Khalazdad

A Truth about Necrovion
There is no truth, only relative points of view. The following is what I have learned from my adventures in Necrovion. It may not be true to you. I have provided all the evidence on the Forum so you may decide for yourself.
The Nature of Necrovion
Necrovion is a mirror. It reflects Marind's Bell and the No Man's Lands - and possibly the Archive lands. It does not seem to reflect Golemus or Loreroot but this is undetermined at this time.
Now 'mirror' does not mean in the usual sense that everything hree is reflected there in reverse. The outline, the geography, the architecture are individual. And yet things there do reflect things in the rest of the world. Ours is a world of sunshine, bright skies, endless day. Theirs is a world of oppressive darkness. And, in the middle, a small group of people willing to embrace ambiguity.
The Nature of the Shades
If Necrovion is a mirror, the Shades are the images that appear when we look into the glass. They are not a reflection of each of us but rather a reflection of our actions. They are created by our strivings for good or for ill, our obsessions, temptations yielded to and resisted. If we are hostile, they are hostile. If we are meek, they are meek (although uncomfortable in this state). If we seek dialogue, they seek dialogue.
They see us a strange, small, isolated creatures, short on abilities. And yet they have curiosity about us - which probably reflected our curiosity about them.
The Nature of Marind's Bell
The Shades do NOT see outside lands as a reflection of their own. We are not what they see when they look into the mirror. My studies were not successful in answering any of the abiding metaphysical questions about the nature of us - how and why we come to be here, why we begin formless then accrue form, why we can attach these creatures and armors to ourselves, why we fight without dying.
War
If one would war with the shades, one might as well war with ones' self. Wodin and his army are reflected in Necrovion; the stronger he becomes, the more willing are the Shades to fight him. His bright light casts many Shades. Perhaps no harm would come of a war - the balance looks after itself. But what damage do we do ourselves making us capable of the atrocities of war? What paucity of spirit to we embrace when we fail to embrace the darkness? For to battle the darkness is to become lost in the light.
The Next Mission
I will seek in the future to have deeper contact with the shades, an expedition to answer the leftover fundamental questions of our existence.
- These are the words of Khalazdad of the Desert, Eater of the Weak, Student of the Grey Path

I attempted to confront Wodin with these findings.
Wodin declined to debate his position and accused me of wanting him dead. To exacerbate the poblem, several others wanted to chime in, confusing the scene greatly. My position is only that the Shades are a reflection of us and want what we want; if we want war, then so do they. And if he wants war very badly, he makes them more strongly want war. But if he wants merely to guard the land, then they want to guard the land, also. As a bright light, he is creating stronger Shades but that seems of no consequence if he remains to balance them.
Wodin's position - as much as could be heard between others shouting theirs - is that he comes from a place overrun by Shades. He hates them for destroying his world and he is here to see that it doesn't happen again.
I do not oppose this position. Neither do I support a war with the Shades at this time.
- Khalazdad Greymantle

