2
"Still no one coming?" the charr huffed through sharp teeth, "Some recruitment for the Vanguard, William." The charr waved his hand in exasperation while wearing heavy plate. The other hand rested on his greatsword he held vertically to the ground.
The bar sat fairly empty atop its wooden stilts, despite being one of the few bars in Lion's Arch. The Crow's Nest Tavern was home to some, but most Lion's Arch visitors, customers, and alcoholics preferred the bars not requiring so many winding stairs to ascend; the downward decent might prove fatal for those inebriated in anyway.
"Hey, not my idea Skarr. Niv thinks we need more people. And yeah, I know. You'd think we'd at least get some of the wayward wanderers who aimlessly walk around Tyria with nowhere to go," the human said agreeing with a slight headshake of indignity. He wore the same degree of heavy armor as the charr, but with lighter colors of both black and white, gold, and blue hints unlike Skarr's Blood Legion colors. "This place is worse than the Ascalon ruins, at least there they got ghosts…" William joked.
The only ones that visited this tavern were travelers wandering off and finding the place by accident, people who like the bar for its uniqueness and/or service, or the usual inhabitants looking only to forget about their life stresses, of which consisted of the usual martial or love issues, false dreams of typical hero wannabes, or of a life mislead by wrong choices.
It wasn't exactly the perfect place to hold recruiting interviews, especially group ones with the bar not being bigger, however this was where the Tyria Vanguard held today's interviews for trying to collect more skilled persons into their guild; a guild dedicated to the betterment of all life on Tyria by whatever means necessary.
"No! Not together you rock-brain assistants! One and then the other, you can't fit through the doorway together!" a small voice cried out from the entrance.
Two golems walked in carrying signs, posts, banners, and miscellaneous paperwork. They were of the typical build, Mark 34-1DA, but with some added features and small differences. The usual light blue brightness emanating from the golems were instead a nice green. The silver color of the golems, like its skin, was instead a grey-like color with a rocky texture to the eye, although smooth. Golden strips decorated and outlined them finishing the unique golems made from what appeared to be rock. An Asura walked in afterwards followed by a smaller service golem, Mark 3E-5006, holding what looked to be the remnants of the Asura's lunch. The smaller golem too had the same design as the first two golems.
"Put all that in the corner guys," the male Asura ordered while wiping away sweat from his tan colored forehead. His hair was a deep brown, like that of the earth, and pulled up into a small bun reaching three inches upward from his head. Skin patterns in a pale green color shown from beneath the simple cultural leather he adorned. Little contraptions were affixed to his wardrobe here and there. A hand full of rocks floated in the vicinity of his torso and shoulders spinning nonchalantly.
The Asura peered around with his green eyes and they widened seeing the familiar faces. "Next time can we host this at a different place?" he asked as the bartender behind the corner shot him a rude glance, "I hate coming up all those stairs."
"You didn't even bring up anything, your golems did Grebb…" said a human leaning back in a chair from the other table beside Skarr and William. The human had a light fog-like color robe on with whirling patterns on it. The white-gray hair atop his head looked to be natural and not due to old age, as he was younger and not old.
"Quit complaining," snarled Skarr to Grebb, "It's good for your legs."
"My legs disagree Skarr," the Asura said to the Charr, "And Aerion, that's why I built them," he motioned to the golems, "To do my work for me." Grebb stretched and took a seat at the table with the other two. "Where's the rest? Niv? Dal? Hraf? Arrik? And where's the recruits even?"
"Not here yet obviously," a female Sylvari said from another table while petting her companion. She was dressed in leafy cultural armor, looking agile and ready for whatever came next.
"Amerial, I didn't see you there," Grebb said looking her over. Her pet appeared ferocious, but gentle at her touch as it sat next to her. Grebb waved to his golems for their return to him while still starring her pet, weary of its primal state.
