The Master Quest - One with Shadows, Part 4

<DM>	*LAST TIME ON ZURPG - One with Shadows*
<DM>	*Continuing off your shadow ventures, the DM cleared up some things, and you were able to progress with much clearer minds this time. You were reminded the history of the Sheikah, found out you can shadow hop but apparently not's always a great idea, and then you shadow shenanigan'd Right Said Fred into actually turning left. You then found use for some Scythe Key you picked up a loooong time ago to open up a Sheikah prison.
<DM>	*There, you found Uroh, old leader of the Old Sheikah, chained up and mentally tormenting Impa, who's unwilling to finish him off. He revealed that by Shadow Hopping inside the Shadow Temple, it was you that led Dark Link inside. But despite that reveal and his attempts at convincing you that you need his help, Kirran snapped and unleashed some god tier dialogue to shut Uroh up and kindly let him rot in that darkness, forever.
<DM>	*With renewed confidence, the two of you face the Training Room, where supposedly all the troubled Sheikah Trainees and Impa are. What dangers lie beyond the loading screen?
<DM>	also a reminder, Hal, you have access to the Negation Scepter + Screeching Necklace, though don't know how you can use the latter...
<DM>	and Kirran, you can use your Black Arrows + your god darned 10-sided coin
*	DM pokes Orithan and Sephiroth to transform... if we ever have a Sephiroth.
<DM>	say ready when ready
<Hal>	Ready
<Kirran>	Ready
<DM>	-=SESSION START=-
<DM>	*The two of you slide under the door and into the Training Room, where you're immediately met with the sight of Impa facing off against Right Said Fred, while Doc Luggins, Mack the Knife, Gonzo, and Metal Gear Pete are on the side, cheering uproariously for Fred.
<DM>	*The disgruntled former bandit holds a kunai up in a fighting stance. Impa does the same, just far more skillfully.
<DM>	[Doc Luggins]: Come on, Fred, you can do it, make the ah-ha-harr, the right choice!
<DM>	[Gonzo]: Oi, yew kin do it, just whackity whack 'er on da 'ead!
<DM>	*Impa doesn't budge, awaiting Fred to approach instead. In the meantime...
<Kirran>	I can honestly say, I don't have any idea what the heck is going on in here.
<Hal>	Neither do I
<DM>	*Looking around the room, it's a decent size, a quad of pillars supporting it while reflected moonlight illuminates from above. Around the room, there's a number of proximity spike traps, a ceiling trap with lots of spikes on it, some wretched sadistic running course circling the room through a bunch of guillotines, a pit of bear traps in the corner, and a weapon rack.
<DM>	*While you're taking all this in and trying to make sense of the situation, a familiar souly voice spooks up behind you...
<DM>	[Bob]: Boo!
<DM>	*Well, technically above you...
<DM>	*Also, Kefka waves from the fourth wall.
<DM>	[Bob]: Wow, haven't seen yer two in a dinky witz. Wot happened to ye, yer all ehh... lackin' depth. Like yer down a dimenshun...
<Kirran>	Oh, hai Bob
<Hal>	Well, yes, we are now two-dimensional now
<DM>	[Bob]: Iz dat so?
<Hal>	Its a long story
<DM>	[Bob]: I sees. Well, seems I kin. Dunno 'bout dem folks.
<DM>	[Bob]: Sees them o'er thar? They be trainin'.
<Hal>	Doc Luggins should be alright. Right Said Fred may need a little more to turn sane
<DM>	[Bob]: Ol' Fred hasn't been able ta land so much as a tick on Impa. 'e keeps turnin' right, all predicts-able.
<Kirran>	Sounds about...I'm not even going to finish that.
<DM>	[Bob]: Anythin' I kin do ta 'elp ya two turn back ta... well... unflat?
<Hal>	Gonzo and Metal Gear Pete we still have to work out how to screw back on
<Kirran>	You haven't happened to have heard a fairy calling out for help lately, have you?
<DM>	[Bob]: A fairy? Hmm...
<DM>	*He scratches his souly chin, then his balding head. Huh, he's starting to look more like Dampe...
<DM>	*If you lose hair while you're soul, does it come back when you finally return to life? These are the questions one must know in life...
<DM>	[Bob]: Can't say ah's do. Just been 'earin' dis nasty ol' whisper from time ta time. Dunno wot it tis, maybe me's just goin' seen while... err, senile, dat's da werd!
<DM>	[Bob]: Well den, if'n ya needs me 'elp, I'll be floatin' 'round an' spectertin' da matches. Tally hoot!
<Hal>	Stay away from the shadow cupcake
<DM>	[Bob]: Da shady wot now?
<DM>	[Bob]: Err, not Shady shady, da shady shadowy shady kind.
<Kirran>	Just try to avoid any cake you find.
<DM>	[Bob]: But me likes cake! Den 'gain, me's not been ables ta really eat much lately... I'll let yer know!
<DM>	*Bob's Soul then wanders off to watch the matches from a better angle. As he exits the shadow of the nearby pillar, you notice a shadow trailing him...
<DM>	*Is that... the shadow of a glitchzard?
<Kirran>	Oh for the love of...as if things weren't weird enough around here...
<DM>	*Would you like to trail it, or let Bob be for now?
<Hal>	Dangit Dex
*	Hal just leaves Bob to be, watching the trailing shadow from a distance*
<DM>	*Anywho, Gonzo seems to mostly stationary. He's lounderin' around next to the pillar you're next to, his shadow connecting with said pillar. As for Metal Gear Pete, you see his body... but not his shadow.
<DM>	*You hear Gonzo's shadow remarking...
<DM>	[Gonzo's Shadow]: Guh... me wishes da itsy wittle boss lady wud let me use a clubbin' clubber sumtoim. Always da little dinky wittle knifey. Wot am I gunner do wit' dat?
<DM>	[Gonzo's Shadow]: Maybe I needs ta just give 'er a clobberin' clubbin' meself. No senses botherin' wit' da sharp pencil if'n I kin just use my fists!
<Hal>	So Gonzo wants permission to be able to use his lead pipe
<DM>	*Just then, as Gonzo's Shadow considers raging up, you hear those sneaky Interloper whispers. The room's shadows start to fluctuate. Hal, you can sense... you're not sure how, given that row of torches in the way, but Dark Link is somehow getting closer.
<DM>	*Your own madness is flaring up slightly, but you don't feel out of control... yet.
<Hal>	Oh no. Dark Link seems to be gaining on us
<Kirran>	We really need to figure out where we're going, but I've tried to listen and got almost nothing.
<Hal>	Right. And we have more to save. We've gone just about everywhere we can reach.
<DM>	*While distracted by trying to listen for Raine's voice, Kirran... roll Wisdom -5 dice.
<Kirran>	$22d10
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 22 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 7, 6, 2, 3, 8, 1, 9, 10, 7, 9, 9, 4, 2, 4, 2, 3, 1, 9, 4, 8, 7 and 2. Total: 117. Successes: 12.
<DM>	$25d10
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 25 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 3, 8, 2, 10, 9, 5, 2, 10, 3, 8, 5, 5, 10, 2, 6, 9, 1, 2, 8, 10, 6, 9, 4, 8 and 2. Total: 147. Successes: 20.
<DM>	*Suddenly, you are pulled into a strangehold from behind, by Metal Gear Pete's shadow! How the f-
<DM>	[Pete's Shadow]: I GOT YA! Now I just need the boss over here, and we can put you down for good, evilgoer!
<DM>	*Hal, you look over to see Pete's Shadow starting to merge with Kirran's. Kirran, you're starting to lose the feeling in your body... err, shadow.
<Hal>	Not on my watch
<Kirran>	Quick, Hal, make a noise like someone's knocking on something.
*	Hal casts an Illusion of sound on the door, creating a knocking noise
<DM>	*More shadowy fluctuations around the room...
<DM>	*A shadowy exclamation point appears over Pete's Shadow, with a quick alarm noise.
