Arn's evening had been nothing short of manic. His announcement to head up a party and take the fight to the Darkere and the Lich Myr had met with pretty overwhelming support. Apart from Narissa.

Her main concern was Arn going off on his own without anyone he knew there to back him up, it was all well and good taking a group of people with him but how well could they fight or even work together as a group, how many of them would follow orders if he had to command them. 

All valid points Arn had admitted. His compromise to this concern was to call in a few favours of his own, a Druid name Torin was staying at the Wellspring and Arn sought him out to make use of his magical communications. Sending several messages to certain areas in hopes of finding the companions he was after. He wanted to belay the concern, if not outright fear Narissa must be feeling for him. Going off with a half-baked plan would most likely get everyone killed. Even him.

He had managed to extract himself early from the revelry and somewhat chaotic atmosphere, noticing a rather odd trio of characters at a table before he had gone to his room. He had much to do before the three days were over. Best to start now.

Although his room was richly furnished compared to the more mundane of a lot of the other full time staff and permanent residents of the Wellspring it was still quite sparse considering who it belonged too. His trophies, some would say a source of pride, but to Arn they were memories, items given to him by those he had saved or rescued, and others that he had taken as a reminder of those he had not been able to. It was a way of keeping his thoughts centered on what needed to be done and how far things still had to go. This night however, he hardly gave the wall more than a passing glance. Instead he stepped behind the covering screen that seperated half his room from view of the only door leading into it.

Standing in front of a seemingly innocent looking stone wall, Arn reached into his tunic and pulled forth the leather cord tied around his neck, the passkey, an item forged from silver, amber and magic, thrummed audibly in his hand. With a slight wave against the wall he opened the hidden room. Almost immediately this side of the room was lit with a warm golden glow. Stepping inside the narrow cubby, Arn moved to the back wall and took his Shield and Sword, Ortu and Solis off the pegs they were hanging from, noticing that no dust had gathered on them he smiled at the thought he would not need to clean them. He glanced over at his plate mail on the armour stand and grimaced, that suit of armour had not escaped times touch. Luckily he would not be wearing the heavy plate as it would only be a hindrance to travelling through the Darkmere and he needed to be more mobile and fleet of foot. Experience had taught him this early on in his first forays into the accursed place.

He put the sword and shield to one side and moved past the armour stand. Behind and on the floor lay a small unassuming chest. He knelt down and pulled the lid open. It appeared the chest was empty.

Arn spoke the word that he knew would dispel the illusion and reached inside. His hands brushed against the cold metal chain links of the armour his father had specially designed for him. it was another piece of some sort of Angelic metallurgy, Arn knew not what it was made from, but it was almost as light as his leather shirts and would stop almost anything with the solidness of plate armour. His hesitance at wanting to wear the armour was due to the fact it was this shirt that had been the cause of his father's death. But he could not let that keep him from using everything available to him. It was just another grim reminder that the world had become a colder place.

Moving his hands passed the armour he grabbed a belt pouch and several metal tubes, these were the last potions he had available and would not have time to make more. His own healing abilities and spells would have to suffice unless others in the party had healing magic of their own. He left the cubby, picking up his weapons on his way out. Closing the door behind him, he was immediately aware of the fact that there was someone in the room. Sitting in his chair on the other side of the screen. He willed Solis not to glow with its usual golden light and pulled the blade from its sheath without a whisper of sound. Stepping out from behind the screen he adjusted his grip and raised Solis ready to swing to his left. Just as he was about to strike a small blue orb of light bobbed into existence and a familiar voice spoke.

"Hello, General, I got your message"

DAY ONE.....

Maxill Penderhott the 3rd, wealthy son of an even wealthier noble family that had prided themselves for their master mages, Ladies man and arrogant beyond belief was the last person Arn had expected to see in his room.

They had spoken in length about what was taking place, Arn's need for a few trustworthy companions as well as his overall plan of taking the fight to the Darkmere and Myr himself. In Maxill's defense he had not thought Arn completely insane. But had only barely stopped himself from laughing at the absurdity of it all. This was mostly due to the respect he had for who Arn was however.  

"So who else have you contacted, why was I only invited because I happened to be the one who intercepted the message when it arrived at my fathers estate, You know I am easily the most powerful mage you will hope to find in this beastly place."

Arn's first response was to slug the man in the face, arrogance and a sense of overblown self worth was what his father had said about Maxill and the majority of the entire family, with only the younger sister Meris being a reasonably decent person. His hand had gripped Solis's hilt and he had reminded himself that they needed all the help they could get. Even if it did come in the highly unlikeable package that was Maxill.

"I have sent word to Auril, Dorn and Linsha. Anyone else would either be too far away to get here in time or were already engaged in all the other battles, skirmishes or incursions that seem to be happening further and further away from the Darkmere of late, as for calling on you, I had hoped for your sister Meris, but we cannot always get what we desire"

He knew the last part had been uncalled for, but he wanted Maxill to know that he was not Arn's first choice and that would hopefully deflate the man's ego somewhat. He knew how powerful Maxill was and it was a good thing the man was on his side, but having to put up with his better than you attitude would grate on everyones nerves. His own patience was almost ended when the gaudily dressed man picked at imaginary lint before dropping it to the floor. His comment was laced with sarcasm.

"You still hanging onto that red haired wildcat, Narissa right? Dont tell me you are still chaste and virginal with all the grateful women you rescued over the years? I would have expected a wedding invitation before now, but if the maiden is still single, I might go introduce myself to her."

