# Zion: Light of the New Moon, Milestone 2a Author: comidacomida Tags: Fantasy, Magic, Zion, reader-driven Zion: Light of the New Moon Part 2 Milestone 2a "At the top of the highest palace tower within Zion there is a small sitting room.  There are three windows to the room, facing north, east, and west.  During the summer all three windows stand open, providing a grand view of the rise and setting of sun and moon as well as permitting a cooling breeze from the northern winds to blow through the chamber.  During the winter all three windows are shut fast against the chilling weather outside.  No matter the season, however, a tapestry hangs from the southern wall. "A visitor to the room would invariably notice how empty it looked; save for a simple wooden chair and an unadorned, rough-hewn pine wood table there was nothing else to be seen... nothing but the tapestry.  Such an individual might see the hanging fabric and marvel at the pictures woven within.  The craftsmanship and skill required to make such a piece of art would be beyond their imagination.  The visitor would be astounded by the end result as they gazed at the flowing story told within the weave, but, for looking at  the entire picture they would be unable to see the finest details... the single threads that create the whole. "Many have created an entire school of philosophy over the view of the divine.  These men and women theorize that Tah'aveen (and indeed, Tah'alia as well) are divine eyes gazing upon the tapestry of life.   Mortals are but threads, creating the picture they view, the artwork that they both created and stand before as a witness.  These philosophers say that the temples are the goddess' magnifying glass... they allow the divine to review their work intricately, enough that they might catch glimpses of the threads that make up the whole. "All weavers know that every thread has a place in the work, but, insofar as the the large picture is concerned, some threads have more importance.  Some, an artist might choose for strength and form, while others are chosen for their color, hue, or texture.  All of these threads come together to create a single product... a tapestry.  By themselves these threads are meaningless, but as part of the whole they become  much greater than they ever could have managed alone.  This is life, some say.  They say we are threads and that the Goddess Tah'Aveen can see us within her work thanks to the service of the temples.   "These philosophers... these men and women of thought and knowledge are the priests and priestesses of the very temples they venerate; their words are self-serving.  How easy it is to pay homage to an institution that could elevate you to a position where the Goddess might notice you... to see your importance.  The simple fact is, however, that not all threads are as important within a tapestry.  People fool themselves into thinking that their mere existence means they are important, but they are wrong.  We do not know our importance to the tapestry and, no matter how closely the Goddess looks it won't make us any more meaningful; any number of us are not here for the pattern... we are simply filler. "Do I speak against the temples with these words?  No.  It is a simple matter of understanding that those  who preach about the value of the houses of the divine have it backwards.  For generations I have watched the spark within the mortals around me flash into being, burn brightly, and then fade once again into darkness.  I have seen men and women live lives of meaning only to see them cut short; on the same note I have seen others who have squandered the gift of existence granted to them by the divine and live far longer without merit than they deserved.  One thing I have found to be true in all cases; most never understand what part they play in the great tapestry. "The temples, dear one, are not the Goddess' magnifying glass.  The divine does not need help seeing what comprises the pattern anymore than the master weaver needs one to see if their work is accurate-- they know astutely with practiced precision; if they make a mistake then they know it without some silly tool just as you or I would feel the tingling pull of a treasured item taken from our hoard, unable to be described to one who has not felt it.  This is what we are... that is what a master weaver is... that is  what it means to be divine.   "No, in truth, my child, the temples exist to help mortals catch images of the divine... to aid them in the desperate search in understanding what meaning their thread grants to the tapestry.  There is no greater thing wasted than a life, dear one... even a mortal life.  