15: A Radiant Bond, A Shadow’s Gaze

Date: 1/15/2025

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The chamber’s energy settled into a steady pulse as the party stood in awe. Before them, the Celestial Entity appeared, its form a radiant blend of light and shifting starfields. Its presence filled the room with reverence, humbling even the boldest among them. When it spoke, its voice resonated with a gravity that seemed to echo beyond the bounds of the chamber:

“You have restored balance to this place, yet the shadow’s champion grows stronger. Take these gifts: my Radiant Bond, to shield and guide you; the Celestial Ally, to fight beside you in your darkest moments; and this knowledge—your actions have drawn her gaze. Be ready, for her fury will be unrelenting. But know this: as long as you carry this light, you will never walk alone.”

With a deliberate gesture, the Entity raised its arms, releasing waves of radiant energy that surged through the room. The warmth of the energy seeped into their very beings, binding the party together in a protective Radiant Bond. Each member felt its strength—a shield against shadow and a beacon in the darkness. Their eyes now carried a faint shimmer, a reminder of this unbreakable connection.

The Entity gestured again, and a vision overtook their senses.

From the fading light, shadows swirled into form. A figure emerged—Count Drusilla. Her piercing gaze shifted from curiosity to seething fury as she sensed the defeat of her forces. At her side loomed corrupted beings, their glowing eyes reflecting the intensity of her anger.

Drusilla’s voice, sharp as a dagger, sliced into their minds:

“So, a new enemy has appeared.”

Recognition flickered across her face as her mocking smile deepened.

“Well... some new. Some not so new.”

Suddenly, her gaze seemed to pierce the veil of the vision itself, locking onto the party as though they were not mere observers but participants. Her voice grew cruelly intimate:

“I see you now.”

The vision shattered into darkness. The warmth of the Radiant Bond brought the party back to the present, grounding them as the Entity’s voice returned, quieter but tinged with concern:

“She saw you...” it murmured. “This should not have been possible. The shadow’s champion has pierced through the light and the veil. Her power grows faster than I anticipated. Be vigilant. Her reach is vast, and her fury greater still.”

The Entity revealed the Celestial Ally, a radiant shard of energy imbued with its power. Floating before the group, it pulsed with steady light—a symbol of hope and a reflection of the bond they now shared with the Celestial Temple.

As the Entity’s form began to dissolve into streams of light, it gave one final command:

“Go now, bearers of the light. Seek the places where the balance falters, where the shadow feeds on the light. Unite the broken strands of this world before it is too late. Take your first steps toward the mountain.”

The chamber dimmed as the vibrant starfields retreated. Left behind was the Celestial Ally, encased in a protective shard and glowing with rhythmic energy.

After a night of quiet recovery under the cracked dome of the Celestial Hall, the party began their return journey to Greenvale. Their first challenge came quickly—the shattered remains of the bridge Johnny had destroyed underneath the feet of the Wild Hunt. The gap now stretched 15 feet across, yawning over a thousand-foot chasm.

Narvane stepped forward, his expression both determined and wary. “Alright, chaotic magic, don’t fail me now,” he muttered. Shadow energy coiled around him as he formed a dark portal connecting both sides of the bridge.

Johnny peered into the swirling void. “And what happens if this thing decides to spit us out halfway through?”

Narvane smirked, though the tension in his shoulders betrayed his nerves. “Then you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the view on the way down.”

One by one, they stepped through the portal. Cold and weightlessness enveloped them as faint whispers echoed in the dark passage. When they emerged on the other side, Clovis muttered, “Felt like something was watching us in there.”

Narvane shot him a sidelong glance, his usual smirk subdued. “Relax, Clovis. The shadows like you. Or maybe they’re just curious.”

As the party regrouped on the far side of the chasm, Janos turned to Clovis, his voice low but pointed. “Are the hexxers coming after us after offing two of them?”

Clovis didn’t hesitate, his tone matter-of-fact. “Yes. Absolutely.”

Janos frowned, his hand resting on the hilt of his weapon. “What’s your read? They coming for revenge, or do you think it’s more... organized?”