<DM>	*Metal Gear Pete loosens his strangehold, and looks towards the door.
*	Kirran tries to break free while he's distracted.
<DM>	[Pete's Shadow]: Wha- who's there- AUGH!
<DM>	*Kirran, roll.... Courage, to break free.
*	Kirran tries to remember the basics of CQC
<Kirran>	$38d10
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 38 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 4, 7, 5, 2, 4, 7, 4, 1, 8, 4, 9, 3, 5, 8, 5, 3, 3, 10, 3, 5, 5, 1, 6, 6, 9, 6, 2, 8, 9, 9, 9, 2, 5, 4, 4, 8, 10 and 7. Total: 210. Successes: 25.
<DM>	$30d10
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 30 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 8, 8, 1, 7, 1, 6, 5, 6, 8, 7, 5, 10, 1, 9, 1, 7, 5, 9, 2, 7, 6, 10, 5, 5, 2, 10, 8, 5, 7 and 7. Total: 178. Successes: 27.
<Kirran>	(Navi really hates me again tonight)
<DM>	*You're a little slow to remember the CQC basics, though I should remind you - RPs are usable.
<DM>	*Use one or nay?
<Kirran>	Yeah, use one on Pete.
<DM>	$30d10
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 30 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 2, 5, 5, 2, 1, 5, 7, 5, 10, 5, 2, 5, 5, 3, 3, 5, 9, 8, 4, 10, 4, 10, 10, 9, 4, 1, 8, 1, 6 and 5. Total: 159. Successes: 23.
<DM>	*He snaps back to attention surprisingly fast, catching you on your back jab. However, you follow-up by kicking down on his foot. He winces in pain and releases the grapple, saving you from having to deal with D&D 3.5 grappling rules.
*	Kirran casts an illusion of a cardboard box.
<DM>	*Metal Gear Pete retreats into the nearby pillar's shadow, letting it almost cover him completely.
<DM>	(over yourself?)
<Kirran>	(No, I'm just going to find someplace to get out of sight)
<DM>	(got it)
<DM>	*You manage to sneak under the shadow of a nearby cardboard box, out-snaking Pete's Shadow.
*	Hal follows suit
<DM>	*Pete's Shadow looks around for you two, but he only sees the shadow of a random box.
<DM>	[Pete's Shadow]: Huh, where'd they go? Lost 'em, eh...
<DM>	[Pete's Shadow]: Fine, I'll just have to Shadow Hop over to the box...
<DM>	*Warning lights go off in your head when he mentions that.
<Hal>	(Would roots stop him?)
<DM>	(You could try!)
*	Hal casts a round of Roots on Pete's Shadow, tethering it to the ground
<Hal>	$29d10
<Navi>	Hal: You rolled 29 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 8, 8, 9, 3, 9, 10, 7, 6, 5, 7, 1, 6, 1, 5, 8, 4, 9, 7, 1, 3, 7, 5, 2, 6, 3, 6, 7, 1 and 6. Total: 160. Successes: 21.
<DM>	$25d10
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 25 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 2, 5, 4, 9, 4, 6, 8, 3, 3, 4, 7, 9, 4, 2, 9, 8, 10, 2, 7, 6, 3, 9, 2, 8 and 1. Total: 135. Successes: 14.
<DM>	*Pete's Shadow is about to go for the jump, when suddenly, shadowy roots emerge from the pillar's shadow, holding him in place.
<DM>	[Pete's Shadow]: Gah! What is this?!
<DM>	[Pete's Shadow]: What's the Shadow Plant doing over here?
<Hal>	You shall not shadow hop. Continue shadow hopping and Dark Link will come in and kill us
<DM>	[Pete's Shadow]: Wha? Dark Link? Who's that?
<DM>	*More whispers and fluctuations. The room seems to shake momentarily. No one else in the room notices it though.
<DM>	[Pete's Shadow]: That supposed to be an emo rip-off of the Hero of Time?
<Kirran>	Imagine Dex, but evil all the time.
<DM>	[Pete's Shadow]: Great Goddesses, that's terrifying!
<Hal>	He can track us whenever we shadow hop
<DM>	[Pete's Shadow]: Wait, I've been practicing Shadow Hopping for days now. How come it's just now an issue?
<Hal>	Dark Link has found his way into the Shadow Temple
<Hal>	Those whispers and fluctuations I sensed just before... that's a sign of his presence.
<DM>	[Pete's Shadow]: ... uhh... by chance, it wasn't before I jumped over to you guys... was it?
<DM>	*At that moment, the whispers come to a complete stop.
<DM>	$25d10 Pete
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 25 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 8, 1, 6, 4, 1, 2, 6, 5, 5, 5, 8, 1, 3, 10, 3, 7, 7, 2, 10, 8, 10, 8, 8, 2 and 5. Total: 135. Successes: 19.
<Kirran>	Somehow, that makes me more nervous
<DM>	$30d10 Uh-oh
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 30 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 3, 5, 3, 5, 2, 3, 3, 2, 9, 6, 2, 10, 2, 7, 5, 7, 5, 5, 9, 5, 8, 5, 1, 9, 5, 9, 9, 2, 6 and 10. Total: 162. Successes: 22.
<DM>	*Pete's Shadow, having been locked down by the shadow vines, is unable to turn in time as a shadowy blade pieces through him from behind. There, in the darkness of the pillar, you see him... the red glowing eyes of Shia La- Dark Link.
<DM>	[Dark Link]: Heheheheh... I'm baaaaack!
<DM>	*Though, just like you two, Dark Link appears to be stuck in a shadow form. On the flipside, he has his Dark Master Sword.
<DM>	[Pete's Shadow]: GAH! GRARGGH... HOW DARE YOU SNEAK UP ON ME FROM BEHIND?!
<DM>	*Pete's Shadow falls forward, annnd out of the pillar's shadow, vanishing completely.
<Hal>	Impa needs to know.
<DM>	[Dark Link]: Darn, wasn't able to devour his shadow. No worries...
<DM>	*He sets his eyes on you two, across the moonlit gap, extending his sword forward a bit.
<Hal>	I think you are fine where you are
<DM>	[Dark Link]: Hmm, so there's a gap. No worries, I can get you two later...
*	Hal sends out another round of roots at Dark Link!
<DM>	(roll it!)
<Hal>	$29d10
<Navi>	Hal: You rolled 29 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 6, 9, 5, 9, 3, 6, 2, 5, 8, 10, 1, 10, 10, 3, 7, 4, 9, 1, 9, 7, 5, 7, 2, 5, 5, 6, 4, 3 and 8. Total: 169. Successes: 23.
<DM>	$30d10
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 30 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 9, 3, 4, 7, 8, 3, 9, 4, 5, 4, 1, 5, 5, 1, 4, 7, 7, 8, 6, 8, 7, 3, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 10 and 1. Total: 163. Successes: 19.
*	Kirran reaches out mentally for Raine, or Impa, or anybody useful at this point.
<DM>	*Your roots actually connect! Shadowy vines reach out from the pillar, rooting him in place.
<DM>	*Thanks to Hal's Negation Scepter being close enough to completely block out Dark Link's whispers, you reach....
<DM>	*The number you have dialed is not available-
<DM>	*Impa doesn't pick up, but Impa's Shadow does...
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: I sense murder nearby. Is there a way I can partake in it?
<Kirran>	Only if you want to be the one getting murdered. Dark Link has found a way in.
*	Hal grabs one of his Spell Scrolls and uses it to learn Blessing.
<Hal>	(Oh wait, I can't)
<Hal>	NVM
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Has he? I can't see past these big oafs that Impa decided to recruit, they're in the way.
<DM>	*You try to grab your Spell Scroll, only to pick up an RP instead.
<DM>	*Seems you're not physical enough to grab that, though... you were physical enough to pick up a key earlier... if you remember how.
<Hal>	(Steel Shadows would help with that then)
<DM>	(wanna give it a shot?)
