[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1006946263599677521/1016748025986699284/ShadowToken.png[/img][/center] [center][h3][color=#bfafb2] The Journey - Part 1 - Now - The edge of the Umbral Forest[/color][/h3][/center] "[Color=green] I told you we should’ve followed the river and not gone through those bushes. We’re lost now. [/color]" the elf said annoyed to her companions, just after she stepped into some animal droppings. "[Color=yellow] Every time you leave home, Another road takes you Into a world you were never in.[/color]" replied the Satyr to the confusion of the elf, in a sing-song voice. "[Color=green] That doesn't make any sense. What road, what world? [/color]” said the elf, more annoyed than confused now. “[color=#bfafb2] Quiet you two. Do you hear that? [/color]” said Penumbra with raised hand. Their shadowy arms moulding into swords as they prepared for battle. “[color=yellow] An invisible hawk circles, an invisible tree, prey could it be me? [/color]” asked the Satyr, continuing his musical tune. More rustling of the leaves, bushes moving and a whistle, followed up by more. Almost immediately after the whistles ended, some shapes could be seen moving closer to the group. As the figures approached, a spear suddenly flew into the air right towards the elf’s body but before it could hit, the elf [guardian] uttered a word and activated their enhanced reflexes skill and her own spear moved as if by magic, breaking the spear at the tip but it wasn't enough, more spears were being thrown at them from different directions at once. It seemed that the group was close to meeting their end… [center][h3][color=#bfafb2] 4 hours ago - Outskirts of Shadowton [/color][/h3][/center] Days passed after Ashevelen went inside her realm and in this time, Penumbra searched for companions. Not knowing how the journey will be but expecting danger lurking at every, especially upon leaving the Umbral Forest, they looked everywhere for someone willing to follow them. 'Alas, they refused to use the Goddess’s favour to force anyone to join them which meant they were short of allies. The Umbra citing different reasons as to why not, while the Satyrs simply refused outright. All but one that said he might be interested but never showed up to the meeting place. The time to leave was almost nigh when fortune smiled upon Penumbra. This fortune was in the shape of a tall elven woman. A level 3, [protector] class red-haired elf with a long ponytail, two differently coloured eyes and barely any clothing on her. “[color=green] Sorry, I no away speak apple language, you. You, tree Penumbra? Leaving? [/color]” said the elf in Black Speech, her accent heavy most of the words came off weirdly from her mouth as she struggled to pronounce them, causing them to sound different than what they supposed to. Penumbra looked at her with curiosity and confusion. They barely understood what the elf spoke and the elf was speaking in Black Speech or something of the sorts as they barely understood what they wanted. Shaking their head, Penumbra replied back in the elven language, kindly. “[color=#bfafb2] Apologies but I barely understood a word of what you said. Can you please repeat? [/color]” Relief was obvious on the elf’s face. Quickly regaining her composure, she smiled at Penumbra before replying, in a very happy voice. “[color=green] Ah! You speak elf! That’s going to make things easier then. I was already prepared to just follow you around until you get the idea. [/color]” “[color=#bfafb2] I still don’t know who you are and what you require, elf. [/color]” Casually facepalming herself, the elf replied quickly. “[color=green] I’ve got no manners, apologies. My name is Custosa, a level 3 [protector] class of…nowhere. No tribe. [/color]” her voice turning sour at the mention of her being tribeless. “[color=#bfafb2] Greeting Custosa, I’m Penumbra as you figured out. Level 2 [champion] as recognized by the Goddess herself. You said leaving earlier on in Black Speech, if you were asking if I’m leaving, the answer is yes. Embarking on a divine quest given by the Goddess herself! [/color]” “[color=green] Perfect! That’s exactly what the other elves were saying from what I heard. Do you require another companion? I wish to leave these forests but no one else shall take me. [/color]” “[color=#bfafb2] It seems we’re in the same situation, Custosa. I would be honoured if you’d join me and no, I don’t want to know why none others will take you. Do you wish to know where we are going? [/color]” “[color=green] No need. Call it a fair trade, you shan’t ask me about my past. I shan’t ask you about the quest. Now, when are we leaving? [/color]” impatiently asked Custosa. “[color=#bfafb2] Agreed. My time is running out and I seem to find another person to join the party, so we’ll be leaving as soon as you gather your equipment. [/color]” Custosa looked at her body then around herself in embarrassment and shook her head. “[color=green] This…is all I have. What you see on me. [/color]” “[color=#bfafb2] I can’t accept that. We go out like that, we won’t end up far. Come, I’ve earned quite some money out of the trade with your people. I’ll buy you some equipment and you’ll owe me a favour. Agreed? [/color]” As soon as Custosa agreed, they went over to the marketplace. After half an hour of haggling with a young Umbra, they finally were on their way. Custosa, now dressed up like a [protector] with thick clothing covering her whole body and armed with a long shadow-wood spear, looked more like one than a homeless person. [center][h3][color=#bfafb2] 2 hours ago - Somewhere in the Umbral Forest [/color][/h3][/center] “[color=green] You’re telling me you never had beer? Never tried it? Not even a sip? [/color]” asked Custosa in a very surprised manner. “[color=#bfafb2] Nope, never. It sells well between the Satyrs and elves but I’ve never seen an Umbra that liked the taste of elven beer. There was