Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

(Very Short Write up, didnt want to flood too much, Pictures to come soon!)

It was a trivial task Nythara thought to herself as she stood with the others at the gathering. Capture a Selunite and sacrifice them to Shar in order baptise the new temple in her glorious name. She looked around the room at the others, Her brothers and sisters bound in darkness. It was simple really, The alu-fiend would lure away the target under false pretenses while Seryna would cause a distraction away from the intended point of Ambush. The task was set out and the group began to move.

A little while later Nythara and the others moved in to position at the crossroads, As they approached they could see that Nazeera had done her job very effectively as was expected of her. Quickly her brothers and sisters moved in to position and sprung their trap. The selunite didnt even have a chance to put up a fight as the bombardment of magic left her paralysed almost immediately. Quickly Nazeera opened up a portal and the group teleported back to the sanctuary their prize in tow. Soon blood would be spilled and darkness would once again flow freely through their sacred grounds.

Once the others had returned the Oracle quickly moved to open a portal to the new temple grounds. This place would be far more dangerous than before, Mostly due to the fact that the entire zone was a dead magic zone, a place where those who use the weave have no power.... but for one of Shadow, this would be again trivial. A perfect place to set up the new sanctuary but first the cleansing.

The group moved carefully through the temple, Undead were common in areas such as this, Nythara sat at the back of the group and let the others deal with them, she had to ensure nothing happened to the sacrifice. Nythara cast a few blessings on the group, her magic unhindered by the lack of connection to the weave, the group cutting a swathe through the ranks of undead rising up to meet them. Finally they arrived at the altar, the Oracle was already waiting for them. "let us begin, Kneel my brothers and sisters and witness the power of Shar"

Nythara kneeled down before the unconcious body of the Selunite at the foot of the altar "wake up little one" she said as she coaxed the woman back to conciousness. One of the other Sisters helped Nythara lift the bound woman on to the Altar removing her gag in the process. "Selune will protect me" the woman showed signs of fear, praying to her goddess for salvation, A foolish notion Nythara thought to herself as she knew all too well that the womans pleas fell on deaf ears.

The woman continued to spout profanities and prayers to the moon wench all the while the faithful kneeled as the Oracle raised a dagger above the womans chest and plunged it deep, the womans voice drowned by the gurgle of pain and blood. After a few moment the womans body fell completely limp "Seryna it is time" the oracle said. Nobody stirred as she approached the Selunites fresh corpse and tilted her head back cutting her own wrists and allowing her own cursed blood to seep in to the womans throat.

Almost immediately the blood began to take effect, The womans body began to twitch and move, Unlife flowing through her recently deceased body. She arose to her feet and immediately moved to attack Nythara in her hunger for blood. Nythara did not move nore did she lift her head. "Enough my child" Seryna said, the woman stopping as Seryna held out a vial for the woman "drink" she said "in time you will learn to control your hunger" Nythara smiled under her hood, She had a new sister.

The room grew dim as an almost hungering Darkness appeared dotted with purple stars, a beautiful raven haired woman appeared from the darkness and spoke "You have done well my children, i am pleased. Take this blessing and bring the world back to the darkness" The deed was done. Shar was pleased.

"This is an outrage!"

Aubert's enflamed words echoed throughout the halls of the Temple. The Lady of the Night simply stood in front of him without even flinching, whilst four robed figures behind her slowly reached for their weapons.

To say that the High Priest was enraged would have been an euphemism. Yet, to all those assembled there, the Oracle was unnaturally calm and composed, even as the Flame of Darkness yelled at her.

"This is completely unprecedented, Oracle! I thought your mission to the Sword Coast was aiding the Mistress' cause, not your own!""

The Oracle offered a candid, dreamy smile at the high priest. Her exquisitely beautiful face was otherwise fixed into a soulless stare, whilst her eyes brimmed with a mixture of lunacy and religious devotion.

"My own cause and the Mistress' cause are one and the same, Aubert. The sooner you will realize it, the better."

"Blasphemy! - the high priest's voice was becoming more and more agitated as the Oracle spoke - "This is unacceptable! Nobody authorized you to re-establish a major center of worship in the Sword Coast!"

"The Mistress did, Aubert. That is enough for me to act."

"The Mistress, or your own ambition, woman? To think that I have held you in a rather long leash ever since you entered the flock!"

"And for having awakened me from my slumber, Aubert, you will always have the gratitude of me as well as the Mistress. But it is time to move on and proceed with her Grand Strategy, my dear. One can win a match of chess only after careful planning and consideration."

"Enough of that, woman! Guards! Remove this heretic from these hallowed halls!"

At Aubert's commands, many warriors who claimed allegiance to the Mistress of the Night tentatively stepped forward, about to draw their weapons. A quick gesture of the Oracle, though, stopped their approach cold. The four robed figures behind her removed their hoods and drawed their weapons.

One of them was Nazeera the alu-fiend, baring her teeth and showing her shortswords to the high priest and his guards.

Another one of them was a woman, blonde and attractive, yet pale and with eyes glaring with barely contained thirst. She bared her fangs to the high priest as well, making her true status of undead obvious.

The other two figures who removed their hood showed only a bleached, exposed grinning skull, encased in an unbelievably ancient suit of armor. Those in the room who had some knowledge in archaeology were instantly capable of recognizing the style as the one used by the elite soldiers of the Netherese Empire.

"Let us try to avoid shedding unnnecessary blood, hm? There is no need for violence amongst kin."

Aubert flashed a cold stare at Nazeera.

"Et tu, Nazeera?"

The alu-fiend just smiled at the man.

"I am sorry, dear, but murdering people gets boring rather quickly after a while. The Oracle, on the other hand, has much more...magnificent plans. You should know me by now, Aubert. I just enjoy watching the world burn."

Aubert calmed a bit, perhaps realizing that open infighting would have only displeased his patron.

"Is that what you wish, Oracle? A family divided?"

"Amn can pretty much take care of itself, under your capable guide. The Sword Coast, on the other hand, deserves a major center of worship."

"Very well then. I suppose wishing you luck is in order?"

"Luck? I don't need it, brother. I only need the Mistress' guiding voice. And now, if you excuse me, I have to tend to my flock in the Sword Coast. Glory to Loss."

Aubert was gritting his teeth with such intensity, than he was unable to utter the reply to that message in an audible enough tone. Instead, he simply whispered.

"Glory to Loss"

The Oracle and her entourage walked away, as the woman opened a gate leading to the Shadow Realm. Before entering it, though, she cast a final glance at the altar, murmuring to it in a quick bow before entering the Shadow Realm...

"None shall stop the rising darkness!"