*	Hal casts Steel Shadows on himself
<DM>	*FYI, you haven't actively noticed it, but you all seem to be able to cast Magic without draining yourselves into oblivion. How convenient!
<DM>	*Hal, you gain some depth, no more than a few millimeters, but with that depth, you're able to actually pull out that Spell Scroll!
<DM>	*Dark Link tries to move his legs, but they're stuck. Instead, he grabs his unholy blade and stabs at the vines!
<DM>	(lessee, 30 +... 25)
<DM>	$55d10
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 55 Dice with 10 Sides. Total: 311. Successes: 39.
<DM>	*He easily cuts away at the vines, freeing him.
*	Hal pulls out the Spell Scroll and uses it to learn Blessing.
<DM>	*Hal, in the meantime, a flash of light shines upon you and you... learn Blessing.... and accidentally blot out your shadow with too much light.
<Hal>	It will only be a little help, but it is what I have to boost stats without any other shadowy effects...
<DM>	*Hop over to #zurpg2, Hal!

-=MEANWHILE=-

<DM>	*Hal, you find you've accidentally Shadow Hopped elsewhere!
<DM>	*Far outside the Shadow Temple, and over to... let's just dice roll this.
<Hal>	Now I need to get back.
<DM>	*Baegba, Midna, Bloodwind, Shady, annnnd ???
<DM>	$1d5
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 1 Die with 5 Sides. Result: 5.
<DM>	are you friejaoagrteojuniasghiujtrea
<DM>	WHELP, THIS IS GONNA BE SOMETHING ELSE
<Hal>	Oh no.
<DM>	*Hal, you consider RPing that, but given some of the other questionable choices, you decide to just ride the course...
<Hal>	This was not a wise choice, but without Blessing I can't boost my power
<DM>	*You appear in a dank- err desert canyon. Souls have long given up bothering to wander here, and the dust is getting lonely.
<Hal>	Something tells me I am going to run into Corsava...
<DM>	*You think you recognize that bloody sunset in the distance when you notice you're attached to the shadow of some destroyed bricks. You look up, tucked inside one of the walls is a collapsed tower, one that used to reach to the heavens.
<Hal>	... This is not Gerudo Vallery
<DM>	*As you realize where you are, a deep droning sound overwhelms you, then gets negated by the Negation Scepter.
<Hal>	Is this... Stone Tower Temple?
<DM>	*Yup, welcome to Termina!
<DM>	*Your madness is reacting to a familiar presence...
<Hal>	(I take it you were looking for a reason to send me here...)
<DM>	(I was just rolling the dice honestly)
<DM>	(I didn't think it'd actually roll the 5)
*	Hal whispered to himself... "The masked man is here... isn't he?"
<DM>	*It's similar to his madness, but more... refined, controlled...
<DM>	*The lowering sunset gives you more room to breathe. You're about to stretch when a blade of literal darkness nearly slices your arm off.
*	Hal dodges out of the way of the blade of literal darkness.
<DM>	*You look up, and the spitting image of Bloodwind and his hooded self stares back down at you. Except, the cloak isn't blood red, and he's carrying two blades of literal darkness.
<DM>	*You recall fighting this guy.... and you recall not liking him, because your armor is useless against him.
<Hal>	(Garo Master)
<DM>	*He stares down at you, err... at least you think he does. Though, with your Negation Scepter so close, and you having gotten used to the shadows... you actually see a pair of yellow, glowing eyes from within, almost like Poe eyes...
<Hal>	(and I have no armor, so I can't even use that Mist spell to give myself Neutral Armor)
<Hal>	You must be Garo Master.
<DM>	*He nods slightly.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: It has been some time.
<DM>	*His vowels are elongated, his almost-whispering echoing off the canyon walls.
<DM>	*He kneels down towards you.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: What are you... doing here like... that?
<Hal>	Accidently shadow-hopping will do that to you.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Shadow Hopping? Oh.. you must mean traveling through the Interloper's realm...
<DM>	*So thaaat's why Dark Link was able to track you...
<Hal>	That would explain why Dark Link has been able to track me
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Dark Link himself? That pretender is tracking you, you say?
<Hal>	He was... but he isn't here.
<Hal>	He must be after Kirran.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Kirran, that's the... Sheikah, with the fairy... thing...
<Hal>	Yes
<DM>	[Garo Master]: I myself used to Shadow Hop, but I was caught by him once.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Nearly devoured his greedy shadow.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Is he in a physical state right now?
<Hal>	It appears not.
<Hal>	He seemed to be in a 2D state when I saw him last
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Hmph, can't strike him that way.
<Hal>	He seemed to only be able to draw the Dark Master Sword.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Of course. If he's here in the Light Realm, he doesn't have all of his powers from the Twilight Realm.
<Hal>	(The interlopers realm would also explain precisely what happened leading up to that Shadow Temple quest)
<DM>	(indeed!)
<DM>	(gimme a moment over here...)(
<Hal>	He can only seem to draw out things that are shadowy. That must explain why I can draw out only things that are shadowy too
<DM>	[Garo Master]: I see. That fairy then must be a lot of help against Dark Link, shouldn't she?
<Hal>	She has been, but now she needs to be saved. And uhh.. this is why I am here and can now shadow-hop
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Ah. You could've just started with that.
<DM>	*Garo Master stares at you for a few solid seconds, before... cough. He removes the blade of darkness from the ground.
<DM>	*You see a perfect hole where the blade was, as if it was slicing through soft buttery goodness.
<Hal>	Of the interlopers, only Dark Link remains.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: I owe you all a debt for what you did for me. I was enslaved by a false master, and you freed my mind, cleared my eyes.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: I sense within you, the same uncertainty I once held. That madness, that one that threatens to destroy everything around you.
<Hal>	Majora's Madness, it is. In addition to saving Raine, I embarked on this quest to conquer the madness I hold within.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: I see. I believe... I can help, if you'd allow me.
<DM>	*He pulls his sword closer to you, the tip of it about to pierce you.
<Hal>	Yes. Please help me.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Very well.
<DM>	*Garo Master THRUSTS the blade of darkness through you! You feel as though your heart is pierced. You stop breathing for a moment... but then you realize... you don't feel the madness flaring out of control.
<DM>	*It's focused, pinpointed within the blade itself. A great amount of madness lies within, yet it's narrow and focused. He pulls the blade back, and you lose that moment of clarity and the regain the ability to breathe again.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Do you understand now?
<Hal>	Yes. The madness must lie within my heart.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: ...
<Hal>	I take it I don't
<DM>	*He stabs you in the shoulder. You feel the pain first, then you notice the madness, hole'd up in a single point, pulled towards the blade. He removes the blade, taking off a chunk of your fur in the process.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Yes, there is madness in your heart. But it lies within all of yourself. You must learn to control it, refine it as I have.
<Hal>	That I must
<DM>	[Garo Master]: It will follow you wherever you go. You can remove it, but by doing so, you lose the potential for something greater.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Which path do you choose before you?
<DM>	*Aka, do you want the red pill, or the blue pill?
<Hal>	If I can control it, I will become stronger. If I can harness it, I can use it for the greater good.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: And if you fail, you'll turn upon your allies.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Are you willing to take this risk?
<Hal>	That I will. Without this power, I am not confident that I can protect my friends.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Then... though I believe your Sheikah companion was the one I was looking forward to meeting once more...
<DM>	[Garo Master]: I shall give you my blade.
<DM>	*Garo Master takes one of the blades of darkness, and... lets it drop upon you.
*	Hal picks up this blade of darkness.
<DM>	*You try to grab it, but as a shadow, it just... kinda becomes a part of you instead.
<DM>	*You feel the madness within you grow and grow, growling in rage!
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Right now, it must be grueling to let that control you.
<Hal>	I can feel it. It wants to take over me!
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Good. Let it.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: What is it that enrages you?
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Focus on what give you anger strength over you...
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Tell me what the madness shows.
<Hal>	My madness... the presence of anything steeped in Majora's Madness. Happy Mask Salesman... Raine going out of control...
