Hours have past since Timothy went into town. The sun is sinking lower in the sky, casting eerie shadows across the landscape. Near the shade tree banked river, Delachiel is resting peacefully. The water makes the only sound that encroaches on her sleep until rustling through the underbrush can be heard...
The elfess opens one eye to see what's causing the noise.
The rustling gets a bit louder, and finally a rather tired looking Chipmunk comes out of the brush.
Delachiel smiles at Timothy, then becomes a little more worried as she sees how tired her young friend is. ~~Hello there. Did you run in trouble?~~
Timothy smiles wryly, "Oh, just a lot. First off, remind me to bring gold or something universal for money next time I leave my planet. When we have time, someday, I'll tell you about it. But I at least got what I needed."
Delachiel tilts her head, her expression varying between amused and sympathetic, and decides not to mention what she has on her. ~~That's good.~~
Timothy pulls out a piece of 2 inch wide flat glass that has been smoked and curved into a crescent shape. A leather frame has been worked around it, with straps. He shows it to Delachiel, "It's fairly thick glass, so it shouldn't break, but I hope it's not too heavy."
Timothy hands it to Delachiel, "I tried it. It blocks a lot of light, but still lets you see fairly well."
The elfess blinks and takes the contraption, eyeing it cautiously, as if it would bite her in the nose. She finally tries it on, looking trough it quietly, turning her head this way and that.
Timothy sits down next to Delachiel and retrieves his staff and other supplies, "So, does it work? If it's too dark, I can fix that."
Delachiel finally smiles at Timothy. ~~Thank you. I -- I will see how it works out.~~ She pulls her hood over her head. She chuckles and shakes her head. ~~I doubt that could be a problem.~~
A single shadow seems to ripple across one of the trees. Was it just the fading light? Must be seeing things...
Timothy chuckles, "Well, it was hard to get them to make exactly what I wanted. But it should help protect your eyes during the day. When we get back to Haven, I'll bet we can make something much better."
Delachiel nods quietly. ~~It's very kind of you.~~ She pauses shortly to glance around at the shadow, still not daring to look at the sky.
Something very cold brushes against Timothy's side. Colder than anything he's ever felt, it goes to the bone...
Timothy yelps loudly and rolls away from the sensation which to him feels like he's been stabbed with ice, barely able to shout, "Something's attacking me Delachiel!"
Delachiel jumps up, turning to face the danger, whatever it is. She holds her staff in front of her, ready to strike!
There's nothing there. Nothing at all.
Delachiel pokes at the air until she's satisfied that there indeed is nothing around, then turns to Timothy, ~~Are you okay? What happened?~~ She keeps glancing around.
Timothy is finally calming down, his side having that prickly feeling of chilled flesh starting to warm up and regain circulation. "I don't know Delachiel. It's like I was stabbed by an ice dagger in my side. Horribly cold."
Nothing save an innocent shadow dancing across the trees remains in the grove. Something about it's movement isn't natural...
Delachiel removes a glove to feel Timothy's side, then frowns and turns to see what is casting this shadow.
Timothy uses the metal staff for support and gets back to his feet, securing his personal affects as he watches Delachiel, "What do you see?"
The shadow's shape mutates and glides across some leaves. The instant it touches a leaf, it withers to an autumn brown and falls from the tree. It seems to be circling...
Timothy's eyes widen and then look at the metallic device in his hand. What good is a metal spear, of any kind, against a shadow?
The air begins to grow colder and the shadow seems to grow larger steadily. It's about the size of an average human, but steadily growing. It flows and moves like liquid across everything it touches. Anything living that touches it withers...
Delachiel licks her lips, and puts the glove back on. ~~Stay away from that shadow...~~ She begins to move slowly, trying to get a better idea on the purpose of the shadow's movement. One hand strays to a pouch.
Timothy nods, "That much I think I've figured out. I'll let you try first, as I'm not sure what I have with me that will work on a shadow."
