Game Thread, Chapter 1: All the Kings Horses...

[VennDygrem]

Cade smirks as he looks in Xuuvosic's direction.

"Well, I certainly wouldn't mind educating him in the apparently lost-art of Manners."

[PhaedrusXY]

Xuuvosic manages to "convince" an innkeeper that it's in his best interests to kick all of his other customers out in the street and rent you his entire establishment. He doesn't complain much after he sees what you're paying him, though. However, you notice that people don't seem as interested in money as they used to be... They're probably wondering if they'll ever even have a chance to buy anything with it. They seem to be more interested in trading for food, weapons, and other things that are more immediately useful, given the circumstances.

In a secluded chamber in the inn, Xuuvosic conducts his ghastly ritual, and the barghest's eyes open once more. He doesn't look exactly happy about it, though. He at first reaches out with his clawed hand as if to throttle Xuuvosic, but then pulls it back involuntarily as the struggle on his face is slowly replaced with dull resignation. He says "I see that there are indeed fates worse than death, and one has been reserved for me. What is thy bidding, Master?"

I never named him. So pick one.

On the second day you're in the city, as your construction project is nearing completion, Ris-Janna and Marlowe see a new spectacle of horror unfolding. As they round the corner of an alley, they see four dark, translucent figures rise from the ground around a pair of homeless vagabonds sheltering under an awning. The shadows descend upon the sleeping pair, and their cries are quickly silenced as they slump back to the ground. Within moments, two new shadowy figures join the others, and they all sink back into the ground and out of sight.

[Agita]

"We need to get out of this city," Ris-Janna simply states as she appears out of a shadow in the room. "It'll get taken over by shadows... in a few days... tops. Not that that's a bad thing... but I don't want to be here when it happens. How long will your suckers take to finish with that hole?"

[Kuroimaken]

"What makes you think we need to run? We can probably wring a reward or two out of the kobold if we get rid of his shadow problem in between the time we're here and the time it takes to finish the scaffolding."

[Bozwevial]

"I sincerely think you should reevaluate our chances, Raoul. From what I can tell, those shadows are able to quickly eliminate weaker prey, move around unseen and unheard, and convert their quarry into more of themselves. I cannot say how we might fare in a fight against even numbers, but they will grow in number more rapidly by the kill."

[Agita]

"Have you ever actually fought a shadow before? They hide in some solid thing like the ground or a wall... then they jump you and hide again. Also... they don't have a body... so good luck hurting them. Of course... they can hurt you just fine." After a pause, she looks over to Xuuvosic. "Can your... bitches have their strength sapped like living creatures?"

Vampires have the unliving subtype by Tome rules, so they'd still be vulnerable to shadows. Ghouls, I think, are the same.

[Kuroimaken]

"They ARE an annoying bunch, yes. But they're still unintelligent, acting upon instinct. Shouldn't be too difficult to entrap and destroy. Provided we have good bait, that is." He ponders, "Xuuvosic's minions shouldn't figure among their targets, as they lack a lifeforce to be drained. But then again, they might be controlled by someone else."

[HeadofVecna]

"Fuck that! This shit ain't our problem, and digging out hundreds, maybe thousands of Shadows won't help us find what we're fucking looking for. Everyone ready for the Underdark?"

[VennDygrem]

Cade looks down, troubled, and then back up once more.

"I'm afraid that, in this particular situation, I must agree. If we succeed in our pursuits, we may be able to erase this from happening in the first place. As terrible a prospect as it is, we have more pressing concerns at the moment."

He then looks away, clearly upset by the circumstances.

[Kuroimaken]

"Hey, I was just making a suggestion. I feel bored after all." Raoul shrugged. "Guess we could at least give our friend the kobold mayor a heads-up. If only to see the panic on his face."

[PhaedrusXY]

Not long after your discussion, the foreman of the work crew comes in and tells you all that your new construction is finished. As you  make your way to the pit, you hear screams coming from somewhere outside, and the foreman's face turns pale and he says "Oh god... what now?"

[HeadofVecna]

"Shadows. Shitloads of the motherfuckers are overrunning the city. You and your crew can come with us and live, but you'll have to obey orders. Otherwise ...", Xuuvosic shrugs, seeming to have already written off anyone left behind.

[PhaedrusXY]

He begins to blubber and says "OHMYGODYESPLEASESAVEUS! We'll obey! We'll do whatever you want!" As you're still walking and talking, you reach the room with the other men, and overhearing, many of them also begin to panic a bit, asking what they should do. A couple of them run screaming from the room about their families, but four, including the foreman, stay behind and begin to calm down and wait for your orders.

[Agita]

Ris-Janna makes a face as if she had just bitten into something incredibly sour. "They're too loud. They'd be more in the way... than anything else anyway... even as meatshields. We should just... leave them here." She doesn't even bother to whisper, though her voice is mostly drowned out by the screaming workers anyway.

[PhaedrusXY]

Most of them start crying even louder, with a couple of them actually breaking out into tears, but the foreman clamps his mouth shut and just glares at you silently.

[Kuroimaken]

"SILENCE!" Raoul commands.

"Listen to me! The more noise you make, the quicker you will attract the shadows. If you want to live, follow us QUIETLY. Otherwise we'll have no choice but to leave the laggards behind! Not one more peep! Do I make myself clear?!"

NOW YA LISTEN TO ME, MAGGOTS (Intimidate Check) (1d20+13=28)

[HeadofVecna]

Ris-Janna makes a face as if she had just bitten into something incredibly sour. "They're too loud. They'd be more in the way... than anything else anyway... even as meatshields. We should just... leave them here." She doesn't even bother to whisper, though her voice is mostly drowned out by the screaming workers anyway.

Xuuvosic grins, "Heh, that's my girl. But these sad motherfuckers are going to hurry to the bottom of the pit right now, stay real quiet, and keep out of the way, right? Any of them fail in any of that shit ... well you do what you want and my bitches stay full."

[PhaedrusXY]

The men look sufficiently cowed, and they hurry down into the pit.

[Bozwevial]

A small smile crosses Marlowe's face as he darts over to the door and carefully looks around it.

On the off chance that there is actually something nearby to hide from or spot:

Hide, Move Silently, Listen, Spot (1d20+25=27, 1d20+23=37, 1d20+13=20, 1d20+13=21)

[PhaedrusXY]

Nope. Nothing there. Just your paranoia.