Something in Arn's eyes, or the set of his mouth, must have tipped Maxill off to just how far he had overstepped the bonds of familiarity. He muttered something about making his own preperations and had excused himself. He was that flustered he actually left the room by the door, instead of his usual exit of teleportation.

Arn hoped he did not run into Narissa, especially if he was intent on "introducing" himself to her, Maxill might have been a mage of no small repute, but Narissa's skills with a heavy pot was nothing short of legendary. Arn knew he would still be a mage short if Narissa heard anything like what Maxill had said to him. Sighing heavily at the newest challenge, he had gone to keep an eye on things. This took up the vast majority of the day.

DAY TWO....

Auril arrived with the coming of the sun, her white stag Amix causing a stir with the early risers or the very latecomers entering the Tavern. The elven ranger looked almost ethereal, she had greeted Arn warmly and they had spoken briefly, Arn giving her the information needed and the time of departure and Auril readily agreeing, she knew the Darkmere was encroaching and all living things would face destruction, or worse for those with souls, oblivion, if the attempt was not made to destroy that which controlled all. She had declined to stay in the Wellspring and chose to sleep in the woodlands nearby. Promising to return by the appointed time. Arn watched her disappear into the woods. Knowing that he might be leading her to an early grave. 

Dorn appeared in the Tavern's entrance at about dusk, his large frame engulfed in furs and a vast array of weaponry, the Barbarian grabbed Arn in a back wrenching hug and immediately called for mead and meat. He had consumed several plates and a dozen or so tankards whilst Arn told him of the purpose behind the call to arms. Dorn, belching loudly, agreed that it was a worthy cause and pledged his spear, sword, axe and knives to Arn's cause. He promptly fell asleep at the table, snoring loudly. Arn considered it a success and went about his evening as best he could. He knew his last visitor would not arrive until midnight. It was the way with her people.

He was not taken by surprise as was some of his late working staff, who he promptly bid to leave, nor the few last stragglers drunkenly making their way to rooms they had booked, when the woman materialised in a cloud of mist.

"It isss good to ssseee you Masster Wolven, although it isss alsso a ssurprise for you to want to ssstrike a deal with my kind isss it not?"

The sibilant hissing accompanied her voice, Arn couldnt be sure if it was actually her speaking or if the voice just appeared in his head. He had not been fond of this meeting for many reasons, the fact that he was nervous already spoke of the high price likely to be paid. He tried to keep his mind focused on the task ahead, knowing that Linsha was more than likely scouring his thoughts.

"Welcome to my home, it is good to see you also Linsha, I called you here because I have need of a shadow scout, it is not going to be a simple task, but it is of the utmost importance. This is why I could not leave this task to one of your sisters."

Linsha's reptillian eyes flashed at this, Arn had spoken truthfully enough, although he was guarded, she moved, glided it seemed, closer to Arn.

"Tell me your proposssal, if I feel it worth my prowessss you know my fee, if not then one of my sssssisssssters will have to sssufice"

Arn nodded in agreement, stepping backwards slowly, he reached behind the bar counter and grabbed the scroll he had placed there earlier. 
Moving back with the scroll in plain sight he slowly approached Linsha, keeping his mind carefully focused on the scroll in his hand. He knelt before her and passed the scroll. When she took it he reached up and undidhis tunic slightly, tilting his neck to the side and baring it towards her.

Linsha unrolled the scroll, read its contents through twice thoroughly, her eyes flashed and then narrowed dangerously at several key parts.
She took the information in, nodded as if coming to a decision only she knew about and then snapped her fingers, the scroll rose into the air and burst into green fire, consumed by this magical means nothing was left of the parchment, not even a trace of ash.

"I will do assss you asssk of me, now I will take my payment"

As the last words left her lips, long fangs sprouted from her teeth, she lent forward and bit Arn on his exposed neck, avoiding the areas of Tattooed skin, she fed on him for a full 30 seconds, then with some reluctance but an indomitable willpower she let the embrace end. The wound closed almost instantly and through it all Arn had not made a single sound.

Linsha tapped him on the forehead and prepared to leave. Her part in this had only just begun. The mist rolled in and engulfed her in seconds. moments later the spot she had stood in was empty.

Arn pulled himself up, loathing the fact he had let one of her kind feed on him, enduring the perverse feeling of his life force being taken and doing so without any emotional outburst had left him feeling drained. It was a much needed bargain, if this expedition went horribly wrong then the contingency plan he had just put in place was well paid for.

He took one last look around the common room before the need to sleep would be too much for him. He knew he should have rested over the three days, but he had taken on the monumental task of this excursion and knew that a lot of it rested on him. His hand lingered on the bar that he had lovingly helped to create, tend and live in for the last two decades or so. His ventures into the Darkmere had been well documented, some small successes here and there, villagers rescued and enemies slain, however it never seemed like it was enough. The darkness was still encroaching and he knew that one way or another this would be the battle to end it. He just hoped more of the adventurers lived long enough to see it.

He walked to his room and opened the door. light from the hallway spilled into his darkened room. it lit the bed up and he was only mildly surprised to see Narissa sitting on it. He walked in and closed the door. Aprroaching the woman who, for the last decade or so had been the rock that kept him tethered. He took her in in arms and held her in an embrace that transcended the need for words. As he broke away Narissa looked up at him and gave him a smile.

"I did not want you to leave without saying goodbye properly"

Arn smiled and moved to sit on the bed, his tiredness forgotten. They might only have tonight after all.

Outside the Full moon shone brightly, only five hours until dawn remained. Then things will really get interesting.