya. Perhaps that who you were talking about before?”

Sbrezza:
"Mylnas is a beautiful name,
But it will not bring you the fame!"
She giggles.
"Welcomed to Toxic Hives you and your companions are
You were attacked before because you are bizarre!
But now when I have a closer look
I can write about you in my new book!"
Sbrezza seems to likes her new guests. She smiles and crosses her fingers.
"With grace she moves even on this terrain,
but even then Sbrezza could see her strain.
Bzzzz.
The price was a high cost,
the closer she came, the more she was lost,
to be sane, to find the lane to not wane.
Bzzzz.
Is it too late to approach now?
And if it is not then to approach how?
The dark path she chose to take,
hard decision was that to make."
She nods.
"But to end it, to end the terrible pain,
one must return to the spot where the heart was slain.
Bzzzz."
She points at Ashen and Leo.
"Same blue eyes and gold hair like those two she has,
by name of Maya Lyon in these caves she is known as."

Taeron just waits, motioning to his party members to huddle up closer if they stray too far from the party - but he does not join the conversation yet. He seems vigilant and ready, but lets the druids do the talking.

Leo lowers his head and whispers to himself words that Sbrezza spoke: "..to end the terrible pain, one must return to the spot where the heart was slain." His eyes wide and then he glances at Ashen. "It does make sense. The vision I had from Dnylis now is clear." He changes weight on another leg. "There where waters are, the path will reveal to me in time. There were everything started is where it can end. We spent all the days wandering through forest, and she was home all the time. She is in her garden where she bond herself to Garag."

Sbrezza:
"To survive the bite of ancient Dnylis you found
One must be strong in mind to be able to walk around
So your mind must be strong
But I wonder for how long?"
Sbrezza giggles
"Now you have what you were looking for
Knowledge of what happened months ago
Even the history of your ancestor
But after all I cannot let you go.
To solve the puzzles like your sister you must
Or you will have my angry mistrust.
What do you chose, to play the game?
Or to be decoration for my new frame?"

Taeron: “I know we don't have much time, but a battle might take just as long and I believe we spilled enough blood today. Unless this is some twisted creature that needs to be put down, I say we play her game.” With that, the barbarian turns to Mylanis - as if trying to make sure she agrees. Mylanis nods. “There is no need for further bloodshed, If playing this game will avoid the spilling of more blood, then so be it.”

Sbrezza smiles at accepting the game happily starts first of three puzzles:
"The creature has shape of the Sun
In different colors it can be found
If you step on it you cannot run
Most if its life it spends underground."

Mylanis nods: “A Hedgehog.
It rolls into the shape of a ball when threatened.
It has many colors, sometimes even depending on the weather.
Hedgehog has many spikes on its back, some even have poison in them.
They are burrowers, and also hibernate.”

"Yes! Yes!" Sbrezza gives applaud to Mylanis and continues to second puzzle.
"Once it was a small egg
As a leaf decoration it can serve
But when it grows the leaf cannot beg
It gets what it did not deserve.
Like that it eats its own home
In search for food all the time it is
And when the right time come
It enters in phase of metamorphosis.
Beautiful wings it gets I must say
But it can use them only for one day."

Mylanis nods again: “That sounds like the life of a butterfly.”

This time some insectoids join Sbrezza's applaud given to Mylanis and her druid knowledge about life forms. Sbrezza then gives the final, third puzzle.
"Old some say as time itself
Capable to keep her beauty still
Even if she is not an elf
Once she was keeper of the Green Hill.
But even if she did not change
The time did as well as her place
To too many of them she became strange
To hide she found underground space.
Rifting through plane she faked her death
Her enemies could take a deep breath.
Perfect honey she can make
And has her uses for the Forest sake.
Waiting in the dark for the War yet to come
When finally she will exit her underground home"

Mylanis: “I believe you're this time speaking of yourself. Sbrezza.”

Sbrezza nods to Mylanis and smiles happily.

"All correct answers you gave
Thank you for the puzzle play
But you have now sister to save
And I'll help you find the way."

