In a deep eloquent voice he smiled, "Ah. Welcome. Mortals to my humble abode. Have you come to offer yourselves freely? Some doors must be left alone while others such as mine have been opened. I must thank you for setting me free."

"No, pal, you got it all wrong!" Irzen replied with a dismissive wave, "We're not here to free you--quite the opposite in fact--we're merely passing through."

The Shadow Man merely laughed, "Oh you jest, surely you do. It has been decades since I've had this much entertainment. Tell me, platinum knight, did the Guardian of Asylum tell you I once sought out your precious niece?"

Madeous gripped his sword harder, "He did, fiend! This time there will no going back for you!"

Irzen looked at Madeous, "You know this guy?"

"Know him? Not personally. I was told afterwards when I returned to Asylum." The platinum knight said quietly.

"And should you get in our way!" Prince Birch concluded with pure venom and determination in his voice, "Know this: We will end you!"




The Shadow Man said mockingly, "Oooo! You should know I detest violence, wouldn't you agree, Chronicler?"

"He does!" War Scribe gushed, "He does hate violence but he's not afraid to use it." The Chronicler teleported next to The Shadow Man's side and leaned against him lovingly, "Aren't you, you evil hunk of evil you?!"

The Shadow Man glanced down at the chronicler with a wicked smile and pulled her against him, "Oh my dear, you shall give me all your of heart and knowledge and revel in it."

"YES! YES! TAKE ME NOW! YOU EVIL HUNK OF PURE EVIL YOU!" War Scribe squealed as she allowed The Shadow Man to press her close. The Drowling closed her eyes and puckered her lips in preparation for what she knew would happen next.

He leaned down like a predator and kissed War Scribe with decadent passion and fervor. One hand snaked up and through her hair yanking her head back. His fangs elongated and plunged into her jugular vein drinking all the knowledge within her. His other hand slid down to her stomach and with a sickening thrust into her abdomen sliced up and under the rib cage all the way to her heart. He squeezed a couple of times causing a heart attack before ripping it out of her.

War Scribe's eyes shot open as The Shadow Man's fangs buried themselves in her neck. All the while the Drowling embraced the fiend with a strong grip as though she were holding onto him to prevent herself from falling. Such was her passion for this creature that she was practically glued to The Shadow Man. And when the fiend sliced her open, War Scribe cut loose with a cry of pure ecstasy mixed with joy before The Shadow Man crushed her heart allowing her to fall lifelessly before him.

"I think I'm gonna be sick," Quake brought her hand up to her mouth, gagging.

"I believe in taking one for the team but damn, War Scribe, that's a bit much!" Irzen added as he drew forth his sword.

Captain Lion holstered his pistols and pulled out the rifle. He cocked it a few times and muttered a word in Romanian and the gleam of silver blade materialized under the muzzle.

In the distance a faint glow of light entered the Shadow Fell and a great wailing arose.

"What in the Realm is that?" Irzen clapped his hands over his ears, "It sounds like the entire place is dying!"

Madeous reacted instantly bringing up his great sword in one fluid motion and drove it into the blacken ground. The light arced towards the Shadow Man with such force it knocked him off his feet.

Captain Lion fired off his rifle at the Shadow Man also. The blessed Iron bullet slammed into the chest of the creature hard.

Quake noticed the Shadow Man weakening by the attacks. If he was a vampire then physical attacks could be deadly against the others. "Use magic attacks. Stay at ranged. Don't let him touch you."

"Well, that leaves me out!" The Swordsman huffed, "Quake, do you two have anything you can offer?"

"Gee, Irzen, did you forget about the repeating heavy crossbow you had made or was that a make believe." Quake inhaled and let out a jet of molten lava at the Shadow Man.

"You're right! I forgot!" Irzen sheathed his sword and pulled forth the heavy repeating crossbow strapped to his back, "Too many years using a sword, I guess." The Swordsman took careful aim and then cut loose with a barrage of crossbow bolts into the chest of The Shadow Man.

Madeous kept his attention on the Shadow Man while Captain Lion turned slightly to see the bright light growing with intensity. "It would seem that a certain pest is making her way here but why I wonder."

After a series of magical and natural attacks from the party, the Shadow Man's form changed. His torso elongated with exposed ribs jutting out, two pairs of jagged horns grew out of his skull, and another set of arms wrenched themselves free from the main set. Lastly, a third eye opened on his forehead negating all magic save for the innate abilities of Quake and Captain Lion.

"Let's see how you fight without your magic to protect you!" The Shadow Man sneered.

"I fight rather well thank you very much!" The Swordsman cut loose with another barrage of crossbow bolts from his heavy repeating crossbow.

"Muwhaa! Ha! Ha! Ha!" The Shadow Man let out a guttural laugh as he brushed aside the crossbow bolts with ease.

Quake reverted back to dragon form and cut loose a jet of lava which caught the monster off guard. She was still charged up from the last encounter with the blood mage and blasted him again.

The smell of rotten flesh permeated throughout the area and was starting to attract attention. Lots of 'dead' attention.

Captain Lion's rifle gleamed in the pale light as he cut forth another shot adding to the searing damage from Quake's two breath attacks.

The wailing in the distance grew with intensity for a minute then slowly dissipated but the light was getting closer.

"What is that wailing sound?" Irzen asked no one in particular as he aimed for The Shadow Man's right eye socket before he took another shot, "It reminds me of being at a wake!"