<DM>	[Garo Master]: And what are you afraid of losing from that?
<DM>	*You feel each and every part of your body consumed... consumed with power!
<Hal>	My friends... my home... myself...
<Hal>	I am afraid of losing myself to the madness... with it I would lose my friends... my home... everything...
<DM>	[Garo Master]: If you lost everything, then your madness has only you to devour.
<Hal>	It would appear to be that way.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Quite a lonely existence...
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Now, focus.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Don't fear yourself. You are a source of power, meant to protect those you hold dear.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Now that you feel that anger, that madness within, you've let yourself become familiar with it...
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Focus it towards a single point.
<Hal>	I will do anything to protect everything I hold dear to me.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Anything? Even if you would lose yourself?
<Hal>	Yes. I am fully committed to protecting my people and saving my home.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Good. Then...
*	Hal focuses on the centre of one of the broken bricks strewn about.
<DM>	*You finally submit, and let yourself be consumed by the madness as you no longer fear for yourself... and then...
<DM>	*You regain your senses, still amassed with the power bestowed by the madness, yet... it's controlled. It no longer whips you around. You are now the master of your own madness.
<DM>	*Your mind is clear. Enraged, but you can direct that rage towards something.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: You have done well.
<Hal>	Maybe Dark Link can eat a taste of my newfound power.
<Hal>	I can use my power to deflect the madness Masked Man spews
<DM>	[Garo Master]: I don't know if it'll work on the Masked Man, but Dark Link... if you actually land a hit on him, you will severely weaken him.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: At the very least, the Masked Man no longer holds dominion over you simply by being around.
<Hal>	I don't think the madness will work if it hits him directly, but if I can use my power to deflect it to another source...
<DM>	[Garo Master]: You are thinking well, despite in that state. You have more mastery over it than even myself already...
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Go now, return and use the madness I've imbued within you. And... when you return to your physical state... call out for me.
<Hal>	Having PTSD from being turned into a monster after blocking one of his madness orbs will teach you that you can't block it
<Hal>	So, I guess it would be time to hop back into the Shadow Temple with Kirran then
<DM>	*The sun in the distance sets, and the shadow you're attached to is fading quickly into darkness. Your form is starting to distort.
<DM>	[Garo Master]: Well, it's that, or lose your shadow's form forever...
*	Hal shadow-hops back to the Shadow Temple
<DM>	*You focus on Dark Link, focusing your hatred on him... and then...

-=MEANWHILE=-

<DM>	*Kirran, you see Hal's shadow blink out of existence as light consumes him!
*	Kirran facepalms
<DM>	[Dark Link]: Hah, you fools, what'd you think would happen?
<DM>	*Dark Link inspects your shadow briefly.
<DM>	[Dark Link]: Huh, it's almost like I'm looking into a mirror. Except you're the failure!
*	Kirran tries to get closer to where Impa's shadow is.
<DM>	*He looks like he's about to jump over to you, but instead, he looks to the side, and notices... the pillar's shadow he's attached to is connected to Gonzo's shadow.
<DM>	[Dark Link]: I'll come back for you later...
<DM>	*Meanwhile, you notice you're able to move... almost freely. It's slow, but... the cardboard box illusion is moving with you.
<Kirran>	Now if I could just figure out where the hell I need to go...
<DM>	*Past the layer of Dex's goon's shadows, is Impa's Shadow, facing off against Fred and his shadow.
<DM>	*Problem is, their shadows plus the pillar shadows are acting like a wall to get to the other side.
<DM>	*You could slip past, but your box probably won't...
*	Kirran packs up the box for later.
<DM>	*Are you attaching yourself to a nearby shadow, or would you like to unwittingly Shadow Hop like Hal just did?
<DM>	*There's a proximity spike trap closest to you.
<Kirran>	(I'm not risking a shadow hop just yet.)
<DM>	*Outside of that, you could try attaching yourself to the shadow of Doc Luggins, who you're a bit familiar with alright.
<DM>	*already
<Kirran>	That seems like the best option
<DM>	*You hitch a ride in Doc Luggins' roudy shadow. Meanwhile, Dark Link is using his sword as a bridge to reach from the pillar's shadow to Gonzo's shadow.
<DM>	*Would you like to pull the surfbox back out to reach Impa or find a way to stop Dark Link?
<Kirran>	(what would happen if I cast purify on a shadow?)
<DM>	(Well, you remember what happened to Hal when he light blinked himself out of existence...)
*	Kirran casts purify on Dark Link's Sword.
<DM>	(Roll it!)
<Kirran>	$27d10
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 27 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 3, 9, 8, 1, 5, 8, 6, 9, 10, 3, 7, 3, 3, 8, 9, 10, 6, 9, 10, 5, 4, 5, 2, 9, 2, 1 and 2. Total: 157. Successes: 20.
<DM>	$30d10
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 30 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 9, 5, 4, 7, 7, 3, 5, 7, 8, 2, 3, 7, 2, 5, 3, 4, 7, 1, 3, 7, 7, 2, 6, 2, 5, 10, 3, 3, 2 and 3. Total: 142. Successes: 16.
<DM>	*Dark Link is about to tip-toe across, when you cast Purify on his blade! The light shines across it, threatening to blink it out of existence!
<DM>	[Dark Link]: No, not THIS sword!
<DM>	*He tries to stash it, but it blinks out!
<DM>	*.... only to clatter across the fourth wall several times, before blinking back into existence, landing next to Impa's Shadow.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Ooh, I've just picked up a nice swordy, and I'm not giving it back!
<DM>	[Dark Link]: Grah!
<DM>	*Gonzo steps back a bit as he cheers.
<DM>	[Gonzo]: Eyy, 'E ACTUALLY WENT LEFT!
<DM>	*You turn your attention to the side to notice that Right Said Fred has actually landed a hit on Impa! The goons are quite enthused by this. You start getting getting shook off from Doc Luggin's shadow as it collides with Mack the Knife's shadow.
<DM>	*Would you like to stay where you're at or hop aboard a new train?
*	Kirran keeps moving
<DM>	*You manage to get into Mack the Knife's shadow, now adjacent to Gonzo's Shadow.
<DM>	*With Gonzo stepping back, his shadow is touching the pillar. Dark Link reaches back out again.
<DM>	[Dark Link]: It's mine now!
<DM>	*Just then, Gonzo steps within range of... a proximity spike trap.
<DM>	*It slides right behind you all. Gonzo himself notices too late, and it slides across the back of his foot, downing him.
<DM>	[Gonzo]: GRARGH, ME FOOTSIES!
<DM>	*The blades from the spike trap's shadows actually seem to strike Dark Link. He is... dripping shadow blood.
<DM>	*You are now kindly reminded this room is dripping with blades of all kinds. Enjoy!
<Kirran>	I don't even...
*	Kirran keeps moving, reluctant of the plot.
<DM>	*Impa rushes over to Gonzo, casting a healing ability on his foot and quickly bandaging it.
<DM>	*You end up moving and hitching a ride on Impa's Shadow.
<DM>	*Suddenly, a boatload of insecurities plague your mind.
<DM>	*You think... you're not good enough. You're not worthy of being leader. Maybe that traitor speaks the truth. These goons will never be good enough. The Sheikah will never rise up again. It'll never be good enough to save Hyrule from the impending crisis...
*	Kirran manifests the motivational power of Shea LeBouf, famed cannibal, to fight through this malaise.
<Kirran>	Just do it...just do it!
<DM>	*Though, you're reminded of the strength you got from dialoguing Uroh into nothingness, as you take on the Shia Labeouf "strength pose".
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: What... what are you doing...?
<Kirran>	This is no time for doubts. Things are about as bad as they can be, and I need my chief back.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Your chief? That worthless lump hanging over me? Pfft, even if you get her back, what good will that do?
<Kirran>	Impa! Boss! Dark Link is here!
<DM>	*You notice the blade he's now holding has quite a radiance of hatred incarnate circling it...
