SAGA - Curse of the Shadow

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In the second age the War of Gods intensified.

As battles raged and the

Gods ravaged the land,

survivors became few and scattered.

The Humans forged the Order,

a desperate alliance with Elves and Dwarves.

This ended the war, forcing the Orcs

and Dark Elves deep into the wastelands.

As the Order struggled to restore civilization

the Prophets were tormented by

visions of a growing darkness in the West.

An ancient evil rekindled...

In the dim corners of taverns and caverns

whisperings were heard of a syndicate

of conspirators known as the Shadow.

In the lawless borderlands between

Battle Grave and Waspire

operatives of the Shadow emerged.

The prophets dispatched agents

of their own to uncover the origin

and intentions of the Shadow Cabal.

You've been busy, Fang-Tor Bloodmoon.

Murder, rape, arson,

desecration of a Holy Relic.

I have gold. Walk away.

And I'll give you double.

We don't need it.

We do, we do need...

What, who's there?

Is that you, Gyarmuck?

- What does he want?

I'll have some words with you.

You've been tracking me, Keltus.

The gods be damned!

Order sent you.

I need some answers.

- I answer to no one

but the Shadow now.

That answers at least two of my questions.

You have come a long way

for me, Keltus.

Loyal lapdog of the Prophetess!

They say you're hard

to kill. For a human.

But Humans can't see in

the dark, can they?

No, but I can hear a loud

mouthed Dwarf well enough.

I'd rather not kill you,

I need information.

The Order hangs by a thread, Keltus.

Take up with the Rising Shadow.

Join our cause!

Your part is said.

Now tell me, why the Shadow is

gathering here in the North

and the identity of your contact.

In a few days, the God

of Death will awaken

and then you will have your answers.

My Lady is impatient, Dwarf.

Now, tell me or die.

- Die?

You fear death.

I only fear its master.

I'm going to tell you nothing.

So be it!

Give my regards to your master.

The Shadow grows with

every life that is taken.

When Kullimon's raiders

bring us the vessel

not even the Gods will

stand against our power.

Kullimon's raiders?

Thank you.

That's just what I needed to know.

You're welcome. Now die!

In pieces!

Oh! Gee.

Against my will

Mulgrut has raided for

an agent of the Shadow.

An enemy of the clan!

A needless provocation.

Now revenge is upon us.

The raid is over.

What's done is done!

But the Shadow pays well for the vessel.

We should join him.

For wealth and power!

We are warriors!

Hear my words!

You will end as his slaves!

Yes, we are warriors. Not

thieves and murderers!

Mulgrut wants you to bow to

the Shadow. I know his heart.

You are a weakling.

We don't fight for gold!

But for glory!

The horde has no respect for you, Kullimon

They are going to follow me!

The horde is mine now.

And mine alone!

Those who are still faithful,

may follow me.

Kill these cowards!

To me!

To me!

Seize him!

On your knees!

Are you brave enough to murder

the grandson of Mahan Shek?

descendant of the Holy Warrior?

This I will not do, Kullimon.

Since a quick death is too merciful for you.

What information did you take from the Dwarf?

He spoke of a vessel, Prophetess!

To be delivered by Kullimon.

An Orc raider.

We've crossed paths before.

The Dwarf also spoke of the power of Goth Azul.

The God of Death!

Do not speak his name.

The other Gods are seeking

a return to our world

as our Goddess feared.

They must not succeed!

Lest the world be ravaged by

chaos in a new war of Gods.

If the Death God is unleashed

from the underworld

all things living shall perish.

- Tell me where to go, prophetess.

The general called Drennon has an agent

of the Shadow in his dungeon.

Spare no method in extracting

answers from him.

You must not fail this.

A package for field general Drennon.

- Leave your weapons.

Why?

- Leave your weapons or leave the outpost!

This is his head, I take it?

- It is.

He'll have to be identified.

400 gold coins. That is what was promised.

Do not cheat me, Human!

For the full 400 you'd have to take

the head to the fortress at Ang-Kirk.

And that is a long road.

One not friendly to Elven kind.

I will give you 300 and my men will take the

head to the fortress for the difference.

You are a ringed signatory of the Order.

You will give me the 400

or I will take the head.

And what?

You've killed him for us already.

That's well enough and I doubt you'll find

any other interested buyers for a bandit's head.

Bandit?

That's another thing.

The bounty was for Fang-Tor

Bloodmoon, the bandit.

Nobody said anything about a

dragon riding Shaman.

He gave me this as a parting gift.

I think I'm owed something a

little extra, don't you think?

Alas, for you an outcome

both unfortunate and regrettable.

The symbol itself is outlawed.

You must understand.

Get me a cleric who can get rid of this thing

before I forget what side I'm fighting for!

The mark as far as we've been able to discover

is permanent and cannot be removed.

Even with magic.

- Well, I have a problem with that.

As do I.

Seize her!

What?!

You bear the mark. An agent

of the Shadow cannot be trusted.

Your reward is forfeit.

I should slit you, traitor.

- Assaulting a magistrate

is punishable by death.

- Mine or yours?

Don't ever let a blade

through that door again.

Strip her down to her skin next time.

Oh god! Keltus, what do you want?

I have enough troubles with

bounty hunters and cultists.

I don't need the church as well,

meddling with my business.

I'll be damned! Have some decency!

- Hail, magistrate.

Hail, Ambassador!

What is this about?

The Dwarves are joining

up with the Shadow now.

Elves too, from what

I've seen this morning.

That one claims she was cursed.

Did you have to drop his

bloody arm on my table?

You should have brought

this Dwarf to me for a trial.

Don't question my methods

and I won't report yours.

Are the hands of the Prophetess so clean

that you follow her without question?

My orders come directly from the Lady herself.

I have nothing to doubt

and I answer to no one.

You are young still.

With few regrets.

You have a prisoner named Maggut Guilbrow.

I need to ask him a few questions.

Beautiful flower, trapped in an ugly place.

So sweet to my lips and tongue.

Sister, you bear the mark.

And an elf, no less!

How precious!

Listen carefully!

There is a box,

heavy, laden with gold.

Which gold must be

taken to Garret's Crossing

by the second watch of the new moon.

If by some chance you are...

You must take our place and exchange

the gold with Kullimon's raiders

for the sacred vessel which the

Shadow sought these many years.

Where is the gold?

- In the hollow of a tree.

Just after the Bleeding

Stone you will find it.

At dawn collect the blood from the altar

to fill the vessel.

- Where is the Bleeding Stone?

You bear the mark.

Sure you know that.

Where is the Bleeding Stone?

You impostor!

I see you saved Drennon the trouble of an execution.

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