The Master Quest - One with Shadows, Part 3

<DM>	*LAST TIME ON ZURPG - One with Shadows*
<DM>	*Kirran & Hal, having landed in Raine's mind after a shadow-hopping world tour, the two of you proceeded to... get confused by poorly explained abstract shadow mechanics. Needless to say, it took some time to take off, but nutshell:
<DM>	*In 2D shadow form, you slipped past some of Dex's grunts' shadows, admired some cutlery, encountered Dark Impa, found a garden of dark plants with hungry shadows, witnessed Fingers McGee die (for the second time in ZURPG, apparently), got an explanation of things (finally), a Gurloz appeared, he gave birth to a door only to later abandon it, you soothed the eyegouging worries of Doc Luggins with the illusion of an eye, annnnd Dark Link
<DM>	showed up. Oh, and Gurloz literally kicked himself into a Loading Screen, where he will remain halted for the duration of this session.*
<DM>	annnd lemme ease up a slight worry
<DM>	yes, the supposed penalty for "failing" this quest is "perma-death". I have no intention of perma-killing either of you off. Negative stuff might happen worse than your usual death-and-revive, but no, there's no actual perma-death unless you request its existence for your character.
<DM>	that said, say ready when ready
<Hal>	Ready
<Kirran>	Ready
<DM>	-=SESSION START=-
<DM>	*With Gurloz semi-permanently glued to a Loading Screen and Dark Link clawing his way through the shadows on the ceiling, the pair of you have meanwhile Shadow Hopped into the next room, which appears to be a long hallway, with numerous inscriptions etched into the walls, detailing the rough history of the Sheikah, from birth to today.
<DM>	*Including, drawn in blood recently, a depiction of your battle against Garunoff and the Old Sheikah. You're... not sure who's blood it is, nor are you sure you want to know.
*	Kirran has seen this before, but with recent revelations, he looks over it again.
<DM>	*Nutshell of the history of the Sheikah while Dark Link figures out how to fall from a ceiling to a floor...
<Hal>	(Those torches should stop him from getting through? Right?)
<DM>	*The Sheikah were once a warrior clan of the Hylians. From there, you see drawings depicting a split, towards a drawing of warriors under the sun, and warriors bathed in darkness, or so you've supposedly heard at one point, the split of Gerudo & Sheikah, respectively.
<DM>	(through conventional means, yes, so for the time being, you are safe... for now)
<DM>	*The drawings don't show what happened on the "sun" side, but continuing on the darkness end, their weapons change from swords to knives, their stances hunched over, then a picture of the Hylian Guard swearing loyalty to the Hylian King, with a set of bowing Sheikah behind in shadows.
<Hal>	So it seems the Shiekah don't know what the Gerudo have been doing.
<DM>	*It's around this time they came upon the Lens of Truth (one of the Sheikah holds it upwards like the Master Sword), "found" Sheikah Stones, and adopted the Eye of Truth emblem. From there, it seems to fought all around Hyrule to protect the Hyrule Royal Family.
<DM>	*And then, from here, the remainder of history is written in long-dried blood...
<DM>	*A divide between those that seek "the truth" and those who chose loyalty over truth.
<Kirran>	The long cycles of foolishness and redemption
<DM>	*You're not sure what's supposed to happen after that because the whole thing is just a scribbled wall of blood, with the Eye of Truth, complete with the Betrayal Teardrop, drawn over said wall of blood.
<Hal>	Now the Gerudo are stuck with a curse that causes them to produce only women, and the men that come try to take the Triforce.
<DM>	*The most recent thing after that is Link defeating Bongo Bongo, and then some "soul inscriptions" by Dampe, which... seem to be directed at you.
<DM>	*They read: "I had a good life, an' an even better death, thanks to some hooligans. Here's to them!" And after that, it's an amateur drawing of Dampe smiling, holding up his shovel.
<DM>	*May he continue to build dungeons in the afterlife- I mean rest well... *cough*
<Kirran>	Ey! Good for him.
<DM>	*You hear the door on the other side open and some footsteps approach.
<DM>	*It's Impa, who seems rather... drained. She slumps on over to where you two are, her general stance drooping as she gives off a heavy sigh and- wait a minute, you're actually looking *at her*, not just her shadow.
<DM>	*It seems after that last Shadow Hop and getting used to being in shadow form... you can finally recognize the people around you!
<DM>	*She looks up at the same history you two are checking out, putting her hand on the blooded-out section, nearly headbanging against the wall, letting out another deep sigh.
<DM>	[Impa]: I don't think I can do it, Rokan. We're almost done for...
<Hal>	(Rokan?)
<Hal>	(Didn't his spirit pass on?)
<DM>	*She seems to be talking to herself. Conveniently for you, out loud.