A Truth about Necrovion
There is no truth, only relative points of view. The following is what I have learned from my adventures in Necrovion. It may not be true to you. I have provided all the evidence on the Forum so you may decide for yourself.
The Nature of Necrovion
Necrovion is a mirror. It reflects Marind's Bell and the No Man's Lands - and possibly the Archive lands. It does not seem to reflect Golemus or Loreroot but this is undetermined at this time.
Now 'mirror' does not mean in the usual sense that everything hree is reflected there in reverse. The outline, the geography, the architecture are individual. And yet things there do reflect things in the rest of the world. Ours is a world of sunshine, bright skies, endless day. Theirs is a world of oppressive darkness. And, in the middle, a small group of people willing to embrace ambiguity.
The Nature of the Shades
If Necrovion is a mirror, the Shades are the images that appear when we look into the glass. They are not a reflection of each of us but rather a reflection of our actions. They are created by our strivings for good or for ill, our obsessions, temptations yielded to and resisted. If we are hostile, they are hostile. If we are meek, they are meek (although uncomfortable in this state). If we seek dialogue, they seek dialogue.
They see us a strange, small, isolated creatures, short on abilities. And yet they have curiosity about us - which probably reflected our curiosity about them.
The Nature of Marind's Bell
The Shades do NOT see outside lands as a reflection of their own. We are not what they see when they look into the mirror. My studies were not successful in answering any of the abiding metaphysical questions about the nature of us - how and why we come to be here, why we begin formless then accrue form, why we can attach these creatures and armors to ourselves, why we fight without dying.
War
If one would war with the shades, one might as well war with ones' self. Wodin and his army are reflected in Necrovion; the stronger he becomes, the more willing are the Shades to fight him. His bright light casts many Shades. Perhaps no harm would come of a war - the balance looks after itself. But what damage do we do ourselves making us capable of the atrocities of war? What paucity of spirit to we embrace when we fail to embrace the darkness? For to battle the darkness is to become lost in the light.
The Next Mission
I will seek in the future to have deeper contact with the shades, an expedition to answer the leftover fundamental questions of our existence.
- These are the words of Khalazdad of the Desert, Eater of the Weak, Student of the Grey Path

The water may be a metaphor. It seems to represent the barrier between worlds or outer space (or the Aether, which marks the boundary between the material and astral planes). It also may represent the barrier between the inner and outer worlds - that is, the inside of Simply Zero's unconscious mind.
In such a setting, one expects to encounter shadows of one's self. Shadows are aspects of the self that ordinarily don't have a voice. They make themselves felt through dreams, Freudian slips, inspirations and rash actions.
When confronting such a shadow, know that the more one resists it, the stronger it gets. The best course of action is always to embrace and integrate the shadow. Acknowledge its qualities, for good and bad, and see how they fit into the totality of the person.
My advice: agree with the being that it is Simply Zero but deny that you are not Simply Zero. Find out what it wants you to know. Then find out how it wants to behave, and see how its behavior might benefit you in the future.
K

The Necrovion Sentinels decided to fill their last council seat based on problem-solving ability. Thus a series of riddles were devised. The field quickly narrowed to two minds who would compete for the last seat. perrobotillo and Bad Sun Bath bot easily solved each of the riddles presented them. Now as the riddles get harder they spend more time considering their answers, knowing that the only prize for second place is losing.
Here are the riddles they have solved so far:
Find me in your shadow
No matter where you go
I'm the first and last
In existance, you should know.
Banish me with sparks or flames
Or suns high in the sky
But though I run from your chasing games
I never really die.
+++++
You need me but you fear me.
Use me but don't come near me.
My hunger cannot be sated,
Nor my rage abated.
What am I?
+++++
They are into the third riddle now. When the battle is done on this one, I will post it, too.
It is over. Bad Sun Bath won the riddle battle (I suspect by having more time online as perrobotillo confessed to having a life). Nonetheless, he is the newest of the Dark Lords.
And here is the third riddle in the cycle.
I cover a place where once you were weak
And you become weak there no longer.
You may not like acquiring these plates
But adversity makes you stronger.
You can hide me away or wear me with pride
Or purposefully acquire me
I have an equivalent on the inside
Where others fail to see.
Still stumped? Hree re two more verses.
I am proof - of your pain
I attest - that you live
I assert - yet again
That revenge - you may give
Injuries seem to come and go
But I think that you will find
I am the livid little thing
Injuries leave behind.
K

After a quiet conversation with Wodin that turned into an angry confrontation, Khalazdad turned to the Shades, joining the Necrovion Guard.
He stalks the land now, still barred from Necrovion and full of hatred and hunger for power. He recruits in the places where the disaffected gather in the shadows. Many have commented that he seems... changed...