The worst failure of mortal kind is to fail to achieve their full potential, and it is an all-too common failure among them.  I tell you this, as I speak with all of your lessons, because it is one more thing you should know.  And remember, my heart... remember that room in Zion.  Remember the three windows and remember that tapestry.  Within all things there is a thread of fate and never do we know where it leads, nor how it connects to our own existence.   Everything, my dear, happens for a reason." -The words of Iralisiev the Black, Protector of Shrad \* \* \* \* \* \* **The Sewers of Zion** "It smells worse than I thought it would." the comment was spoken simply, but it was undeniable.  Liam's straight-forward approach at the observation had several heads nodding in agreement but nobody bothered to  reply; it would require taking more of a breath than was needed, and such a concept would be akin to torture. The fox led the way into the tunnel, followed immediately thereafter by Elias.  The Geomancer was assigned the second place to 'feel out' the path and hopefully keep the group on track towards the less flooded passages.  Directly behind the two trailblazers were Raes and Leijh: two more swords in the event that they met trouble.  Priestess Delier and Lady Marion followed next, each using their Divine Shields to create ample light, illuminating the tunnels with a mellow, bluish-white glow.   Iskiy and Dana were at the mid-point of the group at Lady Marion's request to keep an eye on Josh, who was still astride Sebastian (whom he thanked repeatedly before entering the sewers for helping him to keep his boots free from 'dookie').  Jules, Keeland, Roarg, and Cymbeline followed at the rear of the party, keeping watch over the side tunnels as the party passed by them.  They had been traveling the sewers for  almost twenty minutes, faces covered with paws, hands, cloths, masks, or anything else they could find to keep their eyes from watering-- regardless, nothing really seemed to help. When Elias finally waved everyone to a stop the party paused long enough to look around at the featureless passages and unlabeled tunnels; they were at a crossroads in the sewer system and one way looked as good as any other.  "Know where we are?" Keeland hazarded the question, speaking as few words as he could before replacing the oiling rag back over his nose; under any other circumstances no warrior would willingly place such an acrid-scented piece of cloth on their face but, considering the sewers, it was an improvement. "Tradesman District." Elias' voice was barely audible through the black stone mask he wore about his muzzle.  Despite the fact that it looked as if it should have suffocated him, the rock seemed nearly as alive as his flesh, and he appeared to have little trouble breathing. "How can you tell?" Iskiy spoke up quietly, blinking away the tears in his eyes as he quickly stuck his  nose back into the crook of his arm. The armadillo pointed around at the crumpled, featureless mounds of scree and debris gathered at the corners of the intersection, "The less reputable dump their leavings into the sewers... it stays for up to a month or so before the tunnels are flushed." "Flushed?" Leijh spoke up, and coughed, moving quickly to cover her face again with a perfumed handkerchief. Elias nodded, "Aquamancers flood the tunnels to remove any trapped... leavings." "They're not doing that anytime soon... are they?" Sebastian questioned, tip-towing through the shin-high water before climbing up onto a small pile of chipped stone-leavings and scorned ingot-drippings. The armadillo shrugged in response, "Another good reason to get out of here quickly." "Which way, Elias?" Raes asked, his voice clear and unobstructed; the big dog didn't bother covering his muzzle and yet seemed as unconcerned about the smell as a new father would be ignorant of cub spittle on his shoulder. The Geomancer turned once to get his bearings, "If we want to rise near the palace, we'll want that way."  he pointed.  "The temple is that way too, but we'll want to turn north," again he motioned, "after a short distance." He glanced down the tunnel continuing the way the party had been traveling, "The lower class quarter is that way... probably not many cultists bothering people there..." and, at last, he looked back to everyone, "We're inside Zion now, so any--" but he cut himself off the moment muted voices began speaking from somewhere above them. Liam drew closer to the armadillo as everyones' eyes and ears raised toward the ceiling, high overhead, and the faintest bit of moonlight streaming in from a small grate.  