<DM>	(Yep)
<DM>	[Impa]: I can't trust half of these idiots to stop themselves from tripping over their own knives, I can't get myself to forgive... those who killed you, those who betrayed my clan, even though... they're the best hope we have for revival.
<DM>	[Impa]: And Kirran and Hal... oh what have I done?
<DM>	*She slightly knocks her head against the old bloodstained wall.
<DM>	[Impa]: I shouldn't have sacrificed the Shadow Medallion afterall... what was I thinking, of course it wouldn't work a second time.
<DM>	*Yeah, she hasn't noticed you two at all.
<Kirran>	To be fair boss, I think Rokan finally found some forgiveness himself, in the end. Can't be that tough.
<DM>	*She opens her eyes, staring down at her own shadow for a moment.
<DM>	[Impa]: Yeah... I guess you're right, Kirran... ... wait.
*	Kirran waves
*	Hal also waves
<DM>	[Impa]: Ugh, Impa, get it together, you can't be hallucinating now!
<DM>	*Impa's shadow independently waves back at you two.
<DM>	*She scratches her head in frustration, reeling back a bit.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: She doesn't accept herself. She won't accept me.
<DM>	*While Impa is buried in self-doubt, it seems her shadow has noticed you and is chatting it up with you two.
<DM>	*Why the two of them are separate beings, you're not entirely sure...
<Hal>	This is quite a conundrum.
<Kirran>	Considering how badly revenge has turned out in the past, I'm not surprised.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Oh, we've been split for a long time now. Ever since she pried open the Shadow Medallion the first time...
<Hal>	And we don't have time to meander around everywhere. We need to save more people
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Save people? How do you intend on doing that?
<DM>	*She seems... slightly more innocent than the last time you encountered her.
<Hal>	Most of the people we've encountered here are their shadow versions, which are mad. We've been able to calm someone down, which is a start
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Calm them?
<Kirran>	We also nearly got eaten by a sentient cake. So there's that.
<DM>	*She lets off an uneasy laugh.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: You fools. Sheikah excel at one thing and one thing only - killing silently.
<Kirran>	Well that's not true at all.
<Hal>	We managed to calm Doc Luggins by presenting him with a set of eyeballs to ease his eyegouging urge
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Oh? I'd have just suggested gouging his eyes out.
<Kirran>	We're also great at research. And parkour. And alternative technology far more advanced than real-time can account for.
<Kirran>	Especially when it comes to stone.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Then he'd get his wish, and Impa wouldn't have to deal with him anymore.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Don't you think?
<DM>	*The smile of Impa's Shadow has widened juuuuust slightly, to the point where it's resembling an Interloper's.
<Hal>	We ran into Gruntzilla, who was hungry for shadow. Nearly chomping us up.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: If he's hungry for shadow, maybe give him one to choke on. Stuff him full, grow and grow and bulge, till he bursts. Simple and effective.
<Kirran>	Oh yeah, and making puzzles too. Can't forget that.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: The Sheikah way.
<Kirran>	There was even this one guy who proposed a whole series of tomb puzzles for future heroes, but that's crazy talk.
<Hal>	These guys are the best hope Impa has for rebuilding the Shiekah. I would not want to see them punished.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Aww, but it's been soooo long since I last savored the blood of someone on my blade. My host here has been deprived.
<DM>	*Her shadow inches closer to you, reaching out to you.
*	Kirran nopes right out of there.
*	Hal backs off too. "You can have Dark Link's blood"
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Don't you feel it? That need to kill, that bloodlust of battle...
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Hah, Dark Link? What are you, bluffing?
<Kirran>	Yeah, but I get there by punching Dark Link in the face.
<Kirran>	Twice.
<DM>	*She laughs you off for a bit... and then you all hear the Interloper whispers. Just for a second.
<DM>	*Impa's Shadow goes stone cold frozen.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: You're... joking, right? How... how could he be here?
<Kirran>	I think he just really hates me.
<Kirran>	Either that or he's drawn to all the darkness around here right now. Not sure.
<Hal>	All of the Darkness and the fact we are in Raine's mind
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: It's never attracted him before, why...
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: ... right.
<DM>	*At that point, Impa herself clenches her fists and takes a deep breath.
<DM>	[Impa]: One more time, Impa. And after this, Impa, you can go chat with your... Old Sheikah friend in the prison.
<DM>	*Impa starts walking away, back towards the door on the other side. Her shadow is forcefully pulled along with her.
<Kirran>	Is there any light at all here?
<Hal>	It probably has something to do with the fact we are in Raine's mind.
<DM>	*There's some moonlight actually, filtering in from some reflective glass tubes from the ceiling.