The two golems walked over to Grebb and stood behind his chair. The smaller golem approached Grebb and offered up the plate of food. Grebb took it and smiled placing it on the table. He snapped his fingers and the small golem crawled under the table and bent over, contorting and moving its insides to better accommodate its 'foot-stool' mode that was programmed into it.
"Couldn't get grub here?" Skarr asked with a disgusted look. His deep amber eyes portrayed a lack of care unlike most for the food on the Asura's plate.
"Their food here isn't good. It's as if the Skritt's cook themselves to be served," The Asura began to chow down on his food. The glare from the bartender not but three yards away couldn't be more piercing.
"Looks like we'll need to find another place to do this next time," William said seeing the bartenders stare. He brushed his black-brown hair aside and shook his head.
"I'll never understand Asura etiquette…" Aerion joked chuckling to himself. His whitish blue eyes too pierced the Asura, hoping for an appropriate response or apology.
The Asura was oblivious, despite the tingling sensation of being watched.
A Sylvari walked in, male, with a fern wolf strolling in behind him. He waited at the doorway while staring into the ground in thought.
"Dalvyr! You're back," Amerial beamed seeing a fellow Sylvari guild mate.
"I am. And I brought company," said Dalvyr looking up from his stare. His plant skin pure white, as was everything about him actually. The leaf hair, the leather armor, and even his white eyes with a small black pupil. He wasn't known as Dalvyr the White in his guild for nothing.
"Company?" Amerial asked standing up. The longbow resting at her back now was more than evident from her stance.
"Recruits?" William asked.
"Yes. I gathered some ready for a new home," Dalvyr said moving to the side to let in five people. Two Sylvari and Three charr.
"Damn," Aerion mumbled seeing no human females.
Skarr stood up seeing three charr. It started a trend as all five Tyrian Vanguards stood up, even Grebb from his food.
Dalvyr walked in front of the newcomers. "Let me introduce them to you recruits. These are profound members of the Vanguard, and no not the Ebon vanguard. We've been around much longer," Dalvyr started before William interrupted.
"Longer than all of you plant-folk too," William readjusted to better accommodate the massive shield at his back and sword at his side.
"Yes, this is true William. We'll start with him," Dalvyr waved a hand to him, "William Ashbury. He is one of the Vanguard Officers, or what we call a Vanguardian. He is one of valor and honor. He will be more than glad to take a hit for you."
William nodded. "Eh, it's true. I'm a good guy, what can I say?" William smiled with all his human pride.
"Bloat much?" Skarr snickered. William just shot a glance, which Dalvyr noticed.
"Next is Skarr Goreseeker. His lust for blood only exemplifies his Legionnaire status of his warband and his status within the Blood Legion."
Skarr nodded, politely, and just stared intimidating, knowing these new five were eyeing him up, though Skarr too was eyeing up their weak points just in case. His crimson fur and black stripes stood on end from the surprising introduction. Skarr also tried to figure out the three charr, wondering of their origins.
"Next is the Great Asura, Geomancer Grebb, or as he prefers, Golementalist Grebb. He is a master with earth and rocks and is a master at golemancy, fusing earth and rock into new golem technology and workings. Too stubborn for a krewe, this genius works alone."
Grebb smiled. "You know how to make me sound as important as I am. I like that about you Dalvyr," Grebb said with a noble, arrogant stare.
"As important as the rocks you play with…" Aerion commented and chuckled. William and Skarr too joined in the laugh.
"Next," Dalvyr began with a louder voice interrupting whatever comeback Grebb had. Grebb now glared at Aerion as the bartender had glared at him. "We have Aeromancer Aerion. Master of the winds and lightning. He was born of the air, having tainted his skin and hair appropriately."
Aerion just gave Dalvyr a confused look. "Don't make me seem too important."
Amerial smiled, knowing she was next.
"And lastly here is Amerial. This Sylvari is from the Dawn Cycle and one with nature and the Grove, like me. Also like me, she too has a kindred spirit for the wild and the beasts they have to offer, for it is part of our Wyld Hunt."