A bright light emanated in the natural darkness of the shadow fell and its inhabitants wailed in anguish.

The Shadow Man raised his gnarled head, all three eyes narrowing to see the light coming closer. For a moment nothing registered until a soft silhouette of a creature of light emerged.

"YOU!!"

"This fight is no longer yours, my friends. Go, find and seal the Black Gate." Came a soft heavily voice of a beautiful fae/celestial form of Caliaphy.

"Wow! Pretty!" Quake's eyes enlarged at the kurori's true form.

"Right! Madeous, Irzen, Quake. Let's go!" Captain Lion motioned over to them, "We've done all we can!"

++++

Another servant entered the room seemingly out of breath, "My liege, my lord, my lady, Sudestren the Sage has arrived to answer your call. Do you wish to meet him here or in your antechamber, your Highness."

"Here!" Princess Cauladra commanded, "Please bring him here immediately."

"Yes, my liege." The Servant turned and ran out of the room.

The princess smiled, "Soon, my friends, you will have the answers to all of your questions."

The Servant returned and with a flourish announced, "My liege, I give you, Sudestren the Sage!"

Both Alyson and Lazheros saw an Elven boy with sandy brown hair and light brown eyes who appeared to be no more than ten years of human age walk into the room dressed in fine robes. Sudestren the Sage kneeled before Princess Cauladra, "Your Royal Highness, as always, it is both a pleasure and an honor to keep your company. What do you wish of me, my liege?"

"Noble Sudestren, my allies here have questions that they wish to ask of you," Princess Cauladra motioned over to both Alyson and Lazheros, "It is they who seek your counsel this eventide not I."

Sudestren rose to his feet and addressed them both, "Elementalist, Grand Cleric, how may I be of assistance?"

Alyson blinked a couple of times to make sure she wasn't the sage, "Wow. Uh, you're really young for a sage unless you are much more than you appear to be."

"I am wise beyond my years, my lady," Sudestren replied with a raised eyebrow of annoyance, "And while I am no Chronicler of Validor I do know quite a bit about my people and the history of the kingdom within which I dwell."

"The Fey Wild and the history of East Port. How old is the connection between the two here? As in the founding of the city itself?" Lazheros inquired.

Sudestren cleared his throat, "The connection between the two is a strong one, my lord. East Port was founded by the ancient Melnibonean Empire as a trading city. Its denizens are the ancestors to every Elf who was born here. The connection to the Fey Wild is one born of slavery. At the zenith of their power, the Melniboneans enslaved denizens of the Fey Wild and used them to power their dark magicks and for even darker experiments. When the Melnibonean Empire fell, some of their kin fled East Port for other lands. Those who remained ruled this area and devolved into us Elves, however, they also gave the Fey who were enslaved here their freedom. Our ancestors simply sought to make a break with the old ways and build something new."

"Ah. I see," Lazheros rubbed his chin, "And how far does your ancestry go back? Centuries?"

******

A flash of light appeared behind Maxim and Spencer as the Bronze Man stepped through. "Caliaphy."

"Laz?" Serna looked up at the Bronze Man, "What is going on?"

The kurori jumped in surprise, "Bronze Man. What is it? You have a funny look on your face."

"Ta naa coiasira ten' lle alaa de ar' quanta quanta lle maranwe. Lle must anta i' dae edan ar' tyela ta." Lazheros spoke in Sylvan.

Translation:: "It is time for you grow up and fulfill your destiny. You must face the Shadow Man and end it."

"What? What are you saying?" Serna shook her head, "I can't understand you."

The bronze man nodded and glanced towards Serna, "Caliaphy must grow up to defeat an ancient foe, child."

"An ancient foe?" Serna scratched her head, "Caliaphy, would you like for me to come along and watch your back with my shield?"

The kurori gave the girl a hug, "It's okay, Serna. I will be okay. This is what I must do to help everyone."

"Okay, I guess!" Serna replied uncertainly.

Caliaphy's form began to glow and grow from the tiny form into a tall Seelie elf. Beautiful and heavenly in front of everyone and in a blink vanished.

"I shall take my leave everyone. Take care of Serna." Lazheros disappeared in a flash of blue light.

"Bye!" Serna just waved to Lazheros before she turned to Maxim, "What just happened here?"

Maxim and Spencer just blinked. "Eladrin."

Sir Gonagle turned around and came over, "Well, that was sudden and unexpected. Never would of figured that pest to be a Star Elf."

"Eladrin? A Star Elf? What's that?" Serna asked no one in particular.

"Eladrin or star elf in the common tongue are very, very rare in the Realm, miss." Maxim leaned against the railing, "Still doesn't help knowing that the pest of Asylum is one."

"So, Eladrin are Elves from the stars?" Serna asked no one in particular, "Wow! I wonder which star does she come from?"

"It's a metaphor. It means that your friend is half celestial and seelie. Some kind of powerful union happens sometimes and well you get an Eladrin. Wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that one. The light emanating off of them can burn through anything even some of the legendary weapons and items." Spencer told Serna as he jotted down notes in his journal.

"No kidding!" Serna gasped, "I didn't know Caliaphy was THAT powerful! WOW!"

Maxim, Spencer, and Sir Gonagle let out a long winded sigh.

"Oh well," Serna shrugged her shoulders, "So what are we supposed to do now?"

"Wait." Maxim shrugged.

"Gee, can you be anymore cryptic, slayer." Spencer pointed a finger at him.