After short time the Fellowship could hear familiar voices in the distance from the direction where Court should arrive from. Three different voices, Maya Lyon, Aesa Lyon and Victor Lyon, seems to argue among each other. As they are getting closer their conversation is becoming clearer and clearer. Aesa: "Maya, sister, it is not fair for you to be the judge, you are their friend and it will not be fair to take over the case." Maya: "I am sorry Aesa but last time I checked I am the real Mushroom Princess, not you. And we cannot let Victor take over the case, they'll just bribe him with carrots." Victor: "Hey! If they have carrots to begin with then they are clean." Aesa once again attempts to be neutral sister and finds a reasonable solution, being the least crazy, by Lyon standards anyway: "Well Mylanis is watching the children, and brother Ashen is in deep slumber, and Leo is a zombie, and Vine is who knows where this time. Us three are here and since we cannot agree who is going to take over the case I think that we should best use tradition to decide who is fitting for this position as our ancestors have done before us in the ancient Lyon times." Maya and Victor look at Aesa as she is a crazy nerd or something. Victor was first to reply to Aesa: "Bleh let's just play rock paper scissors!" Maya nods quickly in agreement: "I second this." Two win against one and rock paper scissors are being played. Aesa was first to lose in round, and she sighs bored. For the finale Maya and Victor rolled few rounds even until Maya finally won, and Victor would judge her as she is some cheater. All happy in proud of herself, Maya takes lead of this trio, and they follow her behind as she makes her appearance on the stage. Just when she is about to make her steps towards the Judge position, the wild elf who took Leo Zombie away intercepts Maya's way. He was drooling over, his hungry eyes set upon Maya. He became a zombie himself. He charges at Maya as the public gasps in terror, and suddenly he stops just few steps before Maya. A magic held him in place, before it made the zombie explodes into nothing, leaving no trace of any existence. |Mith Spot/Listen Success| |Hawkley Spot/Listen Success| This action was well detected by present Mith and Hawkley, there were flapping of wings in the air, so fast that its movement could only be traced by the two present. It looked like a female Lyon. Her arrival brings loud whispers in the trees and disturbs the land and present ones on the event. The fellowship could read the faces of all fae life present here, even if they could not see what it was, they knew that someone else is coming, that something else is coming to the court, and they were not happy about it at all, as almost as they miss the zombie. The figure finally emerges on the stage at the Judge's position. She holds the fae stone in her hand, her huge dark green fae wings close behind her and vanish into fairy dust. She takes over Maya's Judge spot, and Maya does not even attempt to fight for her position as she did with other siblings. She simply steps away and joins Aesa and Victor.


The Lyon Judge immediately casts her sight of guilt upon @Shimmer, as she fixes her fae stone under her neck. Silence covers the area quickly, as entire forest suddenly became lifeless. "Will accused speak for herself, or will she have someone else speak in her stead?" Lyon Judge speaks up and her voice echoes a silent whisper.

@Shimmer began to fidget slightly with impatience before she heard the bickering of the Lyons. A small smirk tilted her lips momentarily before it disappeared. The arrival of the zombie had her cursing the lack of blades, and she was about to conjure a ball of acid when it simply shattered apart. She was unaware of the newest arrival until the woman landed, her wings disappearing. The reaction of the crowd was enough to set Shimmer's nerves on end, and as she looked at the woman, she shivered slightly.

Once the Judge looked upon her, the small woman fought to keep her knees from buckling. The aura of authority from her, the aggressiveness, was too close to that of the drow priestesses she had known, and old habitswere still lingering. She managed to, rather than collapse, bow a little in some form of respect to the woman, before speaking. Her voice, though unsteady slightly, was determined. "I will speak for myself where I can, and Mith will speak alongside me where he believes necessary..." Her voice almost stumbled over Mith's name, and she bowled onwards quickly before she lost the courage to talk. "Though, before that begins, we may wish to double check that Leo is still contained..." Hervoice faltered finally, and she swallowed, eyes fixing at a point that wasnt quite the Judge's face.

Her fingers plucked at the edge of her tunic, jaw clenching as sbe fouht the urge to flee.Maya she would not have minded... but this Lyon was terrifying in a manner she had not thought a Lyon could be.