At the gates today a strange sound was heard. Two or three organ notes played in ascension, echoing down as though in a vast hall or catherdral.
There were no other witnesses. I went to the Road of Battles to see if any others heard the sound. They denied it.
The meaning is unknown.
K
- update: now I know the meaning. It was notice that the Shades have offered me an alliance. They want me to "build an army worthy of Necrovion."
I don't think they know me very well. I am not tempted to serve them and betray my homelands in this manner.
K

This is the head of the Shade Sentinel. I don't recall it having a body - perhaps its dead eyes were so hypnotic I merely did not notice. Nonetheless, this is what I recall.
Feel free to add, subtract or change if you remember it differently.
K

You will see a similar event in the Legend Teller's stories. The connection is currently not known.
K

Your argument is vulgar and convincing. Mental note made.
What else do people think we need to know from Shades?
K

The Ferryman met with the delegation of Shade seekers outside the gate. He confirmed having seen a pillar of darkness and described it as both beautiful and terrifying but, on the subject of evil, demurred.
He could not tell us much about Shades except what they themselves had revealed. He said they are reflections of us and could be anywhere.
Little else was gained but fellowship was enjoyed.
They demurred when asked how to solve her murder and accused us thinking strangely.
It is not my intent to defeat the Shades at this time but to determine if they need defeating. At this time the answer seems to be 'no.'
Keep thinking - your mind is agile and I would see what else it comes up with.
K

I attempted to confront Wodin with these findings.
Wodin declined to debate his position and accused me of wanting him dead. To exacerbate the poblem, several others wanted to chime in, confusing the scene greatly. My position is only that the Shades are a reflection of us and want what we want; if we want war, then so do they. And if he wants war very badly, he makes them more strongly want war. But if he wants merely to guard the land, then they want to guard the land, also. As a bright light, he is creating stronger Shades but that seems of no consequence if he remains to balance them.
Wodin's position - as much as could be heard between others shouting theirs - is that he comes from a place overrun by Shades. He hates them for destroying his world and he is here to see that it doesn't happen again.
I do not oppose this position. Neither do I support a war with the Shades at this time.
- Khalazdad Greymantle

A Truth about Necrovion
There is no truth, only relative points of view. The following is what I have learned from my adventures in Necrovion. It may not be true to you. I have provided all the evidence on the Forum so you may decide for yourself.
The Nature of Necrovion
Necrovion is a mirror. It reflects Marind's Bell and the No Man's Lands - and possibly the Archive lands. It does not seem to reflect Golemus or Loreroot but this is undetermined at this time.
Now 'mirror' does not mean in the usual sense that everything hree is reflected there in reverse. The outline, the geography, the architecture are individual. And yet things there do reflect things in the rest of the world. Ours is a world of sunshine, bright skies, endless day. Theirs is a world of oppressive darkness. And, in the middle, a small group of people willing to embrace ambiguity.
The Nature of the Shades
If Necrovion is a mirror, the Shades are the images that appear when we look into the glass. They are not a reflection of each of us but rather a reflection of our actions. They are created by our strivings for good or for ill, our obsessions, temptations yielded to and resisted. If we are hostile, they are hostile. If we are meek, they are meek (although uncomfortable in this state). If we seek dialogue, they seek dialogue.
They see us a strange, small, isolated creatures, short on abilities. And yet they have curiosity about us - which probably reflected our curiosity about them.
The Nature of Marind's Bell
The Shades do NOT see outside lands as a reflection of their own. We are not what they see when they look into the mirror. My studies were not successful in answering any of the abiding metaphysical questions about the nature of us - how and why we come to be here, why we begin formless then accrue form, why we can attach these creatures and armors to ourselves, why we fight without dying.
War
If one would war with the shades, one might as well war with ones' self. Wodin and his army are reflected in Necrovion; the stronger he becomes, the more willing are the Shades to fight him. His bright light casts many Shades. Perhaps no harm would come of a war - the balance looks after itself. But what damage do we do ourselves making us capable of the atrocities of war? What paucity of spirit to we embrace when we fail to embrace the darkness? For to battle the darkness is to become lost in the light.
The Next Mission
I will seek in the future to have deeper contact with the shades, an expedition to answer the leftover fundamental questions of our existence.
- These are the words of Khalazdad of the Desert, Eater of the Weak, Student of the Grey Path

