Jeff Inlo - Nightmare's Shad

When Enin reached the portal to the dark realm, he was surprised to see how large it had grown. The edges expanded far beyond the force barrier he placed in front of it. Sufficient free space existed to allow hundreds of beasts to crossover at any time.

As he looked into the rift, surprise shifted to alarm as he noted the gathering of creatures waiting almost patiently for some distant order to invade. Their numbers obliterated his worst fears and their willingness to remain on the dark side of the portal defied all logic.

He wondered how it was possible for Baannat to maintain such far reaching control. Even beasts of nightmare have a will of their own. They would not simply succumb to Baannat unless they were forced. The ghoul absorbed a great deal of magic, but it was not an endless reserve. There were limits, and yet, Baannat seemed to be exceeding each boundary.

Determined more than ever to quell the storm of war before it passed into Uton, the wizard made his way into the rift and past the monsters under a shadow spell that kept his presence hidden. There was no point in exhausting his power trying to fight the multitude. Even if successful in annihilating all the threats currently present, Baannat would simply gather another army, perhaps even larger.

No, the only path to success cut directly to the slink ghoul. Remove Baannat's influence over the beasts and they would probably set upon themselves. The portal could be closed and the threat extinguished.

Enin followed the trail of Baannat's energy back to the cave in the chasm. He did not enter, for if he was right, Baannat didn't truly exist in the cave. The ghoul was only using it as an anchor. Baannat was hiding his true presence in a shroud that separated all existences. That was the space Enin had to access.

Reaching Baannat, however, was the true challenge. Enin, to a large extent, understood the subtleties of existence and the differing planes of being. He witnessed angels and demons waiting at the veil between life and death. He knew the immortality of the spirit and the passages to greater awareness.

While he could separate his essence from his body to enhance his awareness of multiple dimensions, he could not actually pass through to the spiritual existence while he remained a mortal being. His own soul remained linked to his body for as long as he drew breath, and though he could step out of his mortal shell for brief periods of time, he could not pass through the veil to experience true life after death until his time came.

Still, it was not the afterlife that he wished to enter. Enin set his sights on the slink ghoul and that's where he had to reach.

Baannat had not passed through the veil completely. If he had, his influence over Uton would have ended. He had escaped death because the link between his body and spirit had never been completely severed, he had not died in physical space. The ghoul was also no longer alive and could apparently remain in a state of flux, walking the almost invisible line between life and death.

Enin focused on the veil. He continued to probe Baannat's energy, using that as a guide to space that had no true substance. It was not an envelope of magical power. It was almost non-existence and reaching it proved elusive.

As Enin searched for some link, some connection to exploit, Baannat's almost ghostly figure-part body and part spirit-appeared near the cave entrance with a cackle.

"Back so soon? I'm surprised. I thought you would be preparing for the war. I am. I know you saw my soldiers. Quite impressive, don't you think?"

Enin did not answer. He probed the vibrations coming from the slink ghoul, followed them back into the curtain.

"By the way," the ghoul continued, "I saw you come across the portal. I knew you were there. Your shadow spell is quite strong, but I see beyond the shadows. I could have guided my entire army to you, but I wanted you here."

"You saw me?" Enin asked, but only to keep the ghoul talking.

"Of course. As I said, a shadow spell, no matter how strong, can't hide you from me anymore. Shadows are a way of life for me now."

Shadow

That was the key. If Enin could enter the shadow of physical reality, he could reach Baannat. A shadow had no depth, but its existence could not be denied. The veil between life and death held to the same properties. Unfortunately, the question remained as to how to enter the shadow of life without completely entering death.

Baannat seemed content to continue his idle chatter.

"So no big bolt from the blue like last time?" The ghoul looked up at the dark skies above. "I guess I should say gray, not blue. Well, whatever. Aren't you going to try and annihilate me where I stand?"

"You do not stand here."

"I don't? Where do I stand?"

Enin saw no reason not to speak the truth.

"You stand in the veil."

Baannat smiled broadly.

"You figured it out. Bravo."

"I had a great deal of help."

"Still relying on others to beat me, eh?"

"I see no shame in taking aid."

"I guess then you don't blame me for gathering an army?"

"There is a difference between accepting assistance and manipulating the weak-minded for your own selfish desires."

"I see. So I'm just using those pathetic creatures and you're… well, what is it exactly you're doing? Being provident or divine, perhaps?"

"I make no claim to godhood."

"And yet you stand above them, so far above it's amusing. And you guide them now. You actively involve yourself in their affairs."

Enin wasn't certain where the conversation was headed, but it did not matter. He was there to remove Baannat as a threat, and to do that, he had to reach him. He responded only to keep the slink ghoul distracted from his true purpose.

"I offer my assistance and they accept it, just as I have accepted assistance from them."

"So very noble of you all."

"Nobility has nothing to do with it. It is about acceptance. I understand my place."

"I don't think you understand anything at all. You're here trying to find a way to get to me, but you can't figure it out, can you?"

Baannat paused. He knew the human wizard would not answer. He cackled once more for several moments, then revealed his own understanding of the situation.

"Why did you even come here if you didn't know how exactly how to reach me? Do you enjoy wasting your time?"

Enin frowned.

"Sometimes you can't form a plan until you know all the facts," the wizard finally responded.

"Doesn't seem like you've discovered any new facts," the ghoul taunted.

"Facts? Perhaps not, but a few insights gained."

"Well, let me share a few more insights, brother. Brother! You never liked it when I called you that. Does it still bother you?"

"I'm surprised you call me it now. We're less related than we ever were."

"That is true, and that's your real problem. You're still alive and I'm beyond that."

"But you are not beyond the magic."

"Are you sure? How can you tell?"

"Because you are sending your energy to this existence. You consumed magic that was trapped in the vessel created by Heteera and you are using magic to control the creatures of this realm."

"Am I? Maybe… Maybe not. Remember that magic came from dead creatures. The vessel killed them before it collected their power. You may wish to think about that."

"So you're saying death is the only way I can reach you?"

"Perhaps. Are you willing to attempt ending your own life to try?"

"No, because I do not believe you. You did not fully die and you are still connected to the magic, so there must be a way."

"If I knew, would I tell you?"

"No, you would not."

"Then maybe I'll surprise you and tell you anyway."