Clovis shot a quick, meaningful, glance at Elia and shrugged. “Does it matter? Hexxers don’t let things go. Organized or not, they’ll come for us eventually. Just depends on how soon they get their act together.”

Johnny, dusting himself off, interjected with a wry grin. “Good. I’d hate to think we didn’t leave enough of an impression.”

Janos snorted softly, though his expression remained serious. “Well, let’s hope they take their time. Something tells me we’ve already got enough enemies to keep us busy.”

Clovis grunted in agreement, and the group pressed on.

That evening, as the group rested by the fire, the camaraderie born of shared trials softened the edges of their exhaustion.

Clovis leaned back, staring into the flickering flames. “Alright, Johnny,” he began, his tone casual but probing. “What’s the thing you’re most afraid of, eh? About this whole... light-versus-shadow mess?”

Johnny didn’t look up from where he was carving a small piece of wood with his knife. “You mean besides falling into a thousand-meter chasm? Probably that we won’t make it in time. That we’ll get this shard back to the mountain and find out it’s already too late.” He glanced up, meeting Clovis’s eyes. “The end of the world. That’s a bit higher stakes than anything I’ve gambled on before.”

Clovis chuckled, though there was no real mirth in it. “Fair. Not exactly something you can bluff your way out of.”

“Not for lack of trying,” Johnny muttered.

Johnny turned his gaze to Janos, his tone shifting slightly. “Alright, Janos. What’s the deal with Darius and Kolotheal? Feels like there’s more to that story.”

Janos set his whetstone aside, staring into the fire. “Kolotheal and I deserted Broughioc’s army when the orders got too dark. Slaughtering innocents to force the clans to kneel? No thanks. We ran to Freebush, scraped by as mercenaries, and that’s where we met Darius Blackwood.”

“He was... persuasive,” Janos admitted. “He was sharp, resourceful, and seemed like the kind of person who could make things happen. The three of us started running jobs together—mercenary work, bounties, protection gigs. It wasn’t glamorous, but it kept us alive. Then Darius found the big one: a heist at Drusilla’s manor.”

At the mention of the name, Clovis paused his sharpening, his gaze narrowing.

“I didn’t go—I thought it was too risky. Kolotheal trusted Darius and went anyway. It was a disaster. Darius used Kolotheal as a distraction to cover his escape. Kolotheal was captured or killed, and Darius disappeared with whatever prize he was after.”

Johnny frowned. “And then he stumbled into our camp.”

“Right,” Janos said. “When I finally caught up to him, he told me Kolotheal might still be alive. Claimed he didn’t know where but swore he was out there somewhere.”

Clovis leaned back, his arms crossed. “You didn’t kill him, though. Why?”

“Because of what he said,” Janos replied, his tone hard. “He told me Kolotheal was still alive. Claimed he didn’t know where exactly, but he swore he’d heard something about him being moved to another location. Maybe he was lying, maybe not—but I couldn’t take the chance. I let him live. Let him crawl away into the woods alone, because a blade to the heart wouldn’t get me any closer to finding Kolotheal.”

Johnny nodded slowly. “And that’s when you decided to stick with us.”

Janos gave a faint smile, his gaze softening. “You made it clear you were already tangled up with Drusilla and the shadows creeping over the region. Seemed like my best shot at finding the truth—and Kolotheal.”

Clovis picked up his blade, resuming his sharpening. “So now you’ve got Kolotheal to save, Darius to deal with, Broughoic to stop, and Drusilla in the mix. That’s a heavy load.”

“It’s not about how much I can carry, Clovis,” Janos replied, his voice steady. “It’s about what’s worth carrying. Kolotheal comes first. The rest will fall into place.”

Johnny leaned back. “For what it’s worth, I hope you find him. And I hope Darius gets what’s coming to him, one way or another.”

Janos gave a faint, tired smile. “Thanks, Johnny. I’ll hold you to that.”

Later, as the fire burned lower, Narvane glanced at Clovis, his voice light but probing. “You’ve been watching me like a hawk since I joined. What’s it going to take to convince you I’m not about to drop us all into a pit?”