<Hal>	Ooor there is still an Old Shiekah around
<Hal>	A contact for Dark Link.
<DM>	*It's separating the hallway into three shadows. You're in the first one, there's a gap of moonlight to the second shadow, then a larger gap of moonlight to the third shadow, which is connected to the door on the other side.
<DM>	*You hear the Interloper whispers again. They seem a bit louder and closer than before...
<Kirran>	I think we need to get out of here.
<DM>	*Impa's Shadow calls out to you from the other side.
<DM>	[Impa's Shadow]: Let her, Impa, know about Dark Link! And if you can't get to her... get to the prison!
<DM>	*Impa opens the door on the other side. You think maaaybe you can shadow hop over there, but given Impa's psyche is a little more psychotic than you realized, you're not positive that's a good idea.
<Kirran>	Only lead we've got, might as well.
<Hal>	Can we open telepathic communication with her?
<DM>	*You jumping straight to Impa's Shadow or you taking it one hop at a time?
<Hal>	Or is that busted?
<DM>	*You try telepathic communication, but the Interloper's whispers just get in your way.
<Kirran>	(Usually when Interlopers are around it's like a bad radio.)
<DM>	(yeah, that
<DM>	*Static frizz and whatnot. Bloodwind's Interloper previously messed with Kirran in the Twilight Realm.
*	Kirran goes for the series of short hops, because he needs the practice.
*	Hal does the same
<DM>	*Alrighty, first one, beat $20d10 on Wisdom.
<DM>	err
<DM>	wait that's not righ- errr
<DM>	*First one, beat 15 successes on Wisdom.
<Kirran>	$27d10
<Navi>	Kirran: You rolled 27 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 7, 7, 3, 4, 5, 10, 10, 10, 4, 6, 2, 1, 1, 9, 10, 4, 6, 5, 2, 7, 7, 5, 6, 6, 6, 3 and 10. Total: 156. Successes: 23.
<Hal>	$26d10
<Navi>	Hal: You rolled 26 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 1, 5, 1, 9, 2, 8, 2, 5, 3, 2, 5, 3, 5, 1, 4, 6, 1, 2, 5, 4, 8, 9, 6, 4, 6 and 1. Total: 108. Successes: 12.
<Hal>	...
<DM>	*Kirran seems to have already mastered the imprinting process. Hal, on the other hand, is about to overshoot, when...
<DM>	*Hal, you instinctively reach into your "pocket" and find... you can access your RPs! Would you like to use one?
*	Hal rerolls that
<Hal>	$26d10
<Navi>	Hal: You rolled 26 Dice with 10 Sides. Results: 10, 2, 6, 2, 2, 7, 7, 2, 5, 9, 10, 7, 4, 2, 8, 8, 4, 3, 9, 7, 8, 10, 9, 2, 4 and 6. Total: 153. Successes: 19.
<DM>	*Kirran lands dead-center in the middle block, whilst Hal pops up about 3/4ths the way in.
<DM>	*You hear the Interloper whispers... and a laughter that rings throughout the hallway.
<DM>	*He's nowhere to be seen, yet it feels like he's almost on top of you...
<Hal>	It's that Interloper teleport at work
<DM>	*The gap to the next one looks like it's a... given you two succeeded that one, 18 success hop. Totally manageable, but the shadows themselves seem to be shifting slightly.
<DM>	*Nearby, there's some pillars decorating the walls. Wanna go for another shadow hop, for practice? Or use your other method?
<Hal>	(What is required for the pillars?)
<Kirran>	(Other method?)
<DM>	(Any Light spell, same thing Gurloz did in the last session to extend-a-shadow-bridge via pillar.
<DM>	(Gurloz specifically used Enlighten, which brightened a door for a while.)
<Hal>	(What would happen if I cast Enlighten on myself?)
<DM>	*There's another pillars here to brighten one to cast a shadow on the other.
<DM>	(....)
<DM>	(GOOD QUESTION)
<DM>	(WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY?)
<Hal>	(Not now no)
<DM>	*You decide not to set your shadow on fire- err alight with light.
<Hal>	(This is where Blessing would have come in handy)
<Kirran>	(Can illusory objects cast shadows?)
<Hal>	(Maybe I can actually increase my Wisdom this way)
<DM>	(I'mma say... yes, or else it'd be easy to tell an illusory object apart. So yes on the illusion.)
*	Kirran casts illusion of creation to make a pillar that creates a shadow bridge.
<DM>	*The soft moonlight casts a transparent shadow to the other side, but it's stable enough.
<Kirran>	Off we go
*	Hal travels along the shadow created by the illusion
<DM>	*The two of you casually stride across the moonlit bridge, safely to the other side. The... Interloper whispers calm down a bit, unlike when you tried Shadow Hopping.