The Lyon Judge studies @Shimmer behavior and @Shimmer itself for she is not well familiar with this individual in the Forest. "Your concern is noted. I was able to hold Leo down, but in doing so I could not stop his infected watcher from fleeing the spot at the time. He had to be destroyed before spreading infection to others, shame as there are not many Greenleaf Elves left as it is anyway. If he infected anyone else on the way I would not know of it yet. This is why we must work fast on this trial. The Firstborn has Leo now, but his uses will be needed soon elsewhere. In these few hours we had we could not find a spell nor cure that could purge the infestation. Dnylis Tree itself is infected, and it is just matter of time when through its web this entire Forest falls. We will be forced to execute the spirit of Dnylis Tree - Enia, and I already attempted to do the same to Leo, but the Firstborn delayed my decision, for now." The crowd of fey gathered has their faces covered in panic and terror just at mention of executing Enia. It is very clear that this new arrived Lyon is very determined to end this plague in one way or another, and wont hesitate at all if the another way is necessary. "You walk as Jewel on this land, or so the faeries whisper to me. How do you pledge yourself Jewel? Guilty or Innocent?"

@Shimmer nodded, accepting the explanation, and wincing a little at the harshness of it. She could see the possibility of the necessity but she could sympathize with the horror on the faces of the fae around them. To kill a dryad was not something she would wish to do unless it was the last option available. This had all stemmed from her wishing to keep Leo alive in the first place.

The name "Jewel" seemed to root her to her place for a moment, and her voice comes out firmly. "I have not been accused, Lady." She continues quickly. "I am innocent of intentionally bringing anything harmful to this forest and of harming any of its creatures. And I will do all I can to help in this time of trouble." She eyes the fearsome woman warily, unsure of her reaction to the minor amount of defiance her first sentence had shown.

Lyon Judge frowns at Shimmer's defiance. "Next time I ask you a question I want you to answer it, Jewel. Without sidetracking me with stories of what you meant or did not mean to do. What you did is what matters here today. You are summoned here to be tried because you are accused by keepers of this place, for infecting Lyons Glade with this infestation of unknown origin. You brought night upon this soil and you pledge yourself as innocent. Is this true or false?" Lyon Judge looks down at Shimmer with almost no patience for her.

@Shimmer shifts, one foot to the other, and states, a little matter-of-factly. "Actually, Hawkley brought it, not me." Her eyes gleamed slightly with the glee that comes from a child who has begun to cause mischief.

Even as she speaks, figuratively throwing her shadow-loving friend into harm's way, she glances over at Mith. Her expression shifts barely as she looks to him, looking for help. How can she get through this when this woman was so intent upon seeing everything in black and white? She didn't know the whole story and already was determining guilt!

Lyon Judge looks around between the crowd. "Is Hawkley present here with us?" She is searching for the person with her eyes, for a moment seeing Hawkley, but not knowing it is him, and keeps looking between others gathered here. "Please step forward if so to confirm or deny Jewel's statement." Lyon Judge directs with her hand for Hawkley to join Shimmer.

So silent were the Woodsmans steps forward, that perhaps even the Judge Lyon would not hear them. That innocent air clung about him as he looked to the judge, his head tilting to the side as he looked at her. He had no reason to know how to address her as 'your honor', having never lived anywhere but in the deepest of forests.

His next movement might baffle some, as he gave the Lyon a little wave! It was carefree, and only accompanied by a soft. "Hi." When her attention shifted to the man, he would answer her question, that jar of honey held tight in one hand, his sweet-treat of choice. "I brought him here, yeah.. Didn't know he was infected with anything.. Just not alive.. Leo was a friend.." A soft mutter would be heard by some. "Though he often stole my honey.." Before he carried on. "Spent a lot of time fighting undead.. Never had seen one like him before."

Though he did seem concerned that a infestation had been brought, he probably wasn't aware of what the honesty of his story would cause.