The adventure is concluded for now. Here are the annals of our journey.
After much community effort of offering sacrifices, exhortation, and expenditure of energy, we were transported within Necrovion. We took a moment to regroup as we had been scattered. Some powerful figures joined with us for their own purposes – Jonn, Simply Zero, SmartAlekRJ; we also discovered BigC trapped inside, weakened from his injuries.
A bit of exploration led us to a boundary place, a cave linking inner and outer Necrovion. There were no shades, but this seemed a likely place to make contact. We camped and did inside what we had done outside: chanted, offered sacrifices, and were patient. One of us offered a few drops of blood and heat.
Our patience was rewarded as a Shade Sentinel appeared from the cave. It initially sneered at us and the confusion was palpable. Some wanted to taunt the Shade, others to offer it battle, most just to ask it questions. The elected leader of the group asked for cooperation and settled the Shade with some dialogue and the offer of provender. The shade accepted. In the ensuing quite, each had a chance to speak.
The Shade was uncomfortable with our presence. It said we upset the balance; the Shade would go on to discuss balance in detail. What follows is a rough transcription of the dialogue. Some assumed the Shade was lying, or holding something back – and this was wise; we take nothing at face value. However, this seems a good place to start.
These people were present
Shade Sentinel *BigC* *Glaistig* *Shoeps*
Braiton EZEebs Elsdragon Khalazdad Lulu
Mr Item OneRain Vilinec Yoric dst tampa
db w0tp *phrog* .Muratus del Mu GlorDamar
The description of the Shade is as follows:
“Nightmares for some, fascination for others, Shades rule the obscure side of this world, balancing for all that is opposing them.”
We asked what the nature of Shades was; how they came to be and how they filled space. It replied, “I am not interested in such complicated matters ... and we do not want to balance anything, but certain things that happen outside make us react in different ways , so probably its all about some sort of...balance… as you call it”.
The Shade asked if we experienced individual memories, to which we confessed. This led us to ask about how Shades remembered – as the land itself? Forward and backward in time? The Shade replied that they could indeed remember into the future, and “that’s why I can also change it ....I heard that is something you cant do ...but then again, there are many things you cant do ...so ..”
Confused by our linear way of thinking, it went on, “its strange ..how we fear you so much and how weak you are comparing to us ...but I wonder why that might be.”
We asked after the Shades’ intentions towards our lands. The Shade replied, “is Marind that is causing all this. She kept her identity when she died ... and she is simply destroying our balance. and now Wodin ...its all summing up against us ...but you will never be able to defeat us...defeating the shades will only cause more unbalance and more shades ...and since we leave for that, the war is something we embrace.”
The Shade was asked if they were spirits of the dead, if dying or violence made them. It answered, “oh, nono ...no way ...Marind is dead ... we still exist ...we are the effect to the cause ...and the cause its called by you balance.”
We asked if the Shades were good or evil or even thought in those terms. It replied, “evil or good, that is so uncertain both in your world as well in mine I don’t think I can consider all of you evil, or all of us evil, that has no meaning in this situation.”
The Shade again stated that our presence was causing the balance to go wild as we did not wish to redress it. We offered to leave and wondered if it could be contacted in the future. The Shade demurred as to how we had gotten there but said this would not be our last contact as it could remember a future in which we spoke again.
Regarding the existence of right and wrong, the Shade said, yes ... but its also dependent on a third thing its like left and right ... but comparing to what road? Sometimes the goal is just a state ...a way to be ...not a precise purpose...then right and wrong are relative to that state you seek.”
In response to the question of who built Necrovion and the observation that the buildings look as do ours, it said, “Necrovion is divided in two I am just a sentinel of the first circle ... deep inside Necrovion there are other things ...”
In response to an unheard question regarding the House of Liquid Dust, the shade said, “there is no turning back to what happened there. Shades outside Necrovion, that is worse than you can think. some thing you should know about us is that the lack of memory makes us to be different based on the world we are in.
We asked if it were possible to recruit a shade as a traveling companion; the Shade demurred, saying “I heard such things that Golemus managed to capture a shade and train it as a personal companion...such a danger to the balance is an atrocity, I can not allow that.” This being one of the few unequivocal statements the Shade made, we quickly moved on.
When asked how it became a Shade, the Shade answered only, “I do not recall a beginning to this.”
We asked if, since it could remember the future, its efforts would turn out to be successful. It said their efforts were always successful but that success was a mutable term.
In response to I know not what question, it said, “let’s put it this way, if you seek strength then the shades will be stronger , if you seek peace then the Necrovion gates will be open and your world will be gray ... shades want what you want , you want to defeat us , we want the same, you want to be at peace with us and assimilate us then we want the same, its more of your decision since from our point of view things are the same. The balance is kept”
We asked how the Shades viewed Wodin. It said, “wodin is like a strong light that is causing a lot of shades[sic]. in our eyes, your Wodin is like a sum of many little lights together.” Perhaps on the same subject, it said, “I don’t see what you are trying to achieve with this fight of yours, for us is a natural thing for you it seems like an unfortunate event, but it will always happen, regardless of what you do .. although some tried to do certain things and it didn’t turn up well”
When asked how Shades fight, it replied, “in fighting it all has to do with the immediate balance , not the global balance, so if you will fight a lot of us in a close space then all our strength is divided and it seems we are weak, but if you fight just a few and rarely then we are indeed a sum of all our strength. Remember we think of us as connected, not only in memory but also in strength.”
When asked about the social structure of the Shades, it replied, “you heard of dark water? [the waters of the underworld? at the fountain of dark vibrations?] Our social ranks as you call them are given not for a individual shade, because our identity is shifting, but is more like this.. you have 1000 drops of dark water, 500 of them are the shade army that is used to balance the small things in the world outside, 300 are 100 demons used to rule those shades (3 drops for a demon), and 200 drops are a few powerful shades that rule.”
When we began to part ways, it said, “after such a long time together, I don’t know who got more close ..I towards you or you towards the shades ... but for sure I don’t like this situation, this mixture makes me sick, I like nice fighting and refreshing wars ...
It asked us some questions, also. What do we fear? If we had to choose black, white or grey, with the accompanying symbolism, what would we? To these questions each answered in their way. The meeting then dissolved. One of use followed the Shade when it left, tracking it to a sacrificial altar rather like Fenth’s Press, which we had used to try to attract their attention.
The writer of these notes, who was also the inadequate leader of this party of worthies, fell prey to exhaustion then and remembers naught else. Most remiss: he does not recall if we removed Big C from his imprisonment in Necrovion. Despite his maniacal hatred, I rather hope we did.
- Khalazdad of the Desert

