Reflecting the Undefined

[Kangleton]

Spells were flying around the room, though nobody present looked very concerned. Confused, intrigued, and perhaps even in awe - but not concerned. It was not their problem, and not an issue that they had to face if they chose not to. Such were the thoughts of the ignorant.

A few men and women volunteered to conduct their own tests, and so had the Hands of Mundus, and a few representatives of the temple that the artifact had been contained within. At the time, it seemed like an interesting little experiment, and not much more. The artifact was something for people to tilt their heads at, and gossip about at the local taverns - if the matter called for any level of seriousness, it wasn't truly appreciated by the assembled men and women of Sundren. Not until the tests concluded.

Upon the end of the session, the protector of the artifact, Balthasar, began to make his way out of the chamber with the object in hand. It was at this point that the seriousness of the matter was demonstrated in it's entirety. As Balthasar carried the artifact out of the room, something happened. Whether it was magic activated by the artifact itself, or if some other foul magic was at work, the results were disturbing. As the room was suddenly drained of its light, between the gasps of the onlookers, several forms that had not been there before took their place amongst the crowd. As quickly as the light had vanished, it returned to reveal a shocking sight, but not before an equally shocking sound, reciting words that were very familiar to Karthus' ears.

"That voice... that spell!Everyone, ru-"

It was too late. The entire building began to shake with cracks opening upon the floor, and pillars collapsing down around the ears of the gathered innocents. It took several moments for the dust to settle, even after the spell had expired. Through the dusty air, and debris left from after the blast, Karthus' eyes rested upon a very familiar sight on the other side of the room. Staring right back at him, was himself.

[ThePaganKing]

Tellesian was merged with the shadows, was a shadow himself. He walked without sound, with little movement, with magic clouding the area around him, softening his footfalls and engulfing his lean frame in shadow.

He moved behind Hano, waiting for him to open the door to the temple. "We couldn't have a door open and close by itself," Tellesian thinks as he slips through the door right behind Hano and Karthus.

Tellesian remembers what the Keeper of the Grove required. "Tellesian, follow Karthus and see what this artifact is. Do not let the others know of your presence if possible."
Well, Tellesian was an expert at making his presence unknown, whether it was an Orc or goblin in the forest or a merchant in town.......shadows were always present.

Tellesian moves within the temple and kneels in the lee of a large pillar, completely ungulfed in its casting shadow. "Now for the show," Tellesian thinks as a smile appears on his face.

There were many people at this meeting and many of these people had their own ideas about this artifact. There were many tests conducted and what is showed Tellesian was that this artifact was indeed powerful and in the wrong hands, could spell doom to many. He itched to snatch the artifact and bring it to the Keeper; however, the Keeper did not require that and it could prove disastrous, bringing the Sundren authorities to the Grove in full force.........yet, it would be difficult, but he could do it. Tellesian fingered the potion that provides invisibility hanging on his belt pouch and thinks, "I could go invisble and then use the shadows to sneak onto the mats and steal that item. It could prove beneficial to the Grove, but no, I must report this first, then we can decide what to do as a group."

All of a sudden, Balthasar called a halt and picked up the artifact. Then it happened...the hairs on the back of Tellesian's neck raised up as one and he hit the floor quickly, rolling out of the way of the deadly magic roaming the room. He rolled again then found his feet, catlike, whirling around to see who or what had used such deadly magic.

Many of the onlookers were dead or dying. Karthus, Hano, and Gromlin seemed to be the only left standing, except for the Hand of Mundus mages and some holy warriors. "What the hell was that? I think its time for me to leave and report what I have witnessed to the Keeper."

With that, Tellesian leaves with a group of survivors, blending in with the surge of people as they were ushered out of the temple. From there, Tellesian made his way quickly to the Grove and told all to the Keeper.

[Kangleton]

"No... How?"

He stood in awe. With dead and dying littering the floor around him, the result of a spell that he had just watched himself cast, Karthus could hardly move, let alone make sense of the situation. As quickly as his double had appeared, though, it seemed to vanish back to wherever it had come from.

Those still left standing ran into the next chamber, warning those inside of the assault and threat to the temple, but Karthus did not move. Trapped within the barriers of his own mind, his thoughts were maddening.

Karthus had finally witnessed that which he had so long searched for; himself - and it tried to kill him.

Upon leaving the temple, the events that had taken place thereafter mattered not. Karthus' thoughts would rest only upon the temple, the artifact, and the events surrounding them, for days to come.