At Raes' gesture, the two priestesses halted the glow from their Divine Shields and the party was bathed immediately in blackness. "D'you think they heard us?" Josh whispered quietly, a faint whine of concern in his voice. "Shh." Marion hushed him, and again all was silent, save for the muffled tone from high above. Dana mumbled softly to herself, a barely visible glow forming on her paws.  Several party members were  about to object, but the light faded as quickly as it had appeared.  "There's something here with us." Elias noted with a hiss. "Aye." Dana whispered back, "She be a spirit ta help us." and the shaman mumbled quietly to the invisible-but-still-noticeable presence.  The language she spoke was alien to everyone... almost everyone.  As soon as the wolf had fallen silent, Roarg quickly spoke up in the same strange tongue that she had used.  "Good idea, boy-o." Dana acknowledged to the badger, "Better t'know for sure." "That's the language of air elementals," Jules guessed, "isn't it?" "Aye." Dana acknowledged. "You speak Air Elemental?" Josh asked Roarg with a gasp. "You'd be surprised." Iskiy added with a mirthful tone to his words. "shh." Lady Marion repeated her earlier statement and the party fell silent once again. The presence felt by everyone as a faint disruption to the otherwise leaden air disappeared, and the group was forced to wait... again.  Nobody truly noticed the freshness of the air brought by the summoned  elemental until it left, and it was all they could do to keep from retching as the scents of the sewers suddenly accosted them anew... but it wasn't a concern for long.  "They know we be here." Dana spoke at length.  Moments later the ground began to tremble. "Flushing?" Sebastian squawked. "Flushing." Elias acknowledged. "Tis water, aye?" Dana questioned the armadillo. "A lot of water." he acknowledged. "We'll divert it then." the shaman suggested. "Last time I tried that it didn't work so well." the Geomancer added flatly. "Can we survive it without intervention?" Dana demanded. "...no." "Then we divert it." she added firmly, "It not be a choice if it's th'only way." Raes began shouting orders around to the group, the need for silence apparently no longer the party's greatest concern.  Elias took Dana's direction and began settling himself in the middle of the tunnel.   The moment she began drawing power into her the sludge within the tunnel suddenly repelled away from her, creating a diamond-shaped dry spot on the ground, "Come." she directed everyone simply, and nobody wasted  time moving to the protected area. Elias took a deep breath, and coughed, even within his stone face mask.  He took a moment to settle himself, and visibly reached, as if trying to grasp at something.  "Alright... I'll--" but he had no more time to prepare as an enormous wall of water slammed into Dana's defenses. The protection was there... but it was hardly enough.  The barrier had provided several precious seconds to prepare but, in the end, they could do little more than gasp quickly for breath and hold on for dear life.  The sheer force of the water crashed through the magical warding and the party was swept away.   \* \* \* \* \* \* **Blood** "I wasn't dreaming." Zeke repeated his assessment for the dozenth time, "I know what the dragon said." "It's not that we doubt you, Zeke." Rust noted calmly, "We just want to be sure that--" "I got the cleansing waters, didn't I?" the fox objected, much more agitated than his normally mellow mood would suggest him capable of. "Are you sure you're just not afraid of going into Zion?" Dillan suggested.  "I.  Faced.  A.  Dragon." the fox bit off each word as he said it. "And it told you that Zion was under attack..." Haldyn nodded, "Alright... we understand." "Apparently not." the fox's ears twitched, "We're still going TOWARD it!" "Danger or not, it's still our destination." Taggart explained calmly. "But... the Sun Cultists..." Zeke objected. "Did the dragon say there were Sun Cultists?" Dillan asked blandly "Well... no... but--" "So, the dragon said we should turn and run?" Rust questioned. "Not exactly, but--" "What did the dragon say then, Zeke?" Haldyn questioned. The flustered fox took a step back, tail lashing in agitation, "It wasn't what he said, it was--" "Zion has fallen." Jasper emerged from the undergrowth to the north, the words spilling out of him the moment he stepped onto the Highway.  All discussion stopped immediately and all eyes turned to him, "Well... it's still standing, but there are Sun Cultists everywhere." "We need to get inside." Narissa's voice spoke quietly from off to the side.  