This is well said. I would make one correction, however: this is no longer my mission alone. Here is a partial list of those who have committed to help that I remember (I know there are many more I was remiss in recording) - please add your name to the list if you also wish to help.
*Glaistig*
Holy Alucard
Braiton
GlorDamar
Khalazdad
Lulu
Old One
Rand alThor
Sage Mc Quincy
SaintDane
dst
emowarrior
w0tp
Evoker MorganJade
reggaeman
Sacred Fire
eigger
La Muerte
BrainUpdate
Gargant
Ledah
Khalazdad

The Necrovion Sentinels decided to fill their last council seat based on problem-solving ability. Thus a series of riddles were devised. The field quickly narrowed to two minds who would compete for the last seat. perrobotillo and Bad Sun Bath bot easily solved each of the riddles presented them. Now as the riddles get harder they spend more time considering their answers, knowing that the only prize for second place is losing.
Here are the riddles they have solved so far:
Find me in your shadow
No matter where you go
I'm the first and last
In existance, you should know.
Banish me with sparks or flames
Or suns high in the sky
But though I run from your chasing games
I never really die.
+++++
You need me but you fear me.
Use me but don't come near me.
My hunger cannot be sated,
Nor my rage abated.
What am I?
+++++
They are into the third riddle now. When the battle is done on this one, I will post it, too.
It is over. Bad Sun Bath won the riddle battle (I suspect by having more time online as perrobotillo confessed to having a life). Nonetheless, he is the newest of the Dark Lords.
And here is the third riddle in the cycle.
I cover a place where once you were weak
And you become weak there no longer.
You may not like acquiring these plates
But adversity makes you stronger.
You can hide me away or wear me with pride
Or purposefully acquire me
I have an equivalent on the inside
Where others fail to see.
Still stumped? Hree re two more verses.
I am proof - of your pain
I attest - that you live
I assert - yet again
That revenge - you may give
Injuries seem to come and go
But I think that you will find
I am the livid little thing
Injuries leave behind.
K

