Shadow's Fall
Intro
Event that started 10/8/2010 with the following prologue on the Dragonrealms website Home Page:
The Priestess kneels next to the cot of an old woman, chanting a simple, mournful prayer in a clear, high voice. Other cots, occupied and unoccupied, are situated at intervals throughout the hospice hall. The Priestess's pale hand gently clasps the woman's gnarled one, her free hand caressing the woman's face as gently as a lover.
The woman's eyes are open, but sightless, her mouth slightly agape. Drool glistens at the corner of the old woman's mouth, but the priestess carefully daubs it away before it can long mar the old woman's dignity.
Finally, the Priestess stops chanting, a hush descending over the area. The woman's eyes focus on the priestess for the first time, a tiny smile illuminating her weathered face. Then the old woman closes her eyes, and the stillness is absolute. The old woman's grip tightens on the Priestess's hand briefly before the old woman relaxes in death.
It was then that the Priestess had a vision, a gift from the Gods.
Armies of undead, their provenance unknown, descend upon and ravage the lands. The hospice where the Priestess plies her trade overflows with the dying, and there is little she can do to give them the peace of Eylhaar, as disease and pain and untold suffering wrack all the people of the Five Provinces. Vultures literal and figurative descend upon the lands, preying on the fear and chaos.
But the gods provide the means to avert disaster along with the terrible vision. Eylhaar's blessing will protect the people from the worst of the horror, allowing those who cannot fight to escape, and fighters a better chance to combat the menace.
The Priestess must put aside her work and bestow the blessing of Eylhaar upon as many people as she can, or all is lost. She must make them listen, and understand, before it is too late.
Events
The cleric in the story is Priestess Morlaena.
At one time after the invasions started, she was with a large group of people at the Langenfirth temple. Someone casted a moongate which opened as a "Shadowy Arch". This led to a "Plane of Shadows".
Example of the moongate corruption:
Ezrehiel gestures.
Ezrehiel gestures at the ground beneath him, and thick streams of shadow begin to fly from his body. The shadows coalesce into a grand arch.
Plane of Shadows
Inside the plane were different zones, such as a desert, a grove, a meadow, and a "Town Grey", complete with pond.
[ Plane of Shadows, The Town Grey]
A small path of unsubstantial, white grass leads to a narrow stretch of cobblestones between the grass and the privet hedge that stand before a gigantic slab of featureless, grey rock. A stream of silhouettes walks down the path and straight into the slab, leaving a slimy residue in their wake. You also see a scrawny skeleton, a public listings board and the grey pond.
Obvious exits: north, south, west.
A public listings board reads:
Doorb S'Togik tae lliwi. Lioc rettib eht morf Epacse on. Nwad on. Thgilnus on.
(no sunlighT .no dawN .no escapE from the bitter coiL .iwill eat kigoT'S brooD)
5-6-2-21-9-21-16-21-9-6-17-19-10-6-20-21-20-2-14-5-14-2-26-21-9-6-10-19-21-6-17-13-6-20-7-2-13-13-16-15-21-9-6-10-19-9-6-2-5-20-26-16-22-13-16-20-21-26-16-22-19-24-2-26-24-9-6-15-26-16-22-7-16-10-8-16-21-21-9-6-20-16-22-15-5-16-7-21-9-6-21-9-22-15-5-6-19-2-15-5-26-16-22-24-10-13-13-17-2-26-7-16-19-26-16-22-19-2-19-19-16-8-2-15-4-6
Another sign:
Insufferably-Arrrogant Militia-Threaten Households Everywhere-Matters Are Soon Testing Every Reminder-Of Faith-Toward His Everlasting-Fury Insensible Fury Terrible Hatred-Mother Of Our Nihilation.
(Capitals spell: I am the master of the fifth moon)
The pond:
[Plane of Shadows, Town Grey Pond]
You stand on the bank of a tiny pond in the middle of the grey. Frigid, black water splashes against the oozing grey silt that covers the shore. Sitting in the middle of the pond is a massive skeleton, looking content and not the least bit aggressive.
Obvious exits: out.
>point skele
You point at a massive dragon skeleton.
You slow your breathing and clear your mind.
The massive skeleton rests quietly, utterly devoid of spiritual essence.
You don't detect anything unusual about the massive skeleton.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Death
Staying too long in the plane may result in death:
Colorless mist writhes around you, sensing vulnerability due to your prolonged exposure to this otherworldly atmosphere. Pain explodes into your senses, followed by numbness, and your consciousness slips into shadow.