She slowly moved away from a  wagon she had been using to balance. "'issa... stop." Rust noted, standing up to move over to her, "You shouldn't be up and around just yet." "Don't coddle me." she objected, intercepting his paw before he could take hold of her elbow, "The water Zeke brought helped... I'm fine." "Pardon me for speaking out against you, 'my lady'," Jasper noted blandly, offering the honorific up with less than genteel grace, "but I don't think someone scarcely 12 hours over a suicide attempt can classify herself as 'fine'." "I wasn't trying to kill myself!" the tigress growled at the rat. "And yet you almost succeeded." Dillan pressed, "You ARE an overachiever." "QUIET!" Zeke barked, the loud exclamation far from characteristic of the normally subdued fox, "Why isn't anyone listening to me?!?!" Nobody had an immediate answer, still stunned by the sudden force behind Zeke's presence.  When someone finally did answer it was from off to the side. "We've all been listening, Zeke." Zachary spoke calmly.  The rabbit emerged from his wagon, ears tied  together to hang down his back, "And, true... there's danger." The young priest descended the three steps to the ground. His sandals had been replaced by boots; the metal soles made an audible sound on the stone.  Zachary adjusted the leather gloves on his fingers and shrugged beneath the weight of his Blood Beast cloak, under it he was dressed in studded leather armor, "But we're still going into Zion." "There are Sun Cultists all over the place." Jasper objected, "We'd need a miracle to get inside." "Or a plan." Haldyn added. "Or help." the rabbit stated calmly.  Suddenly, just within the range of hearing, a deep, loud howl cut through the twilight stillness.  All eyes suddenly turned to Zachary, who smiled as the sound was quickly picked up by a chorus of voices. "Feral wolves?" Rust questioned. "No..." Jasper spoke, the word emerging with a gasp. "Blood Beasts..." Zeke finished the thought. "The Enaral." the rabbit countered, "The People of Tah'Enar." he elaborated, and began walking down the Highway toward Zion, "They will help us."  "They tried to KILL us, Zachary!" Taggart objected. "They thought that all Moon Worshipers were enemies..." the young priest explained casually, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "Their alpha now knows differently." "Their... alpha?" Rust questioned, "I thought you killed him." "When one alpha dies another rises." Zachary answered. "and..." Taggart spoke, falling quiet for a moment as he swallowed away his queasiness, "You know the new alpha?" Zachary turned back to regard the dog, the faintest of smiles on his lips, "Yes... and so do you."  With that, the fur-cloaked rabbit looked back to the road ahead and approached the city.  It took less than ten minutes for the walls of Zion to come into sight and, at that point, everyone came to a halt. "Goddess..." Zeke murmured, eyes plastered to the wave of red that crashed again and again against the walls of Zion.  The Blood Beasts had accomplished little with their charge save to gain the full attention of every last man and woman on the walls.  Numerous archers, crossbowmen, and spear men took up position  on the eastern wall and rained death down upon the creatures.  Those without long range weapons spent their time running back and forth for supplies, or else they threw heavy objects down upon the sweeping tide of the ferocious army of beasts. "They aren't getting through the walls." Rust noted, "They're just dying." "And creating a distraction." Dillan noted, watching the admirable event, "Wow... and to think all it takes to clear the southern walls is an army of Blood Beast attacking from the east." "Poorly trained watchmen." Haldyn spoke, eyes just as stuck on the roaring, howling surge of attacking Blood Beasts, "Your 'pack' is getting slaughtered, Zach." "They give themselves freely." the rabbit answered coldly, continuing straight down toward the southern gate without even slowing, "They all know that it is suicide, but they will press the attack until we're inside." "Zachary..." Taggart trotted faster to catch up to the rabbit, "I... I can't believe what I'm seeing..." "You should trust your eyes, Taggart." the priest announced, resting a paw on his moonstone encrusted  belt, "Spend less time second-guessing and more time paying attention... we must be ready." The dog recoiled slightly, a mix between shame and reproach written on his muzzle, "You've changed." "The Goddess makes us her tools," Zachary stated calmly, "and shapes us based on what uses she has for us."  