"They act like brother and sister," William added to the recruits.
"Well, in a technical sense, we are," Amerial added.
"Yes. We are both born of the same cycle of the same day," Dalvyr added while smiling.
Skarr walked up to Dalvyr and looked over the recruits closer. He turned to Dalvyr. "Let's get this started. I want to see what these charr are all about."
"Remember Skarr," William began, "We're recruiting for the Tyria Vanguard, not the Gore Warband."
Skarr huffed at the comment.
The ones from the Tyria Vanguard sat behind a row of chairs around a giant rounded table, as if a committee. They sat in an arch around the recruits on the other side of the round table.
"Alright. We'll start with you," Skarr started pointing to one of the charr closest to him. This one hid underneath a cowl, hindering most of his face as horns protruded from holes in the hood, "What is your name?" Skarr leaned over some trying to look under the hood.
The charr sat up straight and withdrew his hood. "I am Bane Burntblood of the Ash Legion."
"Ash Legion. That explains the veil. Let me guess, you tried out for the Order too," Skarr determined aloud. Bane nodded.
"Skarr, this is an interview, not an interrogation," Dalvyr pointed out.
"Bane," Aerion asked sensing something within the new charr, "What are your skills?"
"I am a skilled elementalist and only wish to put my skills to good use," Bane adjusted himself in the seat, evidently uncomfortable by the board of interviewers.
"Elementalist, eh?" Grebb noted, "What element do you favor?"
Bane smiled and looked away some, as if ashamed. He spoke while looking away, "Fire. I favor towards fire, and yes I understand it looks bad on-"
"You're not Flame Legion, are you?" Skarr interrupted with significant demeanor backing both his troubled gaze and his tightened grasp on his greatsword hilt.
"No, I am not of the filthy Flame Legion, but evidently my father was," Bane corrected. He now felt relieved, as he is always asked this.
"Furhur of a Flame Legion? Explain Burntblood," Skarr said with zeal. He needed to figure out for himself the intentions of this Ash Legion charr. Skarr had a hunch he needed to settle.
"My father was in the ranks of Flame Legion, yes. He was a spy for them and then became fearful of them for some reason. He went rogue and found a mate and here I am. Not much to tell"
"I understand now. It runs in your blood. That's why you are drawn to the flame. Like a moth." Skarr still felt uneasy, but felt better now able to see Bane's hands. They weren't burnt and Flame-Legion-corrupted like their Flame Shamans are.
"Let's move on, shall we?" Dalvyr said only wanting to go through the rest of the recruits. "You're next. Sworn was it? If I remember correctly."
"Yes, I am Sworn. Sworn Bloodgaze. I am also part of the Ash Legion," spoke the ash-color furred charr. He too was wearing a hood, but it was reasting atop his head enough to be able to see his entre face.
"Even I could tell that," Aerion added seeing the theif-like attire swathed around the scrawny, yet muscular charr. The ebon fabrics wrapped around Sworn like a sheet as leather pieces covered the more important areas. The leather too were darkened. Gold outlined the attire randomly with a small Ash Legion broach towards the upper part of his shoulder.
"What can you offer us?" Dalvyr asked completely contempt.
"My blades. You can have my blades, be it my dagger blades, my claws, or the ones on my pistols," Sworn simply put. He sat back and nodded, done speaking.
"I like him," said a voice from behind the recruits. Each recruit turned and the Vanguardian's looked up.
"Nivrin!" Amerial said happily.
"Ah, Niv. Nice of you to finally join us," William remarked.
"I was busy. There was some debris left over from Zhaitan that needed to be taken care of." Nivrin walked up slow and steady, as if showing his status in the guild. An anonymous hood shielded his eyes from the rest as only a nose, mouth and a goatee surrounding the mouth could be seen. An extensive guild robe extended to his upper boots, all of which was exquisite leather. His attire too was a black and gold, with some accents of a bone color. A red crest sat in the middle of his chest held up by the ends of his hood. "I see you started without us. That's fine, as we've been listening."
