Midnight RPG - Chapter 43.185

Durgaz

This scene is presumed to have taken place several hours after the meeting with Khalim's family. Durgaz will approach Walden at some point when he is alone, and speak to him in confidence.

Durgaz: "I am glad that you have decided to take this man's family to First-Hold. There are good people there, brave and strong, and your wisdom may be of use to them. Take this." Durgaz pulls an arrow from his quiver, snaps off the arrowhead and presses it into the old man's hand. "It traveled to and from First-Hold on my back, and it knows the way. I know that it will speak to you, as other things often do to me. You should have no problem finding the place."

Durgaz presses another object into Walden's hand. It is a mummified orc finger, one of three that had adorned his trophy necklace. "Take this, too. It will tell you what you are to do with it."

The Finger

If Walden uses his Seer Sight on the severed finger, he can see thet Durgaz held it in his hand about an hour ago and spoke to it, while out in the woods by himself. He says the following, in a lowered voice:

Durgaz: "Be warned: The men and orcs of First-Hold have traitors in their midst. I do not think they pose any immediate danger, but I do not know their motives and they are not to be trusted. The council members have fallen under their sway, and others may have as well. I do not expect you to do anything about this, just to be aware, and watch out for yourself and those who travel with you. We will determine what needs to be done and do it, once we have dealt with the problem in the North."

"When you reach First-Hold, take this finger to the Dulugolauk, and show it to them as proof that I have sent you. Find the orc named Chogon. Tell him that on the day of Basan, two hours past the shadow hour, I will be watching him. He must find a secluded location where he will not be overheard, and speak aloud of what is happening in First-Hold, and I will hear him. If you have anything you must tell me, I will turn my eye on you at the same time, on the day of Bimba. If I have anything I must tell you, I will do it two hours past the shadow on the day of Nim-A, and if you are watching me, you will hear it."

"Go. Be safe."

Shadow-Wall: Sir Walden Mikhail, knight of the Sarcosan realm

"... heh, heh... old enemy... old friend..." ...the Sarcosan Bladebond's voice grumbles deep as he reaches out finding Durgaz's orc-hide cheek... patting it as a father would a son... referring to the irony that you and he stand here today, enemies by race - friends by destiny. The old man (now using his sheathed sword hilt as a cane) leans in and rocks back... gripping the mummified finger... "...these days, Durgaz, they have not been kind to either of us have they?... and they certainly weren't kind to Talûn-karkû here... heh" with a smirk on the old man's wrinkled face, Durgaz cannot see the pale haze of white that would flow across the eyes of the old seer... His eyes were ripped from his skull by the hand of the Sword himself. "My heart warms for you... You met your true enemy my son. One I was not confronted with until Lord Ardherin taunted it from the fire in my belly." Walden steps back and smiles as smile of defiance... of victory! "... yes... you met your opposite in the bowls of that boat, did you not? And you cut it away like a dire-leech leaving it to lie on this Pellurian cove's bottom. I see it now. I see you in the times when your friends cannot. I see you in the times for which you are ashamed. I see your fury at the rage within you. I see the control you fear you cannot reach."

Walden steps back cupping his hand over his forehead, wiping down across his brow where his eyes used to be. "You struggle with yourself Son... that's a gate that you will never breach. Step back then and take another look... Is that which you strive for a gate to be broken or a barrier to be protected? You fight the nature in your heart. But you think that nature is of orc rage. It is not Son. We are more than flesh and bone. Could Radagug have been anything else other than his nature? Were he born a man, an elf, a dwarf? Your brother was who he was. Your friend... the angry southman.. it was the legate Black-Blade set this course for him long ago... We... You are who you are. Regardless of this... Use that which gives them strength to forward your fight, but donot allow the line to be crossed. The peoples of your First-Hold must be councilled on this..." Walden slaps his chest. "...it is hard to see now, even with your power of perceptions but there is a light at the end of this cave - but it's not one that you need to seek... It's you and your pathwalkers that carry it. You carry the torch passed on by Aryth's fallen. Remember Durgaz history is being shaped now... What we do, what we donot do... The silence of men and elf and dwarf and halfling and gnome... the silence of orc. All that is needed for the triumph of evil is for enough a good man to do nothing... You are a great soldier Son, but the world needs you to be a good man."

Walden looks up to Durgaz and smiles again... You've done well. But you have a little farther to travel, you know the intentions here... These things don't need to be said. But its something no one has ever spoke to you so candidly about... Walden... the Shadow-Wall - looks up to you and grips the trophy you've given him with his off hand and with the other he places it on your heart... "... The enemy is troubled by Lady Aradil's gambit, the darker brethern will doubly disguise his action when the great wooden columns tremble in the western wind, covered with blood... If she believes herself conquered, she will push forth and doom us all - yet she does so with love in her heart. As does the one you seek in the deep Marches... His Arrows will fall, but they will fall true. That is my friend's way. Ossion must be feared if you move on him, but donot forget that he is our friend guided by the same spirit that courses in you and I.
Tell them Son... tell them who you are... become the water that seeps into the cracks of the Scar, find the schismatic sects - call out your name in the dark... light the Shadow with your voice, letting all men that wish to live free hear the hope of your heart. Tell them Son... Tell them who stalks the minions of Shadow. Tell them who levels the tainted lands. Tell them who hunts the Kings of Night. You are NOT the twin born in front of the mirror but you can become a messiah and deserve the day... Tell them Son... Speak MIRRORBREAKER, speak RIPPER, speak KRANKLOBURZ, speak TEARER, speak RAGE-TAMER, speak SHASHER, speak DRAGONDOOM, speak GOUGER - YOU WERE the BETRAYER. You ARE the TEETH in the DARKNESS, the TALONS in the NIGHT. Yours is STRENGTH... and MIGHT... and RIGHTIOUS POWER. So speak REDEEMER - let them know your name, I will listen to the sun for you at Bimba's Shadow hour. Know your name - You are Durgaz the Blar'Gok of the Dulugolauk Odrendor and I am proud of you Son." ... AKA. (Durgaz the White Way)

and a vision of horror and glory (but for whom?) rips through your mind... Shadow-Wall did not cause this... but he shares your sight and he falls to the ground shaken...

At night they will think they have seen the sun,
when they see the half pig man:
Noise, screams, battles seen fought in the skies.
The brute beasts will be heard to speak.

The rock of the world holds in its depths white
which will come out milk-white from a cleft
Needlessly troubled people will not dare touch it,
unaware that the foundation is of clay not steel.

Arythshaking fire from the center of the Eredane
will cause tremors around the High City.
Two great rocks will war for a long time,
then Pelluria will redden a new river.

A thing existing without any senses
will cause its own end to happen through artifice.
At the underworld hearts of the Icewall
there will be great damage from hail and ice.

Beneath the rock, struck in stone, lit in lightning,
the treasure of treasures is hidden not far.
The lost things discovered, hidden for many centuries.
when found, one struck blind, eye pierced by beast.

The great rock, dwarfholds and underdark,
after peace, war, famine, blood.
It will spread far, drowning great countries,
even antiquities and their mighty foundations.