Delachiel chuckles wryly. ~~Well, you're the mage... And that thing /is/ magical.~~ She begins to prepare a spell, hopefully producing a somewhat stunning effect if needed.
A voice echos in the grove. Unintelligible at first, but growing louder. "Xaaaardeeth...." he says, over and over.
Timothy is fumbling with spell components, wondering if he can hit the thing with light without harming Delachiel. Maybe fire? That might be safer.
Chills run trough Delachiel's spine now. Her voice is low and steady, as she responds, continuously moving, ~~Yes.~~
Timothy is startled, "It knows who you are?"
The shadow leaps from the trees, landing in front of the elfess... It's no longer just a shadow, but a formless creature of a black liquid... ~Deaath... Xaardeath... Is this one of your...toys?~ It seems to ripple, "Is it a gift for me, Xaardeeath?"
Timothy blinks, but remains quiet, he decides that he may have to risk hurting Delachiel's eyes after all and gets a flare type spell put together. This one is more chemistry than magic, but it takes some magic after all. When he's ready, he decides to wait to see if it's necessary. Apparently the thing knows of Delachiel's race?
The black elfess remains outwardly calm, as she replies, ~~He is not for you -- and your presence is not required.~~ Her fingers begin to weave the magic of this land into a spell to disrupt magical structures -- and hopefully creatures as well, stealthily preparing herself for a quick cast.
Several tendrils of murky darkness lash out, engulfing the elfess' hands and legs. The creature ripples as if it's laughing, "Oh...but I am...I haven't fed on anything in over a thousand years... Surely...you miss the exquisite feelings of watching someone in pain... Or perhaps..." searing cold shoots up the elfess' arms, "Perhaps you need to be reminded of what feasting on pain is like..."
Delachiel gathers her will-power to finish the spell, screaming trough her clenched teeth.
Timothy starts at the scream and moves to the side, looking to get a clear shot at the shadow with the flare.
The elfess seems paralyzed in the cold embrace of the shadowy being.
Timothy's spell ignites as he tosses it toward the mass of the shadow, beginning to flare a brilliant white as the magnesium inside takes flame.
The creature seems to just get larger, "Ah.....yes. Magic. Energy of life. Very nice of you to give me something to feed on, since you don't want to hand over your little friend..." The creature continues to engulf to the Xardeth, "I think...we, us.. ..need to show you the error of your ways...oh...yes indeed... Your friend will have a few more moments in his short, useless existence.... As for you..." It just ripples with laughter.
Delachiel growls at the shadow, ~~The furry is mine.~~
Timothy shouts, "Leave her be you demon. Delachiel, pull back, run!" as he watches the shadow grow.
Despite her effort Delachiel doesn't seem to be able to move in the paralyzing embrace.
Timothy tries to grab Delachiel from behind to pull her free.
The liquid ripples and lets the flare pass right through it's body, "And you, Xardeth, are ours..." It seems to turn slightly to face the chipmunk, "Cute... child. But, I am too old for such weak displays to effect me... You provide amusement...so we will leave you for now..." It continues to engulf the elfess, "Don't worry about your 'friend here.... We'll give her back her true nature..."
Delachiel shudders, now, her voice clearly weaker. ~~Timothy, run.~~
Timothy snarls as he tries to pull Delachiel away by her cape, "Run? And leave you here?"
There is a definite sound of effort as she whispers, ~~Run, I said.~~
The creature expands massively and comes crashing down on the elfess, removing her from view. It seems to just melt into the ground, leaving the chipmunk alone holding a torn bit of cape. Silence returns. Nothing except for a blackened and decayed patch of earth remains to indicate anything was here.
Timothy stands there gaping for nearly a minute before he falls to his knees and screams, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
Timothy finally gets up and looks around, so overwraught that he lets loose with more raw energy than he had thought he had, and a fireball, albeit a medium sized one, shoots off and takes out a small shrub rather handily. He growls, "That fox Jarik knows how to fight this thing. Where is he? He was supposed to meet us here!" And with that goes off to find the missing Knight.