<DM>	*The shadows in the room stop shifting and you no longer hear Dark Link cackling diabolically.
<DM>	(Head through the door?)
<Hal>	(Yes)
<DM>	*You two slip under the door. There in the next room, it's cylindrical in shape, there's a large stone pole in the center extending upwards past a row of torchlight and into the infinite darkness above.
<DM>	*The floor in this next room seems to be always rotating, in tandem with said pole, counterclockwise.
<DM>	*One of Dex's grunts, uhh... hang on
<DM>	*Right Said Fred, the guy that always turns right, is trying to walk against the rotating floor.
<DM>	*Sometimes, he speeds up and overtakes its pace; other times, he rests and let it take him back the other way. Regardless, all he can do is... turn right. Cause that's his creed. It's the right way, which makes it the only way.
<Kirran>	I wonder if his shadow will want to go left.
<DM>	*A shadow, cast from an overhead blade (also perpetually spinning), is rotating slowly with the room. It seems to be the only proper walkway towards either Right Said Fred's shadow, or doors to the North, East, or South.
<DM>	*From your memory of the Shadow Temple (it'd be silly if you've never visited it, Kirran. Enjoy some pseudo-memories!), you recall to the north, it should be a training room. East leads to a stairwell, though you know it's crushed. And south... you're not sure what that room is.
<DM>	*Only that the physical door to it appears locked.
<DM>	*As for Fred's shadow, you can observe, from here, that his shadow does seem to be wanting to go the other way... but he never takes the opporunity.
<DM>	*opporunhuotrs screw typos
<DM>	(RIP my spelling)
*	DM is attacked by a Thypo Beaver from beyond the fourth wall.
<Hal>	So we want to make his shadow go right
<Kirran>	Or him go left.
<DM>	*Right Said Fred stops, getting fairly tired. He lets the room carry him back.
<DM>	*His shadow is about to cross with the west door, where you're at. Would you like to take a ride?
<DM>	*Or just let it pass while you investigate something else?
<Hal>	(Is there any way to set up a situation where the only way out is left?)
<DM>	(Hmm... you can't move the person yourself... but you can manipulate the shadow.)
<DM>	(Perhaps, if you get the shadow to move left, you can break the cycle.)
<DM>	*Above, about 10 feet, there's a set of 4 torches, placed above each of the doors in this room. The blade circling the room is only 2 feet below that, which is what's causing the rotating shadow-bridge.
*	Hal focuses on Fred's shadow and looks intently at it.
<Hal>	(Can it speak?)
<DM>	*At the point the blade passes Fred's shadow, you notice his shadow try to step into the bridge, but it's too thin for his slow, tired self to walk on to.
<Kirran>	Give that man some coffee.
<Hal>	I take it casting Enlighten will lead to bad results
<DM>	*You just hear almost a zombie-like... or in Zelda-terms, a Gibdo-like groan from both him and the shadow.
<DM>	(Depends, what are you casting it on?)
<Hal>	(Fred's shadow)
<DM>	(Yeah, that's probably a bad idea.)
<DM>	(There are other things in this room you can cast it on though. Just assume whatever it is you use it on, it'll brighten up considerably.)
<Hal>	(Are there any pillars on the other side of the room?)
<DM>	(Pillars, no, just the one in the middle of the room. Lemme drop a list of objects:)
<DM>	(Floor, middle pillar, walls, rotating blade, torches, doors, Fred, Fred's shadow, your shadows.... the darkness above- okay scratch that last one)
<DM>	[Fred]: I just... want... to get out... of this room...
<Hal>	(Would Shadow Speed work on Fred's Shadow?)
<DM>	[Fred's Shadow]: Why can't he just turn left for once?
<DM>	(Interesting idea... give it a shot!)
<DM>	[Fred]: Gotta turn right... it's the only way, it's the right way, there's no other way...
*	Hal casts Shadow Speed on Fred's shadow, hopefully giving it enough speed.
<DM>	[Fred's Shadow]: If only I had a jolt of energyyyyyyyyyyy- OOOOHHHHHHHHH!
<DM>	*Fred's Shadow suddenly goes into overdrive!
<Kirran>	(Gotta go fast?)
<DM>	*The shadow moves faster and faster, still going to the right, but suddenly, Right Said Fred is taking up a jog around the room! He's outpacing its rotation quite easily.
<DM>	[Fred]: I did it... I CAN DO THIS!
<DM>	[Fred]: I just... I just gotta reach that doooooor!
<DM>	*Each time he passes around, he seems to be trying to reach the north door, but each time he tries, he stops, and starts twisting his body to the left, courtesies of the room.
<DM>	*And so he stops and goes back to a run.
