1. Returning The Blade
You managed to set off to Puckshire with relative ease, although the destruction of the catacombs behind you have left you shaken. Watching your every step, and setting up sentry schedules, that (miraculously) work, you started your journey back home, at least what you can call home for now.
You feel a sense of accomplishment, even though the strange creature into which the elven Cult Master transformed is disturbing you. You feel stronger for killing that creature. You don't feel any different, in any discernible way, but you can sense that something is going on.
After all, that was no mere ascendance. Elemental ascendants most of you have seen before, Ascendants of Flame, of Ice, of Earth, of Wind... But, a pure shadow creature, that devoured all sources of light around it?
Also, the murals on the wall that only Kush was able to observe clearly, but told you about on the way back, are concerning. The picture of a demon being released by a sword. That seems too convenient.
The Blade is now under your control, and somehow, you know for sure that it is going to stay with you. But what will you do with it? The Mistress has promised you glory and fortune to last a lifetime, but can you trust her?
You reach the town at night. There is a full-moon in the sky, providing ample illumination. You are walking towards the town hall, across which is the town inn that you met each other. Rows of buildings all around lead you to the square.
In the middle of the square is a fountain, which weirdly has escaped your notice in your previous visits and clearly is not a problem of discontinuity or anything. This is all your fault. But that's okay.
As your party, quite massive really to be called a party, but not quite a raid group, approaches the fountain, the ones with keener eyes catch the glimpse of a figure sitting by the fountain.
As it turns out, someone is sitting there, and it is none other than the Mistress.
[The Mistress is the NPC that gave the party the quest to retrieve the Blade.]
"Ah I see the adventurers have managed to retrieve the Blade for me. It seems that you are ready to fulfill your end of the deal."
[The text in bold are the kinds of questions I assumed my players would ask.]
What will you do now?
"What I have promised to do. I will grant you glory, I will make sure that your names are forever remembered, and people's hearts are filled with strong emotions whenever those names are uttered. Wherever you go, you will not be able to avoid the attention of anyone. Everyone will know who you are."
How is that glory?
"I promised you glory, and I promised you fortune. Is that not what you wish for? Importance, immortality? Well you will have it. The moment you hand me the Blade, all that glory will forever be yours."
What about fortune?
"Renown comes with fortune. Surely you will find ways to exploit your new found glory. You Rhllor, the ultimate warrior, the bringer of destruction, the perfect mercenary. And you Ealira, the scholar of unfathomable knowledge. You Oria sorceress of unimaginable powers. You Ryan, will make shoes of impeccable quality. You druid Bazing', will return to your home, your quest done, be greeted by your people. And even you orc, Footstool, among your people and people of this land you will be able to become someone."
"Hand me the sword."
What do you do?
Don't give the Blade.
"Do not test my patience. Will you push away and refuse all that I offer you? So be it."
She raises her hands and reaches to her hood. She pulls it down, revealing the rest of her face. Her eyes are closed, but you can't help but notice that she has the most beautiful face you have seen on a human so far.
"Metal is fragile, flesh is mortal." she says, with a terrible grin on her lips.
You look up and see that the moon is losing its light.
"Light fades. Darkness is eternal."
It becomes almost pitch black dark that it is slowly getting harder to see.
"Stare into eternity." [Copyright Bioware, oops.]
Suddenly she opens her eyes and reveals pitch black globes of nothingness that were hidden beneath the lids. An eerie black, light? is emanated from the void. You feel compelled to look, but you try your best to turn your head away.
Then you hear a most terrible voice. A demonic voice coming from depths of hell, talking through the Mistress.
"You can't evade the inevitable, mortals."
You fall to the ground, unconscious.
Give the Blade.
"Yes. Do it. Hand me the Blade." she says, reaching out to you with her hand, now she's also standing up.
Suddenly you hear Lisuth shout (Lisuth was the Mistress' aide). "DON'T!" And he comes running and slaps the sword out of your hand.
"What is this?" asks the Mistress, clearly annoyed.
"She is not who you think she is!" says Lisuth ignoring the mistress. "Don't give her the sword, she'll br-" he's about the say but he can't finish his sentence for his head no longer faces you, twisted at a gruesome angle. He falls to the ground, and you see the Mistress right behind where he used to stand.
Her hood is fallen, revealing the most beautiful human face you have ever seen, her eyes however closed.
She is smiling.
"I'd have really rather you did not see that. But what is done is done."
She is grinning a disturbing grin now.
"You have proven yourself at the catacombs, wreaking chaos, shattering walls, killing and pillaging."
She takes a step, and laughs.
"Metal is fragile, flesh is mortal."
You feel the moonlight around you fade, and you look up and see that the moon is fading away.
"Light fades. Darkness is eternal."
It becomes almost pitch black dark that it is slowly getting harder to see.
"Stare into eternity."
Suddenly she opens her eyes and reveals pitch black globes of nothingness that were hidden beneath the lids. An eerie black, light? is emanated from the void. You feel compelled to look, but you try your best to turn your head away.
Then you hear a most terrible voice. A demonic voice coming from depths of hell, talking through the Mistress.
"You can't evade the inevitable, mortals."
You fall to the ground, unconscious.