"We?" Skarr asked.
A few seconds passed without a response from Nivrin. Suddenly, out of the corner of the room, some figures began to emerge from a cloaked shroud that had been erected, probably from Nivrin.
"There you all are!" Grebb shouted.
"Yeah, I had to borrow them to clean up the remains."
"Ah," Dalvyr spoke standing up, "Well now I must introduce you all."
"No," Nivrin said promptly, "I can. It is my fault we were late."
"Wait, you didn't need us for dealing with Zhaitan's mess?" Skarr asked almost offended.
"No. It was a very small mission. I count on you all for my bigger problems. Besides, they were just promoted to members not but weeks ago. I need to test them more." Nivrin withdrew his hood and shook his black hair, extending to his upper neck.
The rest walked out to reveal themselves.
"This is Hrafn Darkgaze," Nivrin motioned to the Norn walking up. He intimidated the recruits just from initial sight. Fancy Norn racial clothing draped down him with dark themed Raven-esc attire. Shoulders of Raven's heads, one like a mold of an actual raven and on the other shoulder a skull of one rested with its beak facing the ground. An actual raven sat peacefully atop the shoulder of the living mold. The wardrobe were hues of dark purple and black.
"Hello," spoke Hrafn.
"You're Norn?" asked Bane looking him over obscurely.
"I am. Are you not used to my appearance?" Hrafn asked walking out more in the light. His skin was completely black with tattoos in a royal purple. His hair was black and his eyes also a purple, but brighter and not as deep as the tattoos or the purple hues in his wardrobe. The greatsword at his back was now evident as well.
"You're one of those illusionists, aren't you?" Bane asked intrigued. He asked because of the purple and because this Norn was quite skinny compared to most. Frail or sickly even, though he appeared in perfect health.
"Perhaps I am." Hrafn smiled and nodded to Nivrin.
"Next," Nivrin moved on, "is Calla. Calla Nutori."
Calla walked out wearing heavy plate with axes at her waist. Draping red hair rooted from her head extending to her shoulders, only three inches longer than Nivrin's hair. Her armor seemed typical, but a rust-gold instead of the usual dulled silver. She merely nodded, not really wanting to talk.
"And lastly we have Revvo, Asura Manipulator."
Revvo hopped up and smiled. "Hello!" Revvo shouted. His leather a deep yellow with gray accents. A shield, pistol and other gadgets were at his sides in their Asura-built glory.
"And I am Nivrin," he introduced, "Seventy-seventh leader of the Tyria Vanguard."
"Seventy Seven?" asked the female charr recruit who would be next in line for interviewing.
"Yes. There were seventy-six before me, starting with the first, Xevas Ahl from Ascalon itself when it was still pristine before the searing. I am proud to say I can trace my lineage to the lost city."
There was silence for a few seconds, letting the information sink in to the recruits.
"So," William said chiming in, "What about you? Who are you? What can you offer us?" William asked the female charr.
"Kadra Smokespur of the Iron Legion and Smoke Warband," she responded standing up with poise. Her shield on her back was a giant enamored Iron Legion crest. A rifle across her back beneath the shield and two pistols at her hips. Her smoke colored leathers were trimmed in a cream color with accents of a deep iron blue covering her gray fur. A monocle covered her left eye for precision instead of lost sight.
"Alright. You speak with pride. I like that. Ready to call us home?"
"I am ready to belong to the guild, yes. I offer up my engineering and my explosives. I can craft guns, grenades, steam riddled contraptions, and many other things. I helped make the Ghostbore Rifle with my Iron team and have accomplished much in the name of engineering. You name it, I can try and build it or find a way to make it work."
The two Asura's in the room glared at the female charr at the comment, resenting her ability in comparison to the Asura mind. This was a racial gift, well, more of a snobbery racial personification rather than an actual gift.