<DM>	*Whelp, you.... kinda got there. It's a step up from before, at least.
*	Hal casts Enlighten on Fred himself. Not his Shadow
<DM>	*Fred gains... Wisdom!
<DM>	*It's a chance to think, a chance to believe...
<DM>	*Right Said Fred gets to the north door, and he pauses to think. His legs are moving automatically at this point, and after a few seconds of thinking, he looks down, and he realizes...
<DM>	*Right Said Fred... has turned left!
<DM>	[Right Said Fred]: OH GOD! WHAT HAVE I DONE?!
<DM>	[Right Said Fred's Shadow]: HE DID IT, IT'S A MIRACLE!
<Kirran>	You leveled up!
<DM>	*Congrats, you've officially caused split personality disorder. Raine approves!
<DM>	[Raine]: Good job!
<DM>	*You actually hear Raine's voice echo in from above, but just for that brief moment.
*	Kirran tries to reach out to her mentally.
<DM>	*Right Said Fred opens the door to the north. The moment he opens it, you hear quite the raucous laughter and pandamonium.... hold on
<DM>	god dangit I had it right the first time
<DM>	*And pandemonium from within.
<DM>	*You reach out. You think you hear her voice again... but instead...
<DM>	*Cakes fall from the ceiling, splattering sweet, cherry ooze and October tankards of ale about and around the room.
<DM>	*One of them threatens to whisk you away from the safety of your door on the west side.
<DM>	*As it rotates towards you.
<DM>	*Would you like to try heading through a different door before you get enveloped wholly within the darkness of a smushed cake?
<Kirran>	That seems like a good idea
<Hal>	Yes.
<DM>	*You respond to the voices beyond the fourth wall by... which way are you going?
<DM>	*From here, counterclockwise will naturally take you to the south room next, which is the one you have no idea what's in there.
<Hal>	(Which one is the path to the training room again?)
<DM>	(Ride the incoming cake up past south and east and to the north.)
<DM>	(Better yet, just assume there's enough branching shadows in this room to carry you any direction without any obstacle.)
<Hal>	Where shall we move?
<DM>	(So yeah, just name yer pick.)
*	Kirran decides to peek into the south room
<Hal>	(Is this the door with the Scythe keyhole?)
<DM>	*Kirran, you dodge some smushed cake annnnnd Hal figures it out before I even point it out.
*	Hal moves over to the south door
<Hal>	So, this must be the door that I found the scythe key for.
<Hal>	What would a key for the Shadow Temple doing in the Temple of Seasons Ice Dungeon?
<DM>	*Recognizing that the lock fits none other than a scythe, you shadow stride past some smushed cake, annnd find you can't pass under the door.
<Kirran>	Well that's suspiciously convenient
<DM>	*Hal, you find that you can indeed access the Scythe Key in your inventory... now you gotta figure out how to get it into the keyhole.
<DM>	*There is a bit of darkness within the keyhole itself, in case you want to just Shadow Hop straight over. Or you can figure out some way to shadow-bridge your way up from the bottom of the door to the keyhole.
<Hal>	Our objective is to save people. Knowing the Shiekah, I can't possibly think something that works in our favour here can be behind it
<Kirran>	Your objective maybe. Mine is to figure out how to put my psychotic friend back together.
<DM>	(are you two about to party-split)
<Kirran>	I have no idea what's behind this door, and that means it's probably not strictly real. Therefore, it's also highly likely to be Raine related.
<Hal>	Think of it this way: Why lock something behind a door in the Shadow Temple and then hide the key somewhere at the top of the Temple of Seasons Ice Dungeon?
<Kirran>	I am, however, hoping it's not another cake monster.
<DM>	(Or, better yet, think of it this way - I am now giving purpose to that god darned key which has eluded me since its creation.)
<Kirran>	Hal, some force of nature out there, some higher being, likes shenanigans more than making reasonable sense. You're just going to have to accept that at some point.
<DM>	(Anywho, if you do wish to party split, in tandem with your characters' goals... that is allowed.)
*	Kirran leans on the fourth wall.
<Hal>	(I'm not going to party split)
*	DM pushes back just slightly. Newton's 3rd Wall and all.
<Hal>	Well, given we are in Raine's mind
<DM>	*Some blueberry blood starts dripping from the ceiling.
<DM>	[Raine]: Bleh... I HATE blueberries!
*	Kirran casts another illusion to create a shadow path up the door.
<DM>	*Yes, you would appear to be.
<Hal>	(Would the interior of an illusion count as being in shadow?)