Clovis’s sharpening slowed, and he finally met Narvane’s gaze. “Trust isn’t given. It’s earned. You’ve done alright so far, but let’s not pretend you’re some paragon of reliability. If you want to convince me, stop asking and start showing.”

Narvane raised his hands in mock surrender. “Fair enough. Just don’t act surprised when I pull your neck out of the fire someday.”

Clovis snorted, returning to his blade. “I won’t hold my breath.”

Narvane’s gaze shifted to Johnny, who was packing away his carving. “And you? Are we good, or am I still public enemy number one?”

Johnny looked up sharply. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Narvane. You’ve pulled through in the clutch a few times, sure. But there’s a difference between needing your magic and trusting you.”

“Needing and trusting, huh?” Narvane leaned back, arms crossed. “Good to know where I stand.”

“Don’t take it personally,” Johnny said, his tone dry. “It’s not just you. Trust is hard to come by these days.”

Narvane’s lips curved into a wry grin. “Comforting.”

Johnny gave him a pointed look. “Don’t make me regret keeping you around.”

The fire crackled as silence settled over the group, the weight of unspoken thoughts filling the gaps.

Janos leaned back, his eyes fixed on Narvane. “Alright, Narvane,” he said, his tone calm but pointed, “something’s been on your mind, I can see it on your face. Spill yer beans.”

Narvane hesitated, his easy confidence faltering. He stared into the flames, his fingers tracing the edge of his cloak. “Back when we blew the bridge—when Alastor wanted to Mark me—I didn’t just slip away clean. I got... pulled in. The shadows turned on me, or maybe I turned too far into them. Either way, I was stuck. For hours.” His voice dropped. “Twelve hours, lost in the dark.”

Johnny leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. “Lost how?”

Narvane’s voice grew quieter. “It wasn’t just dark. It was alive. The shadows were moving—whispering. Not words, but... things. Faces I didn’t know. Places I’ve never seen. And then there ‘it’ was.”

Clovis frowned. “It? What’s ‘it’?”

Narvane shook his head. “I don’t know. It wasn’t clear—not something I could name. Just a presence. Watching me. Waiting. And I don’t think it’s done with me yet.”

Janos tilted his head. “And you didn’t think to tell us before now?”

“Would you have believed me?” Narvane shot back. “Hell, I barely believe it myself. But it hasn’t come back. Yet.”

Johnny’s tone sharpened. “Just make sure that if it does, you don’t take us down with you.”

Narvane smirked faintly, though his voice carried a hint of weariness. “Noted.”

Days passed uneventfully until they encountered a weathered druid cloaked in tattered garments. Signs of corruption lingered on him—darkened veins snaking across his hands.

"You carry a light... strange that it still burns so brightly. Tell me—what have you seen of the shard?"

Johnny hesitated but then recognized the druid's symbols, linking him to the cult sworn to guard the Heart of the Mountain. The druid shared grim warnings of the shard's corruption, its power feeding greed and shadow.

The druid turned to Johnny's hawk, murmuring, "You walk with spirits, but you’ve given this one a name unworthy of its role." With a smirk, he corrected: "He is Kaelen, the Whisper on the Wind, not... Frank."

As the druid departed, he left them with a chilling truth: "The spirits do not grant gifts freely. They’ve chosen you, Warden, and they will demand their price."

Back in Greenvale, the party delivered the star sapphire to Mathis Ironmonger, who enthusiastically celebrated their success. Azuth, the proprietor of Azuth Magic Items, showed great interest in the sapphire and the Celestial Temple. Ironmonger invited the party to a celebration in their honor at Obelisk Park the next morning.

While resupplying, Johnny visited the Fletcher, Clovis went to the Exploding Shovel, and Janos returned to the Stubborn Duck Inn. There, he was greeted by a recovering Dr. Elara Thorne. Over drinks, Dr. Thorne shared her research into reversing the spreading corruption, gratefully accepting the wyvern’s tail as a valuable aid in her studies.

Clovis entered the inn, his eyes drawn to Elia of the Whispering Wind, who sat in a corner, drinking heavily. Distracted, Clovis walked right past Janos and Dr. Thorne without so much as a nod. Clearly something was on his mind.