Lyon Judge does not seem to fall for honest innocence of Hawkley. She seems to seek someone to blame as almost as the solution for this tragedy. Faeries come to her ear to whisper her more about Hawkley. "So you knew he was not alive, and brought him to his family. This is understandable. What isn't is your sudden appearance here. How did you menage to bring  a corpse this far into the glade unnoticed?" She casts a curious glance upon Hawkley.

Confusion lit up upon Hawks face. The man had no idea what Shimmer had cast on him, so he just figured it might have just been a spell to make one run faster. "Well.. I walked in? I mean.." At that, he rifled through his pouch, producing a gem; One of the keys to the Lyons Grove. "A while back I fought here with you lot.. Leo asked me to join the battle.. He gave me this- said it would let me find my way here. Which it did back then, so I just came the same way.." His brow furrowed, as he belittled himself in his own mind. "I bet you I was hidden when I entered.. I'm quite good at hiding." At that, he looked to the shadow that was being cast by a falling leaf. Side stepping into it, the man vanished from sight.  This might alarm some, as the skill one would need to possess to accomplish such a feat was god-like.. But before panic ensued, he popped out of the darkness he wore so well. Right beneath the Judge. He held the jar of Honeycomb up to her at that.. "See? .. Do you want some honey though? It makes me feel better when I'm upset.."

|Hawkley Stealth Success| Lyon Judge raises eyebrow, as even her sight could not catch Hawkley's movement. She rejects honey with lifted hand and quickly consults with faeries after Hawkley presented the unwithering leaf of Dnylis as a key. "You speak truth Hawkley, you are indeed welcomed here, and not just as anyone, but as brother of the Circle of Nature. But you say you are good at hiding. Is there a reason, however, why would you conceal your presence upon entering our land from us? And how did you manage such by carrying someone as large as Leo?" Lyon Judge now lifts her second eyebrow expecting answer this time with good explanation.

Reluctant to draw the Judge's attention back to herself, @Shimmer wrinkled her nose and spoke up anyway. "He prolly weren't thinkin', Lady. Sometimes, he just fergets that he's all wrapped up in shadows. Scares me half t'death sometimes." She blinks, and drags her fingers through her hair, before glancing at Mith and Maya, and then back up at the somewhat terrifying judge.

Lyon Judge nods at Shimmer. "There is no doubt that he was your accomplice. There is no way you alone could have bring Leo here by yourself. I can see that you did not have intention to do this harm to our home, but you did it regardless, and now you must fix it. Is this something you are willing to work on Jewel? So we can postpone this trial until you fail or success in a mission I have for you?"

@Shimmer hesitates, but only for a moment. The Lyons were valuable allies, and she could never say that it was not a good thing to have a place that she was at least relatively accepted. Besides, if they banned her, they might ban the Lady Maya, and... Jewel swallowed, stopping her rambling thought and looking up at the Judge. "Wot's t'mission, Lady?" She would try to fix this, at least.

Lyon Judge starts explaining. "I need to stay here and keep infestation at by. For this I will need all Lyons, else it may spread beyond the borders of Lyons Glade and infect entire Cormanthor. As we contain it here, your job will be to find and make a cure. The cure can usually be made by inspecting the source of this plague."

@Shimmer nods. Finding the source and coming up with a cure was something she should be able to do. If they could keep it at bay, then perhaps it would only be a matter of days, perhaps a week before she had a solution, particularly if Mith helped her with the process. But then, her dark skin seems to pale slightly, and she swallowed, piping up again. This time she seemed a bit embarrassed, with underlying concern. "Uh... I think t'source got eaten... N'Uragu dun't usually leave scraps uv her meals b'hind." She eyes Fyria now, unsure whether the woman would crack down with her fearsome, terror inspiring wrath now.

Lyon Judge gives a stare at Shimmer, without blinking. During this pause only a cricket could be heard somewhere in grass. Lyon Judge was processing the information she just received from Shimmer, which pushed her patience to her limits. "Then you must find this N'Uragu creature and protect it at all cost. If it ate it then it is the source now. The fate of Lyons Forest and Cormanthor rests in this N'Uragu being."

@Shimmer nods then, seeming to relax just a hair. "I c'n find her, 'n' do that. I'll do wot I can, Lady. Mission accepted."