<DM>	*Impa's Shadow is smiling as Impa herself is unable to hear you, her thoughts clouded by Interloper whispers and insecurities.
<DM>	*derp
<DM>	*You notice the blade she's holding
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Yes, yes he's here... I can finally kill him myself, heehehehahahah!
<Kirran>	As much as I'd like to see you try, I doubt you're going to manage that on his turf.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: His turf? Fool, it's the Shadow Temple, it's my turf!
*	Kirran casts purify on the sword again.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Hey, Impa. Why don't you move over-
<DM>	*Your beam of light bounces the sword out... annnd okay lemme dice roll this.
<DM>	*Kirran, Impa, Doc, Fred, Gonzo, Mack, Dark Link, Bob, Raine, so... $1d9
<DM>	$1d9
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 1 Die with 9 Sides. Result: 4.
<DM>	*The Dark Master Sword blinks out... annnd reappears across a chasm of moonlight into Fred's Shadow!
<DM>	*Right he starts celebrating his victory from turning left, his shadow's right hand grabs the sword... and Fred goes back to turning right.
<DM>	*Weird how each time you try to blink the sword out, it just immediately bounces back...
<Hal>	(Soulbound)
<Kirran>	Snap out of it boss! We're in real trouble here.
<DM>	[Dark Link]: Fine, I'll just Shadow Hop myself...
<DM>	*You look over to see Dark Link's shadow... and it's missing.
<DM>	*Impa looks down at you as is about to notice you, when she's forced to look back up.
<DM>	*Right Said Fred is going in for another strike on Impa, and this time with a nasty glow in his eyes.
<DM>	[Right Said Fred]: You said never drop your guard. Watch out, Boss, heehheeheeh!
*	Kirran casts purify on Fred.
<DM>	*Right Said Fred is about to go in with a blade from the left, when his shadow is bounced out! Right Said Fred drops to the floor, unconscious.
<DM>	*However, the blade he was holding flings your way. Would you like to catch it or dodge it?
<Kirran>	(Dodge it. I ain't touching something that evil.)
<DM>	(Are you sure about that?)
<DM>	*Right behind you is Impa's Shadow, and she seems eager to get ahold of it...
<Kirran>	Eh, guess I might as well catch it.
<DM>	*You grab the blade, and suddenly, you're... in a forest.
<Kirran>	0_0
<DM>	*You're yourself again, not a shadow! But you don't see your shadow.
<DM>	*A great mist envelops you within this forest...
<DM>	*You look for the blade, but you're not holding anything. It's just your physical self in this misty forest...
<Kirran>	(I swear if I see a page, it's going to get very silly in here)
<DM>	(a... page?)
<DM>	*A familiar blue glow catches your eye. You look to the side, and there sitting in a pedestal in these woods, lies... the Master Sword, in all its glory, resting within the comfort of some old vines.
<Kirran>	Huh. Just like the old stories.
<DM>	*A ghastly voice calls out to you, hollow as if aged by a great amount of time. It feels familiar, yet not, at the same time...
<Kirran>	But it's not there anymore. Only the outline in the earth where the pedestal was.
<Kirran>	Hundreds have gone on pilgrimage there, hoping for a clue.
<DM>	[Voice]: Is it you, the one that keeps trying to send the darkness away?
<DM>	[Voice]: The one that keeps lighting the dark blade...
<Kirran>	Yes?
<Kirran>	It seemed like the only way to keep my friends safe.
<DM>	[Voice]: A logical choice, but a foolish one.
<Kirran>	I...I don't disagree with that assessment.
<DM>	[Voice]: Each time you do, The Dark Link comes closer and closer to being able to enter the Sacred Chamber.
<DM>	*You see a flash of that chamber you were in once before, then you're back in the forest.
<Kirran>	Is there anything this guy isn't set up to invade at some point? He's got a lot of irons in the fire these days...
<DM>	[Voice]: Well of course. He was, afterall... the original. The "first" Link.
<DM>	[Voice]: The Master Sword should be his, by right. But the Goddesses denied him, for his lust for power was too great.
<DM>	[Voice]: It's only a matter of time before he regains what was rightfully his.
<Kirran>	How do I fight him? It's obvious it can't be done head-on. I've tried.
<Kirran>	And our Link is nowhere to be found.
<DM>	[Voice]: You can't. He matches your every move. Taking him head-on is foolish.
<DM>	[Voice]: Perhaps the Hero of Time is gone... but your world doesn't need him anymore.
<Kirran>	Sure got a couple of good punches in though.
<DM>	[Voice]: Your world... has you, and your companions.
<Kirran>	Where we don't blow up everything while trying to save it, I suppose.
<DM>	[Voice]: ... indeed.
<Kirran>	And we might not need him, but his absence is felt the world over.
<Kirran>	Impa's not the same without him, and I don't think Zelda is either.
<DM>	*There's a silence after you mention Zelda...
<DM>	[Voice]: The Dark Link is often too greedy for his own good.
<DM>	[Voice]: Lure his greed, then strike when he thinks he's got what he wants.
<Kirran>	I guess the trick is figuring out what he wants.
<DM>	[Voice]: Power. I sense he's lost the Four Sword and now seeks a new source of power...
<DM>	[Voice]: Must've been when you punched into into the sky...
<Kirran>	What's in the shadow temple that would give him power though? He's already a lord of darkness
<DM>	[Voice]: On the contrary, there is a being that surpasses his darkness.
<DM>	[Voice]: I believe you're quite familiar with her.
<DM>	[Voice]: She's been reaching out to me since you became a shadow.
<Kirran>	Would reuniting the two halves of Raine fix her? I've been trying since we started this caper to do that.
<Kirran>	But I can't get a bead on where her light is, and I'm starting to wonder if it's even possible.
<DM>	[Voice]: You've been looking in the wrong place.
<DM>	[Voice]: It is not an object or a place that can give you what you need to restore Raine...
<DM>	[Voice]: Since the Twilight Realm, you've been absorbed by the pain of betrayal, the lust for revenge.
<DM>	[Voice]: It's a strong source of power, but the light...
<DM>	*You feel yourself glow briefly.
<DM>	[Voice]: As I've said, you've been looking in the wrong place. Go now, and return to Raine!
*	Kirran gets Zen.
<DM>	*You blink back. You're holding the Dark Master Sword, back in shadow form. Nearby, Impa's Shadow tries to reach out for it.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: My... PRECIOUS!
<DM>	*You are not affected by the cloud of hatred within the sword.
<Kirran>	Nope.
*	Kirran moves back.
<DM>	*You move back, stepping out of Impa's Shadow... and into the shadow of the Dark Master Sword's Master.... that's just confusing.
<DM>	*You turn around and find yourself hitching a ride on none other than Dark Link's Shadow!
<DM>	[Dark Link]: Give me that back, you vile fake!
<Kirran>	$1d3
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 1 Die with 3 Sides. Result: 3.
<DM>	(nice try)
<DM>	*Dark Link's Shadow appears to be attached to the large shadow of the ceiling spike trap nearby.
<DM>	*He reaches out...
<DM>	*Roll Courage to defend!
<Kirran>	(Do I get defence dice on this one?)
<DM>	(only if they're movement related defense dice)
<DM>	(dunno if you have any)
<Kirran>	(Uh...)
<Kirran>	$38d10
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 38 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 7, 7, 7, 4, 10, 1, 1, 7, 3, 3, 3, 4, 7, 6, 8, 4, 7, 10, 10, 4, 1, 6, 5, 6, 5, 7, 8, 6, 9, 1, 6, 6, 8, 3, 10, 8, 3 and 10. Total: 221. Successes: 30.
<DM>	$30d10
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 30 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 4, 6, 2, 7, 10, 9, 3, 7, 2, 9, 7, 2, 2, 8, 7, 6, 3, 2, 3, 10, 8, 1, 1, 3, 7, 9, 5, 6, 6 and 8. Total: 163. Successes: 20.