"Good to know Kadra. Well met," William said nodding.
"Yes, nice to see a female charr of worthy skill," Skarr beckoned aloud.
"I see something else being built in the air," Aerion mumbled about Kadra and Skarr, looking to the side hoping Skarr didn't hear. He didn't, thankfully.
"What about you?" Amerial asked the deep-red robed Sylvari next in line.
The female Sylvari looked up slow from her stare into the tabletop. "Me?"
"Yes you sap-sister. Go ahead. Tell us about yourself." Amerial stared at her eagerly, awaiting her name and skills.
"I am Nikcoli of the Night Cycle," she said with her autumn-like skin coloring and crimson leafy hair.
"Nicoli?" William asked not pronouncing the name right.
"Nik-cole-eye," she corrected.
"Ah, my apology. Nikcoli then," William decided to be quiet now that he was embarrassed.
"Tell us, what skills can you lend us in our fight against Tyrian enemies?" Amerial asked stroking the tufts of fur at her pet beside her chair.
"I am what you would call a necromancer, as my skills are better associated with such a profession, like my associate here," Nikcoli motioned to the Sylvari yet to be interviewed.
Amerial looked to the ebon shaded one beside Nikcoli, "Ah, so you two know eachother?"
"Yes. We've travelled together for a some years now. It will be nice to have a place to call home, or at least an association period with something other than the dead we are inclined to."
"Well, we are happy to have you," Amerial said with a smile. She didn't want to ask of her skills, for the title of necromancer is good enough. Those details are more gruesome when explained.
"Two necromancers?" William scowled under his breath. Skarr heard.
"Makes up for the lack of any we have in the guild I suppose."
"Eh, I guess Skarr. They just give me the creeps," William responded to Skarr.
"That or they'll give you a plague or condition." The two shared a laugh, causing the rest to wonder what they were whispering about.
"Now what about you dear? What cycle of the day were you brought into this world? What is your name?" Dalvyr asked to interject the joking between friends.
The Sylvari didn't move, but too stared into the table from under her hood. The wide cabalist-like hood and robe veiled everything about her and by the manner of which she sat, no one was sure if she was even a Sylvari at all.
"The night cycle I came into this world from my pod…" spoke the Sylvari with a wispy voice.
"Very good. Now tell us, what is your name?" Dalvyr asked.
"Shathalia," she spoke with a hissy accent but loud and proud. A loud crashing was heard from the bathroom area right after she said her name.
"What was that?" asked Revvo backing away, being closest to the bathrooms.
"I don't know, but Arrik went to the bathroom long before even Grebb arrived," William added having completely forgotten about his fellow Norn companion. "Must have had some Dolyak legs or Griffon meat to be in there that long…"
Nivrin gawked towards the bathrooms with slit eyes. "Hrafn, go check on Arrik. Make sure all is well in there."
Hrafn nodded and walked towards the bathroom door, where it slammed open, nearly hitting Hrafn.
"No need. I am on my way out. I heard some of the interviews. What was the last ones name again?" Arrik asked calmly. His light blue and silver armor had been haphazardly put back on and trousers showing in their polka dotted splendor peeked from the chained leggings. His disposition was not evident, but his expression was, at least to Nivrin, who was trying to figure out Arrik's alarm.
"I-I forget now," Nivrin responded having forgot her name due to the commotion. He turned to the last Sylvari, "What did you say your name was?"
"Shathalia,"
Arrik took a deep breath and leered upward uncontrollably feeling the adrenaline course through him. The name resounded in his head, forcibly pulling memories from his adolescent past to the surface of his thinking at the sound. Arrik shivered and sighed slightly, but kept his cool however. "Ah. Alright I thought you said a different name. My apology."
Shathalia looked upward now, unknowingly showing her face, wondering why Arrik acted the way he did. The action caused the same usual reaction she was used to.