After a quiet conversation with Wodin that turned into an angry confrontation, Khalazdad turned to the Shades, joining the Necrovion Guard.
He stalks the land now, still barred from Necrovion and full of hatred and hunger for power. He recruits in the places where the disaffected gather in the shadows. Many have commented that he seems... changed...

At the gates today a strange sound was heard. Two or three organ notes played in ascension, echoing down as though in a vast hall or catherdral.
There were no other witnesses. I went to the Road of Battles to see if any others heard the sound. They denied it.
The meaning is unknown.
K
- update: now I know the meaning. It was notice that the Shades have offered me an alliance. They want me to "build an army worthy of Necrovion."
I don't think they know me very well. I am not tempted to serve them and betray my homelands in this manner.
K

This is the head of the Shade Sentinel. I don't recall it having a body - perhaps its dead eyes were so hypnotic I merely did not notice. Nonetheless, this is what I recall.
Feel free to add, subtract or change if you remember it differently.
K

You will see a similar event in the Legend Teller's stories. The connection is currently not known.
K

Your argument is vulgar and convincing. Mental note made.
What else do people think we need to know from Shades?
K

The Ferryman met with the delegation of Shade seekers outside the gate. He confirmed having seen a pillar of darkness and described it as both beautiful and terrifying but, on the subject of evil, demurred.
He could not tell us much about Shades except what they themselves had revealed. He said they are reflections of us and could be anywhere.
Little else was gained but fellowship was enjoyed.
They demurred when asked how to solve her murder and accused us thinking strangely.
It is not my intent to defeat the Shades at this time but to determine if they need defeating. At this time the answer seems to be 'no.'
Keep thinking - your mind is agile and I would see what else it comes up with.
K

I attempted to confront Wodin with these findings.
Wodin declined to debate his position and accused me of wanting him dead. To exacerbate the poblem, several others wanted to chime in, confusing the scene greatly. My position is only that the Shades are a reflection of us and want what we want; if we want war, then so do they. And if he wants war very badly, he makes them more strongly want war. But if he wants merely to guard the land, then they want to guard the land, also. As a bright light, he is creating stronger Shades but that seems of no consequence if he remains to balance them.
Wodin's position - as much as could be heard between others shouting theirs - is that he comes from a place overrun by Shades. He hates them for destroying his world and he is here to see that it doesn't happen again.
I do not oppose this position. Neither do I support a war with the Shades at this time.
- Khalazdad Greymantle

