Shadow over Teinsom

Story Event: Stirring Shadows

Episode 1

Shadow over Teinsom

Previous Quest

Wandering in the Dark

Next Quest

Village of Yellow Vestments

Summary

The party is able to enter the village thanks to a priestess named Akasha, who serves the Church-of-All. There, they find many people seeking the blessings of a mysterious dragon called Hastur. Later that night, the party lays eyes upon the most miraculous sight.

Dialogue

Be gone... Be gone... Be gone...

If you would bring harm to the village, departure of removal are your choices...

Okay, everyone slow down. We just need to find for an inn for this sick little girl.

No mercy to thieves... Be gone...

Are you people so on guard against thievery that you accuse any random passers-by of coveting your belongings? If so, there must be valuable treasure indeed hidden within this village. Heinwald? Don't want to be a mother hen here, but THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE PROVOKING THESE PEOPLE!

Thieves... Brigands come to steal away the blessings of our great Lord Hastur, the King in Yellow... No mercy unto you...

YOU SEE?! Hmm. What is to be done here...? Everyone, would you deign to think carefully about this?

Ah!

A beast starved of sustenance will bare its fangs at far more than just prey if it things doing so will lead to survival.

P-Priestess...

The blessings of Hastur are given to those who desire it from the utmost depths of their hearts. We of the Church-of-All have no cause to refuse these desirous.

Ungh...

Pray forgive us this tresspass, travelers. I bid your welcome to our humblr village of Teinsom. You have our thanks, my lady. Or should we call you Priestess? My apologies. I am Akasha, and I am-- A priestess of this so-called Church-of-All, yeah? Tell me about that, will you? Tell me aaaall about it. My, what a scary face... We are no more than miserable louses, wandering in search of someone to lean upon. Mere supplicants, drawn like moths to a flame. You are an inquisitor, yes? As such, will you not decry us as heretics should we refuse to follow your beloved Ilia? Heh, I'm not that much of a stickler, but you gotta admit, this place makes a suspicious impression. Heh heh. Then perhaps later we can discuss that which we worship in rather...lengthy detail. That sounds like quite the treat indeed! Speaking with one of your intellect would doubtless be a stimulating experience. If anything is stimulating, it would be a long, passionate conversation with you... Yeah, it's great that you're so...uh...into my esteemed colleague here, but maybe can we take this conversation to the inn? Sadly, this village lacks such lodgings. However, I may have a solution...

---

I cannot believe they agreed to lend us an entire house for our own use. That being said, it certainly could use a good dusting... Meh, we won't be here long anyway. More to the point, how's Lathna? She should be fine after her rest. I expect she'll wake before long. Nngh... Wh-where am I? Well, speak of the devil! How are you feeling there, Lathna? It...it can't be! H-how...?! Because you disappeared without a peep, that's how. And made plenty of trouble in the mean time, might I add. N-no! Stay away! Lathna? What's wrong with you? You mustn't come near me! Please! You must forget you ever saw me! I'm not me! There's something inside me that isn't me! Okay, WHAT are you talking about? Ah, now THIS is intriguing. Please, go on. Expound upon this "you who is not you" in greater detail, if you would. Without realizing it, I... Urgh! No! That is not me! I'm so scared... So afraid. *sob* Let's take this down a notch, Heinwald. Her fever is starting to come back. Oh, posh! The girl is merely overexcited. What's more important--and more worrisome--is that of which she spoke. Something inside her that isn't her, yeah? Think she means the "We are Chaos" fella from before? Hmm... You think that presence is why Lathna came all the way to this village? Hmmmmm... Are you going to share an actual opinion, or are you just gonna hum the day away? You ask me to make assumptions while working with a paucity of information. I'll not share mindless speculation on matters which remain so unclear. Oh, that is SO you, Heinwald! Still, we found Lathna, so I guess that's one box checked. Mmm. I do hope that's the case.

---

The following morning...

*CRAAAACK* Uuurgh... I know it beats sleeping outside, but this wooden floor is NOT doing my back any favors. Still your whining and deal with it. Unless you prefer making an ill child sleep on the floor in your stead? Some nerve for YOU saying that, pal! ...Wait, what's going on out there? ...How! ...ing in Yellow! Hmm? What was that?

---

Oh, Hastur! Please deliver unto me your sacred blessing!

No, to me! Bless ME!

All hail the King in Yellow. All hail the Unspeakable One!

Implore him with all your heart, for the blessings of our shepherd are granted only to those hearts that truly yearn for it!

Our shepherd! Our king! HASTUR!

A land of past. Of present. Of future. From this place I invite you who have suffered long to a new beginning. I bestow unto you that which is unnamed.

Oh great Hastur!

To you who have passed long years enslaved to time, I recognize your desire. Our King in Yellow grants his blessing.

Oh, Hastur! I am undeserving!

---

What the hell is this? Hastur's blessing, I imagine. No, I got that part of it. I was asking in more of a "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" kind of way. These people here seemed to desire this blessing above all else. Did they truly understand what form it would take? Do you think THIS is the immortal part of the Immortal Village? If so, I guess I maaaaybe understand it? Sort of? They are ensnared by eternity. Prisoners who mistook endlessness for an instant. You! Can one really call merely observing time pass "eternity"? It appears the jailer has harsh words for her prisoners. I am but a prisoner myself. A bird caged by the lord who is great and yet small. You seem like the type who could chew through the bars and soar off to freedom. I am not nearly so powerful as you claim. Indeed, I await eagerly the time when someone comes to free me from my jail. Might you possess the key? Would you release me, that we may embark on a journey to distant starts together? Getting propositioned by a beauty like you is a rare pleasure indeed. That said, I'm more a propositioner than a propositioned-to. But I do still believe in the power of love at fist fight! *sigh* Never change, Curran. Oh, but you ARE fascinating people. As such, let me give you a piece of advice as a token of our meeting. No matter what happens, do not venture out at night in this village. And why not? You must protect yourselves if you don't wish to become ensnared by this village.

---

That night...

Don't go out at night, eh? She might as well have flung the door wide herself, because now I'm VERY curious what will happen when we do so. I figured you wouldn't heed that warning. That being said, I'm also a bit curi--

Huh?! An earthquake?!

Was that a roar? A beast? No... Less random guessing, more running out into the dark and seeing what's going on! What in the...?