"Whoa," Dalvyr said seeing her face lit up from both the outside sun and the dim bar lighting.
"Shathalia, can you pull down your hood?" Nivrin asked fascinated seeing the little he could of her face.
"I can," she answered without moving. She looked to have no intentions on actually doing so.
Nivrin grinned. "Will you please pull down your hood?"
"Will you?" Shathalia retorted.
Nivrin's grin widened as gasps could be heard from some of the ones in the room at her questionable resistance to the leader's orders. He looked to Skarr, William, Grebb and Amerial briefly, "I like her already," Nivrin then turned to Shathalia, "I will if you will dear." Nivrin felt his eagerness grow to see this Sylvari's face. Thoughts played in his head of the possibilities her face could show once fully seen. Nivrin grabbed his hood and pulled it down, showing the rest of his sharp countenance to the recruits. "Your turn Shathalia.'
Shathalia did so and shook her head afterwards, shaking loose the blackened disheveled leaves atop her head, descending their full length from her head in hair-like form. The arrangement of leaves on her head showed a type of short style hair with draping bangs, but seemingly spiky with the way the leaves sprouted from her head. Her soft petal skin shone completely black, just like her entire attire, leaving no other colors to interfere with the dark theme. The gasps and coughing only began when everyone in the room realized her most distinguished, yet frightening feature. Her eyes.
"Shathalia… your eyes, they-"
"What of them?' she interrupted Dalvyr offended as usual when someone mentions this, "They are but orbs I view out of. Nothing more, nothing less. I do not care they are black unlike everyone else's. As long as I can see, does it matter?"
"Well, no, it doesn't just-" Dalvyr tried before Nivrin interrupted.
"Are you completely obsidian in color?" Nivrin asked starring at her.
"I am. I was born this way… I was born of shadow." She sat upright and looked around at the many eyes judging her, deeming her something evil. She felt something inside building up seeing all the condemnatory starring; something else rising along the anxiousness collecting within her body.
"You… you're like my complete opposite," Dalvyr said in complete bewilderment. He could not help but wonder things aloud before anyone else could say them. "What cycle were you sprouted from again?"
"The Cycle of the Night," she responded taking a deep breath.
"Fitting," Skarr added gripping his hilt again in case it was needed.
"And why is your skin the way it is?" Dalvyr and Nivrin asked simultaneously. They looked at each other briefly before returning their gaze to Shathalia.
"I am unsure, but it is what it is. As his is all white," she motioned to Dalvyr, "mine is all black," she placed a hand at her chest, "and his is pink," she gestured to Nivrin.
"Typical mystical cliché right here in the Crow's Nest," Aerion emoted smiling at how disturbing this was.
"You might even call it destiny…" Calla said from her quiet steak of not talking.
"Whatever it is, this is quite bizarre," William added as the rest sat in silence accepting it. Nikcoli was the only one used to all the reactions and her acquaintance.
"It's just a different color sylvari, have you not seen one before? Not all of us are greens, yellows, reds and oranges. Some are purple, and there's even a tale of a visitor from another tree out in Maguuma that is blue. It is simply a color fleshlings." Nikcoli tried to defend her friend yet again.
"While this is true," Grebb started, "All your eyes are the same coloring, save the pupils. She does not have the whites of the eyes most have." Grebb took a closer look since he was near her and looking his way. "It's as if they are voids, nothing inside looking back at us."
"And somehow I see you and your rocks. I still don't understand why Asuran's are seen as the brightest race." Shathalia looked away and sighed.
"I like her," Nivrin said again smiling darting eyes to Grebb to make sure he didn't retort. He noticed the daggers at her hips while looking her over in her seated poise. "You look like more of a thief, rogue, or bandit rather than some conjurer of the dead, especially with the colors you wear."
"I am what I am. Nikcoli and I can conjur the dead, yes, but I do so in a different manner. I conjure shades and shadows… things of pure darkness to aid me in my battles."