A Truth about Necrovion
There is no truth, only relative points of view. The following is what I have learned from my adventures in Necrovion. It may not be true to you. I have provided all the evidence on the Forum so you may decide for yourself.
The Nature of Necrovion
Necrovion is a mirror. It reflects Marind's Bell and the No Man's Lands - and possibly the Archive lands. It does not seem to reflect Golemus or Loreroot but this is undetermined at this time.
Now 'mirror' does not mean in the usual sense that everything hree is reflected there in reverse. The outline, the geography, the architecture are individual. And yet things there do reflect things in the rest of the world. Ours is a world of sunshine, bright skies, endless day. Theirs is a world of oppressive darkness. And, in the middle, a small group of people willing to embrace ambiguity.
The Nature of the Shades
If Necrovion is a mirror, the Shades are the images that appear when we look into the glass. They are not a reflection of each of us but rather a reflection of our actions. They are created by our strivings for good or for ill, our obsessions, temptations yielded to and resisted. If we are hostile, they are hostile. If we are meek, they are meek (although uncomfortable in this state). If we seek dialogue, they seek dialogue.
They see us a strange, small, isolated creatures, short on abilities. And yet they have curiosity about us - which probably reflected our curiosity about them.
The Nature of Marind's Bell
The Shades do NOT see outside lands as a reflection of their own. We are not what they see when they look into the mirror. My studies were not successful in answering any of the abiding metaphysical questions about the nature of us - how and why we come to be here, why we begin formless then accrue form, why we can attach these creatures and armors to ourselves, why we fight without dying.
War
If one would war with the shades, one might as well war with ones' self. Wodin and his army are reflected in Necrovion; the stronger he becomes, the more willing are the Shades to fight him. His bright light casts many Shades. Perhaps no harm would come of a war - the balance looks after itself. But what damage do we do ourselves making us capable of the atrocities of war? What paucity of spirit to we embrace when we fail to embrace the darkness? For to battle the darkness is to become lost in the light.
The Next Mission
I will seek in the future to have deeper contact with the shades, an expedition to answer the leftover fundamental questions of our existence.
- These are the words of Khalazdad of the Desert, Eater of the Weak, Student of the Grey Path

