New clients
After a long search, our four friends finally found the secret hideout of the “Shadows” in the last blog. At least, that’s what they hope, otherwise their inconspicuous arrival could probably lead to even more problems than it already does.
The heavy wooden door that Kel kicked off its hinges in the last blog crashes loudly onto the hard stone floor. The sound echoes deafeningly back and forth in the cave until the reverberation finally dies away. The silence is almost palpable for a few seconds until suddenly the clatter of boots on the rock can be heard. The sounds quickly approach, and a short time later, our four friends are surrounded in a circle by at least a dozen warriors. A middle-aged woman breaks through the circle and stands in front of the four. “Whoever you are, you better have a damn good reason for showing up here like this. And you better have it in the next ten seconds,” she hisses quietly but very firmly. “Sorry for our inconspicuous arrival,” Kel begins, “we just wanted to introduce ourselves to the whole gang right away, it makes things so much easier,” he explains. “I’m Kel Tuh Las, this is the halfling Theo, our half-orc Löwenzahn, and this is Aldric – he’s not half anything, he’s all human.”
The warriors look at each other in complete bewilderment. A puzzled expression can also be seen on the older lady’s face, but she quickly recovers and replies to Kel: “That’s not a particularly good reason. What do you want here?” This time, Aldric takes on the diplomatic role. “Please excuse our brash behavior, we were sent by Lieutenant Kampf to deliver this to you,” he explains matter-of-factly, pulling the amulet Kampf had given them out of his pocket. “The Thornfur Amulet,” the lady whispers, her features visibly relaxing. “You are the four newcomers Fridolin told me about. Welcome to the headquarters of the Shadows. My name is Plasura. I have been leading our guild for more than a decade and am your first point of contact here,” the lady introduces herself. She brushes a silvery strand of hair back from her face into her graying black hair. She already looks a little bony and gaunt, but her face shows severity and determination. “Before I show you the guild, please come into my study,” Plasura asks, but with such clarity that it sounds more like an order than a request.
As the circle of onlookers slowly disperses, Plasura leads our friends through a stone corridor and finally reaches a wooden door. Plasura opens it and leads them into her study. It is a large room, made quite cozy and warm by a fireplace. Otherwise, there is nothing cozy about the room: cold stone walls, cast-iron torch holders, and furniture made of worn wood. Plasura sits down on a wooden chair in front of a large desk and looks at the four newcomers skeptically. “What on earth does Fridolin see in you?” she asks the group. “Well, we’re all very different and approach problems or tasks in very different ways. That can often be an advantage – also because we’re all pretty good at what we do,” explains Aldric. Plasura nods thoughtfully and continues to look at them. “I value Fridolin and would like to give you a chance. However, before you get your first assignment, there will be a ceremony tonight that will also turn you into shadows. Stay here. I’ll prepare the ceremony in the entrance hall and get you when we’re ready.” With these words, Plasura leaves the room.
“What could it be?” Theo asks into the empty room, but his friends don’t answer. Time drags on, but finally Plasura comes back into the room. “Come,” she says solemnly, beckoning our friends to her. The entrance hall is brightly lit with various torches and lamps, and some spectators have gathered on one side of the room. They look curiously at the four newcomers. “We have good news today. We have longed for a blacker night, for more darkness, and today our prayers have been answered. From today, fresh shadows will walk in our caves and hunt in silence,” Plasura begins her speech, pointing to our four friends. They listen to her with a shudder as she continues to elaborate until she finally ends with today’s ceremony. “Now take off your shirts. I will now protect you and our brothers and sisters from evil with a spell,” she continues, painting a symbol on our heroes’ chests with black ink. “Should you ever want to talk about us with a stranger, our sign will burst into flames and strike you down before you even have the chance. We protect you – and so you must protect us.” Then Plasura begins a song in an unknown language that lasts several minutes. She gets louder and louder until her singing resembles hysterical screaming. Then she stops suddenly and collapses. “Now you are true shadows,” she whispers, struggling to her feet.
As Plasura quietly leaves the room, congratulations rain down on her from the other guild members. But the day has slowly but surely been long enough, and so the four of them say goodbye to the crowd as quickly as possible. “But we still have to go back to Plasura and pick up our new assignment,” Dandelion reminds them. But you’ll have to wait until next time on Arkanthia Pen and Paper to find out what that is.