He approached the gate and, without even stopping, held a paw up toward it.  The moonstones surrounding the portcullis glowed brightly and the illumination was echoed in the rabbit's belt; the gate opened without event, "Come." he directed. Taggart slowed down to a stop as the rest of the party moved to follow after the rabbit.  Zeke and Jasper paused for a moment, but Haldyn was the only one to stop beside the dog.  The lion reached out and clasped a paw on Taggart's shoulder, "When you live your life in the dark it hurts to have light shined in your eyes." "I..." Taggart let out a rattling exhale, "I don't understand what's going on with him." "He needs time to adjust." Haldyn offered, "Zach is seeing the real world for the first time and he's not  sure how to react." "Psychosis is not a healthy reaction!" the statement emerged from the dog's muzzle before he could stop it, but, after a moment's pause, all he could do was laugh at his own words; the laugh turned quickly into tears. "He'll need friends like you, Taggart." Haldyn pulled the dog into a short, but warm embrace, "Do NOT abandon him now." The resounding \*CLUNK\* of the portcullis sealed the two of them outside Zion.  Although the party within the city paused to turn around they didn't have time to do anything about it; Sun Cultists poured down the city streets and were upon them in moments.  Taggart didn't know what he would do-- he could only stand and watch as the party was surrounded.  Of all the things the dog had expected to hear, the last thing he expected was a roar from Zachary exclaiming with complete and savage conviction, "Kill the cultists!  KILL THEM ALL!" \* \* \* \* \* \* **Zion's Catacombs** The Myrheans avoided the road completely and approached Zion from the south, choosing a natural dip in the  land for their approach to the mound that identified the entrance to the tunnels beneath Zion.  The Catacombs of any large city often extended through the entirety of the streets, but Zion, the center of the Empire of the Moon had so many more passages within the crypt than any city... the maze of tunnels extended far beyond its walls.   Somehow, against all reason, Priestess Anya Fanewatcher appeared to have no trouble whatsoever finding her way through the twists and turns.  She led the party forward past countless walls, sickle glowing with more illumination than a torch.  Every few intersections one or two members of the group would pause to inspect the stone walls, each containing the interred remains of at least a dozen faithful.  The jackal marched forward with purpose as if she knew where she was going.  The priestess continued her trek for over an hour before coming to a sudden stop, "We're not alone." she spoke clearly and calmly. "Undead?" Yearl questioned. "No." the jackal shook her head. "Sun Cultists?" the question was a near-growl from Artemisia.  "I don't believe so." the priestess murmured.   The party quieted and Yearl moved the party back to an intersection they had just passed.  He motioned to everyone individually and then a location, directing them into position as he noiselessly moved his paw to his sword. The Shradians, mindful of the warning provided to them by their scout, had elected to follow Allin to the Northern entrance to Zion's catacombs.  The opening was built against a large dirt mound, placed at a slight angle and sealed with two enormous stone doors.  Not even pausing to assess the situation, Tollie approached them; with a single touch of his paw the slabs of stone parted, permitting the party entrance; a dry, earthy scent exhaled from the dark tunnel, providing a less than welcoming first impression... and that impression failed to improve as they traveled in the near silent corridor, guided only by Tollie and the powerful glow from the moonstone on his Divine Shield. The group lost track of time as they walked the endless corridors, twists and turns losing meaning as each  and every intersection looked like the last.  Tollie never slowed, moving through the maze with surreal alacrity, choosing a turn here, a turn there, but, more often than not, he elected to forage on ahead.   His choices in navigation followed no consistent guideline that anyone in the paty could ascertain and it was only a matter of time before Loric called him to a stop. "Yes, Lord Kriabnish?" the hyena inquired, halting obediently the moment the fox was about to speak. "I do not doubt you, Your Grace," Loric reassured the seer, "but I fear that several members of our party are wondering how you know the way..." "A dream." Tollie answered. "A dream?" Guardsman Sten inquired. "Or a vision..." the seer shrugged, "or perhaps a memory I haven't yet had for the future." "Is it just me," Nori spoke up, "or is he getting even more vague as time goes by?" the ferret followed along near the back of the group; his rough-made crutch meant that he did not travel as fast as everyone else. "Hail." it was a call, neither welcoming nor threatening, but it was enough to bring everyone in the group  to an immediate halt.  