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-----Many of the woodsmen want to speak more with Raven, but Rolanger tells them to wait until a better time, considering the business at hand. With that Rolanger and his men gather up the prisoners and, after many well wishes to Raven and his party, begin to escort the prisoners away.
-----As they walk away, Rinda smiles proudly and sits a bit taller in the saddle. She looks over at Raven and punches him lightheartedly in the arm.
-----Quickly everyone mounts up and rides away from the village toward the southeast. They ride past more woodland homes and occasionally see families working outside doing odd jobs in the woods and gardens. As the manmade homes become fewer, the party sees before them three hills covered with trees. Within a half-hour’s time they ride over the hill situated in the middle.
-----After passing a swampy area on their left, the forest stretches out more in front of them. Here the beauty of the day shines on the forest, though it is still morning time. Birds and insects are about and a fresh fragrance of the forest is carried on the breeze. They ride on for a mile and a half more enjoying the natural world around them.
-----Soon they come to a place where the forest slopes down into a valley. The riders choose to ride around it on its northern side. Here the noise of the forest has been quieted and a strange feel comes into the air. Raven’s wolf seems to stop in his stride often sniffing the air and growling before moving on. Somewhere to the east of their position it seems as though a cloud has cover the sun as the forest looks slightly dimmed. Shockingly, the state of the sky overhead has remained cloudless.
-----As they now pass beyond the valley beside them, the riders pull their horses to a halt with an unfortunate familiar sight before them. Shema sits glaring ahead of her silently, while Abram and Bradley gasp. Romney curses under his breath, "By all the gods! There be one of these accursed things in the woods too!"
-----There before the entire party is another dome of Darkness. However, this one extends higher and larger than any the adventurers have encountered before. It looks to span nearly a half-mile in diameter.
-----The horses seem to be a bit agitated and nervous at the sight of the thing. Raven’s wolf stands legs apart as if ready to leap at something. It then begins to growl and whimper as if in confusion.
-----Sarah’s lips, the only part of her face that can be seen under her hood, start to draw back from her teeth. The closest thing to a sneer that’s ever come across her face is displayed as she reaches for her scroll.
-----"Alright, finally. Let's kill them all." She growls.
-----Sol nods as he dismounts from Thunder, giving the stallion a few reassuring strokes on the nose after he does so. Eyes never leaving the vile Darkness, the warrior agrees with a harsh whisper, "Yes. That's pretty much my plan too." The look of hatred that the forces of the Dark have always produced on Sol is easily noticed.
-----For the benefit of the guards, Sol turns to them and briefs them, "Sarah is going t'use a scroll of magic, that will I hope, protect us in turn from the magic of our enemies...including that o' th' Darkness. The magic o' th' scroll doesn't reach far, so we'll all have t'bunch up as the protection will be centered on Sarah. What we need t'do is reach th' centre o' th' Darkness and grab the gem that they use t'power th' magic."
-----Sol considers a moment before continuing, "If this is what I hope it is, we've found their main cave. We hope that their leaders are here too. Last time we encountered a Dark leader by th' name o' Devlin, she had a way of defeating our protection with some sort of rod. All I can offer is t'stay on yer toes and listen for further instruction. Expect some form of undead and other followers of th' bitch o' th' night. Anything ye can think t'add, Raven?"
-----With that said, Sol pulls his Lathanian blade free of its scabbard and proceeds to stand stock still with his eyes closed, the only movement being the expansion and contraction of his lungs as he draws in a few deep breaths. This lasts only a few moments, after which he snaps out of it and moves to stand in front of Sarah, eyes back to watching the Darkness.
-----Raven crouches and runs a hand over the side of the wolf. Raven looks up as Sol finishes, "Yes I do." Raven stands and looks at the guards, "Keep your wits about you and you will come through this alive. You're going to see things that are unnatural, but they can be destroyed."
-----Raven readies his bow, "Good hunting everyone." Raven motions for the wolf to stay. "Okay Sarah, ready when you are."
-----Abram, Romney and Bradley quickly kneel and give a prayer to the god of justice while Shema glares with a determined look at the great Darkness ahead of her. Just as Sarah prepares, the three guards rise and look around to see what happens next.
-----The young mage pulls forth her final scroll and with a somewhat angry defiant look she begins to read. Sarah pours her emotion into her voice almost shouting the arcane words that are contained within the magic symbols. All around them everything remains silent; all the wildlife a while ago taking to other parts of the forest.
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