"Shadowmancer?" Grebb asked having heard the terms a few times before and having read about it in books within Rata Sum. He ignored her prior comment for now.
"If that's what you must call it, sure." Shathalia shivered a little and noticed the shadows in the room began to move and contort with her worry building. The ends of the furniture, the ceiling corners, and areas not lit up fully. All the shadows began to vibrate or wiggle. She sighed and closed her eyes. Nikcoli noticed.
"Are we done with the interview and mentally dissecting my friend here?"
"We were interested is all," Nivrin started. He went speak more, but his head turned to look at something. William continued.
"Yeah, she is just interesting is all. And yes, we can be done. All recruits have been generally interviewed."
"Welcome to the Tyria Vanguard. We protect the land by whatever means necessary."
Kadra raised a fist into the air and cheered while Sworn barely smiled at the comment. Bane nodded and Nikcoli sighed. Shathalia just sat in discontent. Her eyes were still closed, though no one knew because her hood was back on.
"Let's head to the Guild Hall!" Amerial offered. The recruits agreed, even Shathalia as she rose from her seat. She didn't want to be around the tavern anymore.
The group began to form together after getting out of their seats and they began to walk out of the doors to descend the long stairs. Grebb called to his golems to follow as the pets of Amerial and Dalvyr walked behind their owners.
"Niv," Arrik said not walking towards the door like the rest.
Nivrin walked by Arrik, "Hold on." He approached the barhop as the bartender approached.
"Here ya go. Thanks for letting us use the bar," he said lightly tossing a bag of gold on the counter top. "I added a few extra coins for the Asura. Sorry, he's not all there."
"Most aren't…" the bartender remarked grumpily and peeved, but thankful Nivrin was thoughtful enough on Grebb's behalf.
Nivrin nodded and walked back to Arrik as Skarr approached too.
"What is it Arrik?" Nivrin asked.
"Niv. You remember my tale I told you about when I first joined?" Arrik asked twisting and contorting to try and relieve his anxiousness and stress.
"Vaguely. Something about a human, asura and a seed. Also something about a murderer."
"Yes. I will tell you again, but Shathalia… I believe she was the murderer… She reeks of familiarity. My past is calling to me like my ancestors."
"Really?" Skarr asked wondering.
"I don't know, but I remember how the murderer creature thing said it. 'Sha-tha-lia' is all I heard in the darkness before I got to their corpses. It's the same name and all. I worry for our Vanguard Nivrin."
"I thought you said the murderer had no face, just an empty shadow?" Nivrin said now remembering the tale some.
"She did have no face, but she's had plenty of time to steal one. It's been twenty seven or so years ago when I was a young Norn. When I passed my trial and thought I could take on the world. This. This event was the reason I am the way I am now, what molded me to always rely on the light… her darkness changed me."
The three looked to one another regarding the information.
Skarr huffed, muffling his sliver of fear. It was more a challenge to Skarr. He went to speak, but Nivrin beat him to it.
"Well Arrik, I guess your story, her being -born of shadow- and the whole 'Shadowmancer' thing would explain that," Nivrin said pointing. Arrik and Skarr looked.
"What in Tyria…" Skarr said going for his hilt. He looked around seeing it more throughout the entire bar. Skarr didn't know how to react except to reach for his greatsword.
"By the bear…" Arrik said recalling the shaded experience of the past at the sight of what he looked at now. An aura of blue eminence began to flow from him, causing only some of the blackness to recede.
The three watched as the shadows of the entire tavern room they stood swayed and wisped about rhythmically. Tendrils of darkness, like fingers, played upon the surfaces they were cast. The movements of all the silhouettes were only visible if one had pointed it out, but Nivrin did. It was enough to cause the three small distresses. The shadows appeared alive, though no imminent danger could be seen. The spirit-like shadows were just dancing about to the rhythm and tune of their own dusky intent.