<DM>	(whelp)
<DM>	*You quickly dance around the edge of Dark Link's Shadow, stepping on his boundary as you nimbly escape to the spike trap's shadow.
<DM>	[Dark Link]: So that doesn't work... then let's try this!
<DM>	*A rift within the shadows forms around his shadowy hands. Looks like he's gearing up to launch a well sized shadow spell at you...
*	Kirran tosses the sword between him and Dark Link
<DM>	[Dark Link]: Oh, easy then!
<DM>	*He stops with the shadow spell, trying to reach out to the sword.
<DM>	*He's about to grab it, when...
<DM>	*You feel an aura of hatred and madness. It's almost as potent as the Masked Man's, yet... safe?
<DM>	*Out of nowhere, Hal's Shadow bounces back in, materializing right where the Dark Master Sword is!
<DM>	*Hal, would you like to grab said sword?
<Hal>	(Yes)
*	Hal grabs the Dark Master Sword!
<DM>	*Kirran, you witness a burly, feral shadow, bearing fangs, claws, and frayed fur, grab hold of the Dark Master Sword. The being you once recognized as Hal picks up the Dark Master Sword, then pulls in its hatred, its darkness, absorbing it, letting the POWER flow through him!
<Kirran>	(Hal picked up a piece of Power?)
<DM>	*Hal, you feel like you have a better understanding of Dark Link's hatred now. Would you like to kindly stab him with his own sword?
*	Hal does just that!
<Hal>	(Lets just say I had a run in with an old adversary...)
<DM>	*Dark Link suddenly materializes a fake blade, a second Dark Master Sword, one that doesn't seem to have fully formed.
<DM>	[Dark Link]: What in the- FURRY GUY?!
<DM>	*Hal, you focus all your hatred, all of your anger. The fear of losing your friends and home... pulled into the Dark Master Sword. It seems to resemble a blade of pure darkness. Kirran, that blade has striking resemblance to the ones used by Garo Master...
<Kirran>	(Alas, senpai...)
<DM>	*Alrighty Hal, ROLL POWER! Which, you notice your Power stat has... lessee, let's just say that was about 4 rounds time... +20 Power!
<Hal>	$37d10
<Navi>	Hal: You rolled 37 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 5, 10, 3, 7, 6, 3, 6, 9, 9, 8, 7, 6, 9, 9, 3, 5, 5, 6, 6, 8, 6, 3, 9, 6, 6, 5, 4, 1, 1, 10, 8, 6, 9, 1, 2, 4 and 3. Total: 214. Successes: 28.
<DM>	$30d10
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 30 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 8, 2, 2, 5, 9, 8, 3, 8, 1, 8, 3, 6, 4, 10, 2, 7, 8, 7, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 10, 10, 9, 8, 1, 10 and 2. Total: 162. Successes: 20.
<DM>	*Dark Link tries to deflect the stab of the Dark Master Sword with one hand, and tries to grab it with the other.
<DM>	*He succeeds... with a blade sticking through his shadow's heart.
<DM>	*You hear a voice in your head, Hal:
<DM>	[Voice]: Do you unleash it?
<Hal>	Yes
<DM>	*Between the hatred from the Master Sword and that you've accrued dealing with countless beings of hatred, one after another, transfers to Dark Link.
<DM>	[Dark Link]: Yes... YES, POWER-
<DM>	*It then BURSTS from within! The Interloper whispers you're used to hearing turn to absolute agony, as they claw their way, clutching at anything to remove themselves from the wretched pain they feel.
*	Kirran fires a black arrow at Dark Link.
<DM>	*Somehow, you manage to grab ahold of your bow and fire it!
<DM>	*He's unable to defend, and the black arrows hungrily lick up the madness... and amplify them further!
<DM>	*Hal, you stand over Dark Link's Shadow... yes, you heard that right, over.
<DM>	*Kirran, you look up to see... Hal has returned to his physical form!
<DM>	*Impa suddenly looks over to see a now-calm Hal, though his fur is still frazzled and his eyes are a tad bloodshot.
<DM>	[Impa]: Hal... you're... you're back!
<Hal>	Yes I am.
<DM>	[Impa]: What's that wicked sound I hear?!
<Hal>	And I can now control my madness!
<DM>	[Impa]: You can what your what now?!
<Hal>	The wicked sound... I think that would be interloper voices screaming in agony from Dark Link getting stabbed right through the heart.
<DM>	*Kirran, you see Dark Link's Shadow try to hop out, but he is unable to Shadow Hop and return to the Interloper's Realm.
<DM>	[Dark Link]: Gahh... what is this... this immense... AUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHH!
<Hal>	Kirran is here too, in shadow form.
<DM>	*His scream actually causes a piercing sound to rupture through the room. Roll Wisdom to defend!
<DM>	[Impa]: Is that's who's been nagging me this whole tim-
<Hal>	(Can Negation Scepter block this?)
<DM>	$40d10 Screech
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 40 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 4, 8, 4, 5, 2, 3, 3, 4, 1, 3, 1, 3, 9, 5, 3, 10, 1, 1, 6, 3, 4, 7, 5, 6, 7, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 7, 8, 2, 10, 3, 3, 2, 5, 6 and 3. Total: 182. Successes: 22.
<DM>	*Hal, you're fine as you hold the Negation Scepter in your hands. However, it only blocks Impa partially, so dice bonus on her uhhh...
<DM>	$25d10 Impa
<Navi>	DM: You rolled 25 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 8, 7, 5, 6, 2, 8, 5, 2, 9, 1, 5, 2, 7, 9, 8, 4, 3, 2, 8, 7, 6, 4, 5, 7 and 4. Total: 134. Successes: 16.
<DM>	*Kirran, gain 10 dice on this.
<Hal>	(I mean, Void Beam)
<DM>	(you wanna focus the screech into the Void Beam?)
<Kirran>	$37d10
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 37 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 8, 9, 5, 3, 5, 8, 10, 2, 3, 5, 3, 10, 9, 5, 8, 9, 9, 9, 6, 7, 6, 9, 10, 8, 6, 7, 3, 10, 1, 9, 3, 8, 8, 8, 10, 3 and 5. Total: 247. Successes: 34.
<Hal>	(It specifies projectile, though)
<DM>	(screw it, try it out)
<DM>	(beat that uhh... 22 successes)
*	Hal casts Enlighten on himself before firing a Void Beam to contain the screech!
<Hal>	Roll your Wisdom dice +6 vs. target’s attack roll
<Hal>	    Damage: None
<Hal>	    EFFECT: If it succeeds, envelop the target in a small barrier, causing the attack to reflect on themselves for full damage.
<Hal>	        That is, if the attack would normally do half damage or no damage, it automatically deals full damage instead. Otherwise, use its damage value.
<Hal>	    IF FAIL: The negative energy instead amplifies the attack, adding successes to it equal to the difference in successes, and multiplying its damage by x1.5
<DM>	*Kirran, you're unable to hear the screech of your nemesis, or rather, you're savoring it. After all, it was this guy that Raine nearly lost her life to. This guy that Rokan had to sacrifice his life for.
<Hal>	$42d10
<Navi>	Hal: You rolled 42 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 10, 4, 7, 4, 7, 7, 3, 2, 4, 1, 10, 3, 7, 7, 9, 5, 6, 6, 1, 2, 8, 10, 3, 7, 2, 1, 5, 9, 1, 7, 4, 10, 1, 10, 4, 8, 6, 6, 9, 10, 6 and 8. Total: 240. Successes: 32.
<DM>	*And yet, you can't help but be reminded of the words from that mysterious voice... "You're looking in the wrong place."
*	Kirran walks away and tries to focus on the light.
<DM>	*The screech almost downs Impa and the goons, but courtesies of your newfound powers to focus on something really darn well, you manage to suck in the pain of the screech into the Void Beam itself!
<Hal>	Have a taste of your own medicine
<DM>	*The beam strikes the top of the ceiling spike trap, causing it to fall! It drags Dark Link along, and then you hear a shadowy CRUNCH!