The Shradians had their weapons out in the blink of an eye and turned to regard the speaker; a tall lion that approached.  Everything about him from appearance to movement suggested that he had, at one time, been a great fighter, but his aging body also hinted that such a time had been many years prior.  "I am armed, but I mean no harm." he spoke. "Announce yourself." Guardsman Sten spoke.  The otter kept his sword at the ready. "Yearl Rakken." Tollie spoke up, "Originally of Doen, now a Captain in the Myrhean army." "Do I know you, lad?" the lion asked, turning to address the hyena. "No, Captain Rakken." the seer bowed his head, "But I know of you." "You address Tollie of Shrad." Loric quickly spoke up, "High Priest, and leader of the temple's envoy." "Lord Kriabnish." the lion nodded his head, "I recognize your family's seal." "Why are you in the city's crypt?" Shadow got straight to the point, the wolf's black fur hinting that it would like to be standing up, but he appeared otherwise casual... other than his paw's tight hold on his  drawn sword. "Zion is overrun with Sun Cultist." Captain Rakken announced. "That must be why the envoy never returned." Nori spoke up.  The ferret leaned on his makeshift crutch, favoring his footless leg. The lion's ears raised at that and he glanced to Loric, who was already glaring back at the ferret with a dirty look.  Yearl waited until he had Loric's attention again, "Didn't you say your party was the Shradian envoy?" "The second envoy." Tolen spoke up, then shrank back when Loric shot him the same look as he had given Nori. "And you?" Guardsman Sten inquired. "The same." a second voice spoke up from behind the lion, a smooth, cold, and hauntingly beautiful tone.   If the jackal's voice was all those things, her appearance was all that and more.  Silvery-blue flames flickered along the length of the sickle she carried, creating a striking illumination of her pure-black fur and making her eyes gleam in the light, "Our first envoy never returned, and so we were sent." she rested the butt of her sickle non-threateningly on the ground, "I am Priestess Anya Fanewatcher."  "What have you found?" Shadow asked, obviously unimpressed with the title. Loric spoke up before she had a chance to answer, "How do we know you're telling the truth?" "You do not." Yearl answered, "Just as we don't know you are being truthful." "Faith." Tolen spoke softly, "Trust." "Your accent is different..." Yearl turned to regard the demure fox, "...Banniharian?" "He is a healer of Shrad." Loric interjected, then glanced between Yearl and Priestess Fanewatcher, "But we have more to worry about right now than accents and dialects." "Very true." Guardsman Sten acknowledged, "If you're talking about trust you should bring out the rest of your number." he directed. Yearl glanced back over his shoulder and nodded and, with that, several more of their party came into view: a black-furred husky, a human who was as all-white as the dog was black, an enormous reptilian woman who held a man-sized, two-handed sword, and a faint shadow that clung to the walls, almost able to be mistaken for a flicker of light... almost. "Who in your party avoids showing himself?" Sten demanded immediately, calling attention to the hidden  figure. "No one of consequence." Tollie reached out to rest a paw on Sten's shoulder, "Do not worry, Guardsman... an aide to Lady Artemisia..." the hyena explained, giving name to the dragoness without having been introduced, "he is fearful, and means us no harm." "I would feel more comfortable seeing him." Shadow acknowledged. "And I am certain they would feel more comfortable without your weapons drawn." the seer offered calmly, "Please... if we truly are here for the purpose of peace then we had best be willing to show it." Loric scowled at the comment, but hid it quickly once the hyena's attention moved to him.  "Of course, Your Eminence... you are right, as always." and he looked back to the rest of the party, "You heard the High Priest." his voice was tight with displeasure, but he hid it well. "How do you know so much about us, Young Master Tollie?" Yearl asked calmly once weapons were put away. "His Grace is a High Priest of Tah'aveen, and a great Seer." Loric offered with courtly flourish, bowing in reverence to the hyena. The deeper pocket of shadows shifted uncomfortably at that, but only one of the  Shradians noticed; Tollie smiled when he saw it. "Tell us about the cultists." Shadow stepped forward, taking attention from the snow fox, "What do you know about them?"  Loric scowled at the interruption, but remained silent. The parties compared their notes but had little more to go off of by the time they were done.  The sun cultists referred to themselves as the Legion of the Sun.  They had taken control of Zion somehow and were coercing many of the townsfolk to act as their eyes and ears.  There were military drills being undertaken within the Periphery of Zion, which had weakened significantly since the Sun Cultists had taken control of the city. "How could they even manage this?" Nori spoke up, "I thought you City Dwellers were supposed to be masters of your temples." "You can accomplish a lot with magic and tenacity." the all-white human, Jerard by name, announced. "And a dragon... having a dragon helps too." Beo, the black-furred husky next to the human added. "Did you say 'dragon'?" Shadows ears perked.  "He did." Artemisia acknowledged, eyes slitted in disdain, "A true dragon." "True dragons don't help sun cultists." Nori objected. "Yea... and Zion doesn't fall to Sun Cultists." Beo countered.  Nori responded by sticking his tongue out at the husky.  "Real mature." the dog responded, and stuck his tongue out in return. "Well... that's great and all," Guardsman Sten acknowledged, brushing at a smudged section of his armor with his webbed fingers, "but we won't accomplish much sitting down here in the dark." "Do you have a plan?" Priestess Fanewatcher inquired of the otter. "Nothing firm." Gaerid spoke.  The rottweiler had been silent up to that moment, and. though he spoke quietly, he had chosen a time when the idle chatter was at its quietest and he was clearly heard. "That's okay." Beo grinned, tail languidly flowing from side to side, "We're winging it too." Anya Fanewatcher placed her sickle against the side wall and let it glow while Tollie hung his Divine Shield from an empty torch holder, providing them ample light to hold their discussion.  The party  continued speaking amongst themselves quietly.  Shrad's hyena took the opportunity to slide back into the darkness; a single shadow crept silently through the rest of the blackness, drawing closer to him.   "Hello, Mr Vederik." "You are too good of a seer." the shadow whispered, and the end of a punching blade gently tickled its way across Tollie's back between his third and forth vertebrae. "Good enough to know that you do not want to me dead." Tollie answered, his own voice coming out as a quiet breath; he remained looking forward toward the two groups without registering the assassin's presence behind him. "You know who I am..." the cloaked leopard-wolf paused, "...why didn't you call me out?" "Why would I?" Silence reigned for a moment between them until the shadow finally answered, "...you know why." "Would it bring you comfort to find out that Armenius Tenge is dead?" Tollie questioned. "...is he?" Tollie nodded without a word. "I... do not know what to say." the hyena felt the tightly-wound spring that was the assassin finally  relax behind him, "Should I be relieved that he's gone?  Angry because I could not win vengeance myself?" "I am a seer," the hyena answered, "but I cannot tell you how to feel." "Both." Kell Vederik answered, and Tollie heard him slink to the floor with a sign. "Neither?" the seer suggested. "Why?" "Because Armenius Tenge is not the man responsible in the way you believe he is." Tollie explained; he did not miss the sudden inhalation from the shadowy figure, nor the palpable wave of sudden interest.  Had the hyena been anyone else he would have felt great concern about having so much of an assassin's focus, but Tollie was far from content to leave it at that, "...but I know who is." The conversation would have continued; there was no way that Kell Vederik would have passed up the chance to find the understanding he had never realized he lacked, but the choice was not his.  That moment, a split second after Tollie turned away from the wall, a decaying paw burst forth from the rock and began a frantic flailing.  "CORPSE!" Sten shouted, but he was looking at a different wall-- it didn't really  matter WHICH wall he looked at, of course, because all around the party the sides of the catacombs were exploding as undead flooded into the tunnels. Source: https://sofurry.com/view/360399