The adventure is concluded for now. Here are the annals of our journey.
After much community effort of offering sacrifices, exhortation, and expenditure of energy, we were transported within Necrovion. We took a moment to regroup as we had been scattered. Some powerful figures joined with us for their own purposes – Jonn, Simply Zero, SmartAlekRJ; we also discovered BigC trapped inside, weakened from his injuries.
A bit of exploration led us to a boundary place, a cave linking inner and outer Necrovion. There were no shades, but this seemed a likely place to make contact. We camped and did inside what we had done outside: chanted, offered sacrifices, and were patient. One of us offered a few drops of blood and heat.
Our patience was rewarded as a Shade Sentinel appeared from the cave. It initially sneered at us and the confusion was palpable. Some wanted to taunt the Shade, others to offer it battle, most just to ask it questions. The elected leader of the group asked for cooperation and settled the Shade with some dialogue and the offer of provender. The shade accepted. In the ensuing quite, each had a chance to speak.
The Shade was uncomfortable with our presence. It said we upset the balance; the Shade would go on to discuss balance in detail. What follows is a rough transcription of the dialogue. Some assumed the Shade was lying, or holding something back – and this was wise; we take nothing at face value. However, this seems a good place to start.
These people were present
Shade Sentinel *BigC* *Glaistig* *Shoeps*
Braiton EZEebs Elsdragon Khalazdad Lulu
Mr Item OneRain Vilinec Yoric dst tampa
db w0tp *phrog* .Muratus del Mu GlorDamar
The description of the Shade is as follows:
“Nightmares for some, fascination for others, Shades rule the obscure side of this world, balancing for all that is opposing them.”
We asked what the nature of Shades was; how they came to be and how they filled space. It replied, “I am not interested in such complicated matters ... and we do not want to balance anything, but certain things that happen outside make us react in different ways , so probably its all about some sort of...balance… as you call it”.
The Shade asked if we experienced individual memories, to which we confessed. This led us to ask about how Shades remembered – as the land itself? Forward and backward in time? The Shade replied that they could indeed remember into the future, and “that’s why I can also change it ....I heard that is something you cant do ...but then again, there are many things you cant do ...so ..”
Confused by our linear way of thinking, it went on, “its strange ..how we fear you so much and how weak you are comparing to us ...but I wonder why that might be.”
We asked after the Shades’ intentions towards our lands. The Shade replied, “is Marind that is causing all this. She kept her identity when she died ... and she is simply destroying our balance. and now Wodin ...its all summing up against us ...but you will never be able to defeat us...defeating the shades will only cause more unbalance and more shades ...and since we leave for that, the war is something we embrace.”
The Shade was asked if they were spirits of the dead, if dying or violence made them. It answered, “oh, nono ...no way ...Marind is dead ... we still exist ...we are the effect to the cause ...and the cause its called by you balance.”
We asked if the Shades were good or evil or even thought in those terms. It replied, “evil or good, that is so uncertain both in your world as well in mine I don’t think I can consider all of you evil, or all of us evil, that has no meaning in this situation.”
The Shade again stated that our presence was causing the balance to go wild as we did not wish to redress it. We offered to leave and wondered if it could be contacted in the future. The Shade demurred as to how we had gotten there but said this would not be our last contact as it could remember a future in which we spoke again.
Regarding the existence of right and wrong, the Shade said, yes ... but its also dependent on a third thing its like left and right ... but comparing to what road? Sometimes the goal is just a state ...a way to be ...not a precise purpose...then right and wrong are relative to that state you seek.”
In response to the question of who built Necrovion and the observation that the buildings look as do ours, it said, “Necrovion is divided in two I am just a sentinel of the first circle ... deep inside Necrovion there are other things ...”
In response to an unheard question regarding the House of Liquid Dust, the shade said, “there is no turning back to what happened there. Shades outside Necrovion, that is worse than you can think. some thing you should know about us is that the lack of memory makes us to be different based on the world we are in.
We asked if it were possible to recruit a shade as a traveling companion; the Shade demurred, saying “I heard such things that Golemus managed to capture a shade and train it as a personal companion...such a danger to the balance is an atrocity, I can not allow that.” This being one of the few unequivocal statements the Shade made, we quickly moved on.
When asked how it became a Shade, the Shade answered only, “I do not recall a beginning to this.”
We asked if, since it could remember the future, its efforts would turn out to be successful. It said their efforts were always successful but that success was a mutable term.
In response to I know not what question, it said, “let’s put it this way, if you seek strength then the shades will be stronger , if you seek peace then the Necrovion gates will be open and your world will be gray ... shades want what you want , you want to defeat us , we want the same, you want to be at peace with us and assimilate us then we want the same, its more of your decision since from our point of view things are the same. The balance is kept”
We asked how the Shades viewed Wodin. It said, “wodin is like a strong light that is causing a lot of shades[sic]. in our eyes, your Wodin is like a sum of many little lights together.” Perhaps on the same subject, it said, “I don’t see what you are trying to achieve with this fight of yours, for us is a natural thing for you it seems like an unfortunate event, but it will always happen, regardless of what you do .. although some tried to do certain things and it didn’t turn up well”
When asked how Shades fight, it replied, “in fighting it all has to do with the immediate balance , not the global balance, so if you will fight a lot of us in a close space then all our strength is divided and it seems we are weak, but if you fight just a few and rarely then we are indeed a sum of all our strength. Remember we think of us as connected, not only in memory but also in strength.”
When asked about the social structure of the Shades, it replied, “you heard of dark water? [the waters of the underworld? at the fountain of dark vibrations?] Our social ranks as you call them are given not for a individual shade, because our identity is shifting, but is more like this.. you have 1000 drops of dark water, 500 of them are the shade army that is used to balance the small things in the world outside, 300 are 100 demons used to rule those shades (3 drops for a demon), and 200 drops are a few powerful shades that rule.”
When we began to part ways, it said, “after such a long time together, I don’t know who got more close ..I towards you or you towards the shades ... but for sure I don’t like this situation, this mixture makes me sick, I like nice fighting and refreshing wars ...
It asked us some questions, also. What do we fear? If we had to choose black, white or grey, with the accompanying symbolism, what would we? To these questions each answered in their way. The meeting then dissolved. One of use followed the Shade when it left, tracking it to a sacrificial altar rather like Fenth’s Press, which we had used to try to attract their attention.
The writer of these notes, who was also the inadequate leader of this party of worthies, fell prey to exhaustion then and remembers naught else. Most remiss: he does not recall if we removed Big C from his imprisonment in Necrovion. Despite his maniacal hatred, I rather hope we did.
- Khalazdad of the Desert