<DM>	*The spike trap sandwiches the black flamed Dark Link between a bunch of shadowy spikes and a shadowy hard place.
<DM>	*Kirran's shadow, meanwhile is.. nowhere to be seen.
<DM>	*Kirran, this time, YOU bounce over to #zurpg2!

-=MEANWHILE=-

<DM>	*Kirran, you find yourself back to your physical form... again. You're not sure if it's actually you or the uhh, you know... vision version you just had.
<Kirran>	I guess I'm just not myself today.
<DM>	*You're in darkness, but hey, Sheikah have dark vision, a fact I seem to keep forgetting.
<DM>	*You look around, and you see, glowing in the darkness, a... Gossip Stone?
<DM>	*This place looks eerily familiar...
<Kirran>	Wow, it's been ages since I've seen one of you guys.
<Kirran>	Oh wait a minute, is this Midna's jail cell again?
<DM>	[Gossip Stone]: They say you were once here.
<DM>	[Gossip Stone]: Sheikah recognized.
<DM>	*You hear a bunch of bleep bloops and 8-bit glitching.
<Kirran>	Oh dear...
<Kirran>	I'm not going back to being 16-bit again.
<DM>	[Gossip Stone]: Welcome back, Kirran. It has been some time.
<Kirran>	o_o
<DM>	*Now that you recall...
<DM>	*You do recognize this place. It's the Old Shadow Temple, the very same room you met this Gossip Stone, who contained... Raine.
<Kirran>	Feels like a different lifetime.
*	Kirran scratches his head, shrugs, and approaches the Gossip Stone.
<DM>	(canonically, it's been... about a year, in-game time)
<DM>	(though it feels like much longer...)
<Kirran>	It has been a long time. How have things been my stone friend.
<DM>	[Gossip Stone]: Stony.
<DM>	[Gossip Stone]: ...
<DM>	[Gossip Stone]: So, have you found the light yet?
<Kirran>	How terrible would it be if I said I only just realized how to look for it?
<Kirran>	And that only by the coaxing of a weary hero?
<DM>	[Gossip Stone]: We all need something, someone to guide us by.
<DM>	[Gossip Stone]: For many within the Sheikah, it is us ancestors, stored within these Gossip Stones.
<Kirran>	I wish more of us would figure that one out. Most of them think I'm a little crazy.
<DM>	[Gossip Stone]: You are a little crazy. Afterall, you put up with Raine far longer than any of us could deal with.
<DM>	[Gossip Stone]: ... my apologies.
<Kirran>	Well, you're not wrong. But you have to take the long view with stuff like that. She's unpredictable, but in there is a good heart.
<Kirran>	There wouldn't be much of a tribe at this point, if it wasn't for her.
<DM>	*You're reminded by all the times she saved you, even that one time she took over your soul and nearly killed Dex. Ahh..... good times!
<DM>	*And then, at the end, when she lied to you to save you...
*	Kirran sighs and takes a seat next to the stone.
<Kirran>	You have any tips on how to focus on inner light?
<DM>	*The stone tries to reach out a calming, friendly hand..... but it has no hands.
<Kirran>	I've managed to split myself into two halves before, light and dark, but I've never gone all in on one side or the other.
<DM>	*It instead... uhh... mildly leans over and taps you on the shoulder, before returning back to a completely stoned, upright position.
<DM>	[Gossip Stone]: For me, I do not. However, your friend might...
<DM>	*There's a sputtering of 8-bit noises, and then a *CLICK*
<DM>	*The Gossip Stone shuts down, but not before opening up and revealing a bottle of darkness.
*	Kirran picks it up carefully.
<DM>	*You're reminded of when Dex literally stole darkness and shoved it into a bottle.
<DM>	*.... you're about to put down the bottle, when there's a flicker of light. Not from within the bottle, but from you.
<DM>	*You hear, from within the bottle...
<DM>	[Raine]: Tastes... like waffles and Scuffles McDuffles...
<Kirran>	o_O
<DM>	*She's still enveloped within the darkness of the bottle, though you hear her voice.
<DM>	*Suddenly, the tone of her voice changes, into one that's... oddly calm.
<DM>	[Raine]: So you finally listened and looked within. I've been waiting for you, you know.
<Kirran>	Hey, I've been through kind of a lot.
<Kirran>	Also, Dark Link is really, really loud.
<DM>	[Raine]: Teeheehee, I know.
<DM>	[Raine]: You know, I don't think I've ever told you who my true Master is...
<DM>	[Raine]: The one I serve. The one who gives me...
<DM>	*The subtle shift to a deeper, devilish tone.
<DM>	[Raine]: ... power.
<DM>	[Raine]: Wanna take a guess?
<Kirran>	I mean, my guess was Majora, but I was never sure.
<Hal>	(Its Kefka)
<Hal>	(*Runs behind the fourth wall*)
<DM>	*Kefka waves from the fourth wall.
<DM>	[Raine]: Hmmm.... that's what I thought, too.
<DM>	[Raine]: But I have a new master now.
<DM>	*There's another flicker of light from within you.
<DM>	[Raine]: So, Kirran, why do you think you need to split yourself in half?
<Kirran>	It's not so much a need, as something I figured I could do to make myself more powerful if the moment came.
<Kirran>	It's kinda got it's drawbacks though, and it's awfully existential.
<DM>	[Raine]: Then be existential.
<DM>	[Raine]: You've taken on illusions in the past. You've even mastered them well. You know how to be existential already.
<DM>	[Raine]: What's holding ya back?
<Kirran>	Up until recently, I would have said nothing.
<Kirran>	But at this point, I think I'm afraid of getting out of balance.
<Kirran>	I've watched friends and people I care for tip way too far one way or another and lose themselves.
<Kirran>	I mean, I just waded through literal shadow hell looking for a way to put you back together.
<Kirran>	Don't even ask about the shadow tentacle cake.
<DM>	[Raine]: Oh, that thing?
<DM>	[Raine]: Impa made that.
<DM>	[Raine]: She thought she could feed a plant with darkness instead of sunlight.
<DM>	[Raine]: I just manifested in it briefly. Thing is honestly a creepfest. I don't wanna be near that thing, icky goo!
<Kirran>	But on the other hand, there was Rokan. He got so caught up in the light, he became a violent psychopath.
<Kirran>	It took everything I had at the time to take off his blindfold and help him see what the light had wrought.
<Kirran>	So the dark epiphany was, I suppose, my way of keeping the balance while retaining the power.
<DM>	[Raine]: You teeter the boundary between light and darkness... the boundary between the physical and the shadows...
<DM>	[Raine]: Instead of splitting yourself so far...
<DM>	[Raine]: Why not become all of them?
*	Kirran raises an eyebrow.
<Kirran>	I guess it's worth a shot.
<DM>	[Raine]: Don't worry, if you fall, don't forget...
<DM>	*The bottle top finally pops off, and out from it Raine flies up.
<DM>	[Raine]: I'm here to serve, My True Master!
<Kirran>	: D
<DM>	*You're surrounded by a swirl of uncertainty, culminating in a tornado of light and darkness, of dimensions and shadows, as if the fourth wall itself coils around you and Raine's wacked out personality...
*	Kirran focuses on this new idea and how the heck it would even work.
<DM>	[Raine]: Let's go, to new break new frontiers!
<Kirran>	We're going to need a lot of cake.
<DM>	[Raine]: Darn skippy! And a good amount of BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOOOODS!
<DM>	[Raine]: For toppings, of course.
<DM>	*She flies into you, and your vision is engulfed by bright white light... god that's blinding...

-=MEANWHILE=-

<Hal>	(Does Void Beam count as an attack?)
<DM>	(yes, why?)
<Hal>	(I should have +4 Armor then)
<Hal>	21h 9m | +4 Armor? | +5 Wisdom
<DM>	*Welcome back to the land of the physical and living!
<DM>	*Hal, having just pwned Dark Link into a shadow sandwich, Impa cautiously approaches you.
