Candleblight Prelude
Spark in the Abyss
Once again, the air begins to change as the solar cycle of the summer fades. Temperatures have begun to drop, giving way to the crisp air of autumn. Denizens of the Celestial Seas begin to prepare for the fast-approaching holidays and many are looking forward to one of the most highly anticipated festivals on this side of the Seas - Candleblight!
Thus those interested in experiencing the most of what Candleblight has to offer make their way to Candletown, the place where the celebration originated.
As usual it is a bustling host of excitement with visitors coming from all over to partake in the renown festivities. Candles are dotted about the city, and those attending dress in costumes, imitating heroic figures of old and demonic creatures. Feasts of freshly prepared foods, spiced drinks, and sweet treats are provided to the guests and vendors have set up a colorful collection of stands to peddle all kinds of wares appropriate for the season.
While many have come to enjoy Candletown simply for the festival, there is a noticeably large crowd forming near the edges of the celebration.
Near the center of the crowd is a pillar of stacked crates with a browbird sitting on top. She's addressing the crowd as she waves her arms around in an excited fashion.
Some may recognize her. She's new to the adventuring scene, but has already had a handful of notable ventures. Perhaps a few had even met her before.
Angea
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Angea
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Angea
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Angea
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Angea drops down from the crates, pulls her bag onto her back, and motions that it's time to head off. She talks as she walks to help pass the time.
Angea
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Angea
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Angea
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As Angea takes everyone further and further from the city the flickering lights fade behind them. It takes about an hour to reach the specified location, a small cavern at the base of the mountains. A cavern that may look familiar to some, as it was the hiding place to the "Demon" of Candletown that caused havoc last year. There are no traces left of the demon, and the portal that once existed here that passed into the Midnight Veil is gone.
It's completely silent out here, and the jagged cave entrance is too dark to see more than a few feet past the entryway and Angea shows no fear at leading the charge into such an ominous place. Angea pulls a lantern from her bag and mumbles a spell word causing the lamp to spark to life and illuminating the path before her.
As the group delves further and further into the cave the walls slowly close in around them until only a few people can fit at a time. The air feels heavy making it a bit difficult to breathe.
The passage almost becomes too thin and dangerous to proceed, but after a final squeeze-through a small opening everything opens up again into a wide, circular room that looks as if it were carved out through magical means. As Angea holds the lantern up to get a good look at her surroundings, the light shining from the lantern suddenly begins to distort. In front of everyone a single line appears suspended in the air. Perplexed, Angea takes a step closer and as she does the line becomes a tear and in an instant rips open to form into a door-shaped mirror of light and shadow with swirling colors of red, black, and blue.
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Without words or hesitation Angea steps through and completely vanishes.
Do you follow her?
Yes.
NahYou decide to stay behind and enjoy Candleblight in Candletown.
The end!