talk about someone trying to copy your method and changing the ingredients, in the living quarters, the other night but don’t know if they will do it or not. [/color]” “[color=green] I can’t believe it. We sold you the technology and you already try to modify it. [/color]” quickly replied Custosa with a grin. “[color=yellow] How long will I wait? Most of life is time. When is my moment to shine? [/color]” a person from above the party sang, their voice sweet like honey. With a raised hand, Custosa jumped in front of Penumbra, her spear pointing forward. Ready to skewer any foe that might come. “[color=#bfafb2] Easy there, Custosa. I know that voice. He’s the third party member that I thought he decided against coming with us.. [/color]” said Penumbra to the over-protective Custosa before raising their voice and shouting “[color=#bfafb2] Hey, Dahm! Come down. [/color]” Soon after Penumbra finished shouting, leaves started to move above them and then with loud [b] THUD [/b] a small Satyr, fell to the ground. Giving him a hand to stand up which he took gracefully, Dahm gave a quiet thank you (in rhyme) to Penumbra before looking at Custosa and giving her a proper bow. “[color=yellow] Those two dreamy eyes Full of determination Yes! She'll win all the fights. [/color]” sang Dahm with a grin. Clearly enjoying the view of Custosa, she in turn gave him a look of confusion. “[color=green] What? Why is he talking like that? [/color]” “[color=#bfafb2] We don’t know. Last member of a scouting party that went missing. They found him like that, can’t speak a word without making a song out of it. Somehow. [/color]” “[color=yellow] Truth is good, Truth is soul, Truth is well deeds of life and soul. [/color]” “[color=#bfafb2] I thought you weren't coming anymore. This is Custosa, a level 3 [protector] and our new companion for the road. [/color]” “[color=yellow] I think a lot day by day The more i think, The more I am confused, I want to explore, But I got lost,[/color]” replied Dahm with another bow towards Custosa. “[color=green] I’ve got no idea what he’s saying. Not sure how you understand him. So, he’s a bard of sorts? [/color]” As soon as the words came out of Custosa’s mouth, a notification could be heard in Dahm’s mind. [Class Unlocked - Bard] [Level 1] [New Ability - Song of Confusion] “[color=yellow] Facing a new day. Taking the risks of living. No choice but courage.[/color]” said Dahm the Bard as received the new level. “[color=#bfafb2] I think you’ve just levelled him up. We’ve called him the poet before but the bard works too. Dahm the Bard, has a nice ring to it. [/color]” [center][h3][color=#bfafb2] Now - The edge of the Umbral Forest [/color][/h3][/center] Custosa proved herself true to her class as she protected Dahm from the spear. Dahm simply squealed and scrambled for cover, only to be grabbed by the shirt and lifted in the air by a massive elf which appeared behind them. Other elves quickly surrounded the group, their leader was a short elf which stepped in front of his group. "[Color=darkgreen] Look everyone. One of them Umbra creatures. I bet this one can be traded for a lot of stuff. [/color]" proclaimed the elf bandit with a grin while pointing at Penumbra. Custosa was staring daggers at the group and gripped her spear tightly while Penumbra’s own form twisted and changed, spikes and long spears appeared instead of their hands and all over their body. "[color=#bfafb2] I am the Champion of Ashevelen, the Goddess. You would do good to leave us alone. 'Lest you attract the ire of the Lady Of The Trade and Shadows. [/color]" replied Penumbra with a threatening tone. The bandit leader looked around, then at his companions, very seriously before starting to laugh out loud. His companions soon joining him in laughter and joke making. "[Color=darkgreen] I don't see any Goddess, dumb shadow and if you're so precious to her, let her come over and [i] trade [/i] with us for your life. [/color]" As soon as the elf stopped talking, Penumbra uttered a word and activated their [champion] class, skill called [Inspire]. Almost instantly Dahm stopped trembling in fear and activated his own skill [Song of Confusion] which made the bandits for a few seconds to hear howls, see shapes in the forest and pretty much anything that would confuse such a low-level foe. The effect of the skill was clear, their grip on their weapons tightened, their eyes scanning the forest for threats and it was enough. The two skills combined gave the Penumbra party a massive advantage, one they wouldn't waste. A spear here, a bandit cut almost in two there and soon the battle war over. The Penumbra group was victorious but not without any injuries, a deep cut over Custosa’s eye, Dahm was covered in small cuts from the spears he barely managed to dodge…when he could and of course, Penumbra. Their first real battle left a mark on their shadowy form, barely seen with the naked eye enough for them to feel it for months to come. The heroes quickly bandaged their wounds to the best of their limited abilities and continued their journey. [I] To be continued… [/i] [hider=Summary] Penumbra doesn’t have a party but eventually finds one poet to go with them on a journey but then the poet doesn’t show up. An elf with a potential dark past joins Penumbra and they leave, only to meet the poet in the woods who only spoke in haikus or verse which confused the elf who didn’t understand a word even if they spoke the same language. The elf names the poet a bard and lo’ and behold’ that’s what everyone else was calling them ‘thus they gain the [Bard] class. They get attacked by bandits and everyone gets injured…one way or the other but still win and then they leave. [/hider] [hider=Spirit expenses] [b]Starting Spirit:[/b] 8 +1 Spirit - Appeared in the post +1 Spirit - Longer than 5k characters +1 Spirit - Longer than 10k characters +1 Spirit - Creator doesn’t appear in the post [b]Ending Spirit:[/b] 11 [/hider]