<DM>	(..... yes, actually)
<DM>	(....... whelp, you've just figured out how to shadow-bridge across any gap)
<DM>	(BARRIERS HAVE BEEN BROKEN)
<Kirran>	(Floating in a beam of light with you-o-o)
*	Hal casts an Illusion of Creation leading to the keyhole and slides into it
<Hal>	(A stone beam, to be exact)
<DM>	*Hal, you wavedash from Kirran's connection, warp-pipe up the stone beam tube you formed, and put yourself in the keyhole. You are... still 2D. Keyhole is a 3D.
<DM>	*How would you like to shenanigan this scythe key in here? Feel free to make it as shenanigany as possible.
<Kirran>	(Would steel shadows add to his dimensionality?)
<DM>	(You can try!)
*	Kirran shrugs and casts steel shadows on Hal.
<DM>	*Hal, you feel yourself growing in depth. You think you can see clearly now...
<DM>	*The future is in sepia.
*	Hal reaches into his inventory and grabs his key out to unlock the door
<DM>	*You think you can actually pull out the scythe key and physically hold the thing with your... scrunched figure.
<DM>	*The key glitches with the door momentarily, experiencing Half-Life 2 level of "object that is too large scrunched into too small of a space" bobbing madly, before finally setting itself into the shape of the lock.
<DM>	*You hear some clicks, annnd... the door doesn't actually open. However, Kirran, you notice you can slide under the door's shadow.
*	Kirran takes a peek into the next room, reluctant of the plot.
<DM>	*Hal, being inside the lock when you did that, you get glitched through the door and straight up land on the other side, kerplunking onto the ground with  DING next to Kirran's shadow.
<DM>	*Your Steel Shadows wears off and you go back to being 2D. Kirran, Hal is slightly ahead of you. Say hi.
<Hal>	Back together it seems
<Kirran>	Super Paper Hal
<DM>	*Looking into this next room, it appears to be completely dark..... but, the two of you are used to the darkness, so between Sheikah dark vision and having literally been 2D beings of shadows for the last how-many-hours...
<DM>	*You look around to see a small, confined stone room. You hear the wrinkling of chains...
<DM>	..... wrinkling?
<DM>	whatever, you know what I mean
<Kirran>	Oh dear...
<DM>	*The ringing of chains across they scrape across the concrete floors. There, chained to both the floor and wall, is an older Sheikah fellow, with a scarred slash over his forehead, striking through the Eye of Truth. He's muttering something to himself with a parched throat.
<DM>	*Now that you look him over, and recall Impa mentioning "talking to the Betrayer" before...
<Hal>	(Yup, knew something nasty was over there)
<DM>	*Said old Sheikah dude would actually be from "The Old Sheikah". The former leader of the Old Sheikah, Uroh.
<Hal>	(who serve Fierce Deity)
<DM>	*His white, frazzled hair has grown out a bit and he's starting to develop a crazed Gandalf hairstyle and beard. Not quite, but getting there...
<Kirran>	For the record Hal, I'm not helping him.
<DM>	[Uroh]: Who... who goes there?
<DM>	*As you are in darkness, you can't distinguish his shadow from his self. You can only tell each other apart since you're directly in the doorway, where there's a tiny bit of light seeping in from the previous room.
<DM>	[Uroh]: Is it Impa? No... no, she's too afraid... too, too... too betrayed.
<DM>	[Uroh]: But... I sense something... a presence I have not felt since...
<DM>	*You find that tiny bit of light behind you suddenly gets sucked out. You're engulfed entirely in darkness. Though you can see the room physically and Uroh within in his physical form, you can no longer make out anyone's shadows.
<DM>	*Despite that, you feel something coil around each of you...
<Hal>	(Its that cake thing)
<DM>	*It's not the cake thing.
<DM>	*That coiling feeling stops, and a moment later, Uroh speaks again, his voice, though soft and deprived, it fills the whole room...
<DM>	[Uroh]: Kirran...
<DM>	[Uroh]: ... Furry guy.
<DM>	[Uroh]: ... whatever your name was. I recognize you two...
<DM>	*Somehow, when he said "Furry guy" all menacing, it just kinda lost its touch.
<Kirran>	-_-
<DM>	[Uroh]: What brings you two here to my humble abode?
<Kirran>	Something you wouldn't understand Uroh.
<DM>	*He wriggles his outstretched arms, letting the chains ring slightly.
<DM>	[Uroh]: Oh? Try me.
<Kirran>	What are you even doing here?
<DM>	[Uroh]: What do you think, you insolent youngling. I tried to sacrifice the current, weak generation of Sheikah to an old god.
<DM>	[Uroh]: What, you think someone as weak-willed as Impa would just kill me herself afterwards?
<Kirran>	I kinda figured the Interlopers would do it for her, if not the old god's lackeys.
<Kirran>	They must have a sense of humor
<DM>	*Kirran, you enjoy the sight of Uroh without his Golden Gauntlets, which are now suitably yours.