<DM>	[Impa]: It's... really you. I thought.. wait, where's Kirran?
<Hal>	Kirran... I have no idea where he just went
<DM>	*Hal, despite being back in physical form, you hear the whispers of the shadows....
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: He's gone bye-bye, heeheehee!
*	Hal just thinks to himself. "Kirran can't be gone. He must be somewhere else"
<DM>	*It's odd. You sense Kirran nearby, but you can't pinpoint where...
<DM>	*It's kinda like... Raine, actually.
<Hal>	Kirran... he must be somewhere else here. I can't figure out where he is.
<DM>	[Impa]: I think I can reach out to him...
<DM>	*Impa tries to focus and meditate, but she's... noticeably irritable.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: He's been gobbled up, uppity by the same shadows you used to crush Dark Link, heeheehee! I saw it all. Now Impa's got one less burden, kyeheheheh!
<Hal>	Impa, stay strong. Focus your thoughts on communicating with Kirran. Don't let your demons convince you otherwise.
<DM>	[Impa]: My.. my demons? What, you mean Dex's darned goons?
<DM>	[Gonzo]: 'ey, we ain't goons, we'z goonies, gits it roight, boss!
<DM>	[Doc Luggins]: Derned goons? Yew git, we's not demons, we's little devils!
<Hal>	(Is there any way to quell a shadow?)
<DM>	*You happen to notice Fred is still unconscious, as he's missing his shadow... Huh, I wonder if some genius blinked it out earlier...
<Hal>	Wait a moment...
<Hal>	(So something that erases shadows...)
<Hal>	(But that would leave Impa unconscious)
<DM>	(You don't have to aim at her shadow, you know...)
<DM>	(You're back in physical form. You can aim at physical things.)
*	Hal casts Purify on Impa!
<DM>	(remind me the flavor text on that sucker)
<Hal>	DESCRIPTION: Purify a target, ridding them of their tricks. Can be cast as an Offensive Spell to an enemy, or as a Support Spell to an ally.
<DM>	*Alrighty, you cast a ray of light upon Impa! They purify Impa's thoughts briefly, though at the same time, her own shadow grows from the great light!
<DM>	*Impa finally looks down and looks upon her own shadow, recognizing its evil thoughts.
<DM>	[Impa]: Woah is that... is that what I've been lugging around this whole time?
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Lugging me around? It's you who's been slugging me down, you weak-willed leader!
<Hal>	Raine's mind does some straaange things
<DM>	[Impa]: Raine's... what?
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Kyeheheheh, you didn't notice? She's taken over this temple for some time now.
<Hal>	We are trapped in Raine's shadow... I think her mind transfers with it.
<DM>	(weird, you recall having this conversation with her earlier, yet she seems completely unaware of it)
<Hal>	(That was a conversation with Impa's Shadow it seems)
<DM>	(Indeed!)
<DM>	[Impa]: How do I... what do I do about this-?
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Give in to me! Just kill anything you don't need anymore. For example... that traitor. He doesn't need to exist anymore...
*	Hal recalls the information he got from the conservation with Impa's shadow
<DM>	(the conservation of conversation)
<DM>	*With Impa's Shadow now larger than Impa, the clarity you bestowed on her is wearing off... and you see her own shadow envelop her. She's almost looking... Interloperly.
<DM>	*Impa raises a kunai, looking towards you, Hal.
<Hal>	(Would flooding the room in darkness work to dissapate the shadow?)
<DM>	[Impa]: Yes... just... get rid of the burdens, and I don't need to deal with it anymore...
<DM>	(Based on previous experience, yes!)
<Hal>	(Would generating an Illusion of Creation over the light sources work?)
<DM>	(as they are Shadow-based... yes!)
*	Hal casts an Illusion of Creation over the opening into the ceiling the room, blotting out the moonlight
<Hal>	(And thus, the room should be completely dark now)
<DM>	*Impa's about to strike you, when you're all covered in darkness. Hal, you've dealt with enough darned darkness the last number of quests... you can Dark Vision this like a Sheikah!
<DM>	*The shadow that envelops Impa is hanging on by a thread, the glow from the red eyes.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: No, don't... don't put me back away... don't lock me back up forever!
<Hal>	Impa, Dark Link!
<DM>	*Impa... closes her eyes, removing the red glow.
<DM>	*You see the shadow around her, dissipate. She opens her eyes once more, back at you, master of "screw madness and darkness, they're mine to control".
<DM>	[Impa]: ... yes, I can see now.
<DM>	[Impa]: Thank you, Hal. I feel... I can focus, and see through the darkness now.
<DM>	[Impa]: We Sheikah can see through the darkness best, afterall.
<DM>	*She smiles and holds out a hand to you.
*	Hal holds out his hand, reaching for a handshake
<DM>	*You connect with a handshake, and you feel she's calmed down now, thanks to you. Her shadow is trying to eat away at you now, but it's insignificant compared to force of the Dark Side of Hal.
<DM>	*There's a slicing sound from above.
<DM>	*Your Illusion of Creation fades away, letting moonlight back into the room.
<Hal>	Dark Link...
<DM>	*Over in the corner, where you smashed his shadow, the dark figure rises up out of the ground, kindly revitalized by the full-room darkness. He's back to his physical form, and immediately he dons a number of shadow versions of Legendary Artifacts.
<DM>	*There is a noticeably hole in his heart, the same place you struck his shadow. He's actually keeled over slightly, still in pain from your madness strike.
<DM>	[Dark Link]: I'm... I'm going to slaughter you all... if it's the last thing I do!
<Hal>	I really hope Kirran isn't long...
<DM>	*As you all gear up to fight Dark Link, there's a flash of light... and a flicker of darkness.
<DM>	*You don't think you blinked, yet it feels like you did...
<DM>	*Suddenly, Kirran is there, right alongside you all, and floating up near him is a newly revitalized Raine, who's bathed in, simultaneously, a cloak of light AND darkness!
<DM>	*You recall before, she was never able to show both at the same time.
<DM>	[Raine]: We're here to chew bubble gum and kick gubble gum...
<Hal>	Kirran! You came back at the right time!
<DM>	[Raine]: AND WE'RE ALL OUTTA existential crisis. May you all perish in the sugary void of death's embrace.
<DM>	*Congrats, Kirran. Her personality is even MORE whacked out than before. She's full on psychotic.
<DM>	[Impa]: Welcome back, Kirran. I know I wasn't myself for some time, but thanks to Hal, I'm back.
<DM>	[Impa]: And... welcome back to you too, Raine.
*	Kirran blinks a couple of times, and mutters something about a hamburger.
<DM>	[Raine]: ^_^ Thanks Impa! I'll eat you later.
<Hal>	Who brought the Culi man here?
<DM>	[Impa]: ... wha-
<Kirran>	Oh, hey. We're all back here.
<Hal>	And ready to pound Dark Link's skull in
*	Kirran considers whether Dark Link is actually there or not.
<DM>	*Kirran, across from you is a fully decked out Dark Link, covered to the brim in Legendary Artifacts. He's looking reeeeaaaaaally ticked off, as black blood drips from his heart.
<DM>	*Any closing statements?
<Kirran>	$1d3
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 1 Die with 3 Sides. Result: 1.
<DM>	(PERFECT)
<Hal>	(Kirran dodges the loading screen)
<Kirran>	(Well, I was going to the closing statements this time).
<DM>	(go ahead)
<Kirran>	My closing statement, therefore, is a dodge of the closing statement.
<DM>	*Raine just smiles as Dark Link just stares at you in confusion.
<DM>	[Dark Link]: What in the-
<DM>	*Suddenly, a Loading Screen falls out of the sky and slaps Dark Link in the face, freezing him in perpetual agony.
<DM>	*You all are about to get out scot free of a loading screen when a picture of a hamburger rests on the floor. A library in Phoenix ceases to exist.
<Hal>	That ought to hurt
<DM>	-=CUILS=-
<DM>	-=CUILS=-
<DM>	-=SESSION END=-