<DM>	[Uroh]: Hmph. She threw up a barrier after that incident.
<DM>	[Uroh]: No Interloper has a chance of entering the Shadow Temple or the Old Shadow Temple. Guess they couldn't finish me off after all, heheheheh...
*	Kirran suddenly understands why Dark Link is here.
<DM>	(wanna uhh... break the news?)
<Kirran>	I wouldn't be so sure of that.
<DM>	[Uroh]: What, just because you came back all frightened from the Twilight Realm? I'm surprised you got out of there alive. Kudos to you, truly.
<Kirran>	I get the distinct impression that Dark Link wants a word or two with you and he's trying real hard to get in here.
<Kirran>	He'd also like to kill me for punching him directly in the face with your fancy gauntlets a couple of times.
<Kirran>	But that's something else for the moment.
<DM>	*He stops wrangling the chains.
<DM>	[Uroh]: Wait, what do you mean by that. Are you saying... the leader of the Interlopers is here?
<DM>	(Man, it's like no one can believe the great, all powerful leader of the Interlopers can just do whatever the heck he wants. It's not like he's all-powerful or anything.)
<DM>	[Uroh]: Wait a moment.. you two are shadows.
<Kirran>	Unfortunately, yes. And I think it's because a friend of mine is having a hard time pulling herself back together.
<DM>	[Uroh]: Did you... ohhh... she must be desperate to pull that.
<DM>	*He lowers his voice.
<DM>	[Uroh]: Heheheheh... oooh, I know what you seek now.
<DM>	[Uroh]: So, tell me.
<DM>	[Uroh]: Did you happen to Shadow Hop within the temple?
<Hal>	Yes
<DM>	[Uroh]: My, he must be truly out for your blood if he caught you after just one Shadow Hop.
<Kirran>	Getting your nose broken when that's not technically possible will do that.
<Kirran>	I'm sure he'd love to know you're here though.
<Kirran>	And that is something I absolutely don't mind letting happen, just so you know.
<DM>	[Uroh]: Oh yes, surely he would. He probably wouldn't mind killing everyone else in this temple, too, while he's at it.
<Hal>	Having the rest of the interlopers get killed will also do that.
<DM>	[Uroh]: Impressive, truly so... but we're talking about the shadow of the land's "greatest hero".
<DM>	[Uroh]: Are you sure you two with your fledgling powers, can overcome him, on your own?
<Kirran>	At the moment, no.
<DM>	[Uroh]: I doubt anyone else in this temple is even aware of what you two have done, to lead him in here. Do you want that on your conscience?
<Kirran>	All I know is the longer we hang out sipping tea with you in here, the more likely he is to show up and gut you like a fish.
<Kirran>	Either you've got something helpful to say, or you can keep being smug and we'll just peace out.
<DM>	*He lets out a joyful, coughing laugh, with resolution.
<DM>	[Uroh]: Fine! Let him come! Let him kill me, end me for all, I've already failed our people!
<DM>	[Uroh]: Or...
<DM>	[Uroh]: I could help you.
<DM>	*A deal with the devil sounds like a horrible idea. Though, you recall Impa's Shadow told you to get to the prison. So... maybe this is what she was talking about?
<Hal>	(Maybe)
<Kirran>	What is it that you think we're looking for, exactly?
<Hal>	(But Impa's Shadow was also bloodthirsty)
<DM>	[Uroh]: Oh I don't know, maybe to deal with that shadow that's been hanging over this temple. That voice that keeps crying out for help. She calls to Impa, but she won't listen. She calls to you, but you're just not strong enough to hear her.
<DM>	[Uroh]: But me... oh... I hear her. A mix between "save me" and... something about a cheesecake.
*	Kirran considers this and tries listening.
<DM>	[Uroh]: If I recall, you had this "fairy" with you, when we last fought. Her voice sounds... distinctly similar.
<Hal>	Raine
<DM>	[Uroh]: Oooh so cute, just trying to "listen". You have to do so much more than that, my dear Kirran.
<DM>	*Uroh's speech is getting in your way of listening, though you really don't hear any of what he says.
<DM>	[Uroh]: Odd little creature. I never once heard Impa mention that fairy the entire time I knew her. No one else, even the high elders, knew what that fairy was.
<Kirran>	What would a man who betrayed his family, and when given a moment of redemption, committed the same mistake and heaped atrocity upon it, have to offer anyone except death?
<Kirran>	(Brb, 10 min.,
<DM>	(Apparently, complete silence for a 10 minute break!)
<DM>	[Uroh]: My words of wisdom, my experience. My skills with the shadows, those that Impa refuses to accept.
<Hal>	Raine, as we believe, is more than a fairy. Something much stronger.
<DM>	[Uroh]: Ooh? Really now?
<DM>	[Uroh]: I'll make you a deal. Tell me what Impa's been hiding from me, and I'll tell you how to reach out and listen to this Raine's voice.
<Hal>	(And I have no idea how to respond to this)
<DM>	[Uroh]: It can be the start of a more mutual understanding between us... former enemies.
<DM>	(Your call on whether to answer or get approval from Kirran.)
<DM>	(Or just not.)
<Hal>	(I will wait for approval from Kirran. I am not that good with diplomacy)
<DM>	[Uroh]: Better yet... I'll even show you how to deal with the madness inside your heart, furry one.
<DM>	[Uroh]: It's really quite simple... yet Impa insists on holding back and letting you ssssuffer through it all!
<DM>	(It would appear he's tempting you.)
<DM>	(but yeah, we can wait till he's back)
<Kirran>	(Back)
<DM>	*Hal, your madness flares instinctively, just a bit. But... you know that if you don't handle that madness, it will betray you and your friends someday.
<Kirran>	No, Impa insists on doing what you couldn't in your cowardice, and taking to responsibility for the tribe on her shoulders.
<Kirran>	She doesn't settle for excuses and half measures; kneeling before false gods to trade one set of troubles for another.
<DM>	[Uroh]: Even if it results in the complete demise of her clan? Would you truly feel right with that?
<DM>	[Uroh]: Knowing that you had a chance to save everyone, yet you turned it out, and it results in everything you hold dear, gone to you.
<Kirran>	I'd gladly see the whole tribe fall trying to stop this menace. Because at least they tried, and they stood to the very end for what we believe in, instead of giving in and letting it happen.
<DM>	*Finally, a punch to his gut. He tries to retort, but the words get stuck in his throat, and he looks back at you, first in anger, then... hollow acceptance.
<DM>	(that, and god dangit Kirran, kudos to your speeching skills!)
*	Kirran walks out of the room.
<Hal>	I have to take care of my madness but you are someone who has betrayed their clan and then betrayed again once given redemption. I am not confident you will keep your word.
<Kirran>	Have fun rotting in your own darkness Uroh, I've got nothing left to say.
*	Hal walks out of the room with Kirran
<DM>	[Uroh]: Wait, I-
<DM>	*You leave him to rot in the darkness of his cell. Kirran, you feel reinvigorated with confidence, and Hal, you feel like despite your rage flaring, you can channel it towards a greater, pure goal.
*	Kirran lets out of a sharp exhale once he's left.
<Hal>	(D E T E R M I N A T I O N)
<DM>	*Oddly, despite being a complete shadow, you somehow exhale a full breath of physical air.
<Kirran>	I don't blame him Hal. I won't forgive him, but I don't hate him either.
<Hal>	I don't either.
<DM>	*You also find you can access a tiny bit more of your inventories...
<Kirran>	The mantle of responsibility is impossible to bear. Not everyone's got the strength to keep walking under it.
<Hal>	I am just skeptical on wherever he will keep his word or not.
<Kirran>	That's why Impa is doing so badly, I think. It's wearing her down.
<Hal>	Indeed
<Hal>	Dex' former lackeys aren't doing her any favors
<Kirran>	No, he wouldn't. We'd get something for it, but give him half a chance, and we'd be sold out to Dark Link at half price.
<DM>	*For you, Hal, it's some items you picked up in the Twilight Realm. Namely, the Negation Scepter, formerly held by the Interloper named Scepter, and the Screeching Necklace.
<DM>	*For you, Kirran, in addition to the RP, it's your Black Arrows, and... sigh.
<DM>	*Your 10-sided coin is accessible.
<Kirran>	Oh no...
<Kirran>	(the aura of potential regret around that thing is nearly tangible.)
<DM>	*So, with new found invigoration and D E T E R M I N A T I O N...
<Hal>	*Cue loading screen*
*	Kirran tries focusing and listening for Raine again.
*	Hal takes out his Negation Scepter
<DM>	*Hal, your Negation Scepter, simply with its aura, seems to block out the ambient sound of the temple.
<DM>	*That droning sound that usually accompanies either Shadow Temple is replaced with complete silence... except...
<DM>	[Raine]: Kir... ran...
<DM>	[Raine]: Furry... guy...
<DM>	[Raine]: Watch... watch out-
<DM>	*Her words are cut off suddenly and abruptly.
<Hal>	That better not be Navi.
<DM>	*A new lord of darkness descends upon you...
<DM>	-=LOADING=-
<DM>	-=LOADING=-
<DM>	-=SESSION END=-
<Kirran>	It's Kefka!
<DM>	good news folks, she predicted the Loading Screen!
<DM>	she's on her way to recovery!