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Description
Inlé landed on his back in a forest in Maine. Something was flung from his leg when he landed. Rolling back over his shoulders, he rose into a defensive crouch. Stuck on a tree like some sort of sappy cyst was a creature of utter shadow.

At a glance, the creature appeared black, but in truth it was utterly devoid of color. It had come from a light-less place, and so had been created from stuff with no relation to light. As such small conflicts with the natural world worked to right themselves, the dark creature seemed to flicker through varying colors and shades, an oil-slick onyx boil.

When the creature began to move, it took a quadrupedal form and ran at Inlé. He stayed still, watching the thing as it charged, dashing between his legs and running into a tree. It squashed, reformed, and charged in another direction, then another, then another. Its only sense being touch, the shadow beast was overwhelmed by the sheer motion of the slightly windy wood.

Inlé chanted while watching the thing bounce against the trees. After a few dozen passes, the creature ran blindly at Inlé. The wanderer was prepared, and grabbed the thing up in one hand as he finished the quiet chanting.

As soon as he grabbed the creature, it responded by stretching itself out, then wrapping around its attacker. His left hand completely engulfed, Inlé felt it begin to burn. He could see his hand through the creature, and he saw the flesh become pale enough that he could see his bones.

The Worldwanderer quickly drew a circle in the air before him with his right hand, and passed his left through. His left hand--and the shadow creature--vanished. Inlé shook his arm and pulled it out clean and bright. Too bright. The small creature had caused Inlé's hand to glow dully, and he bled from a small tear across the back of his hand. The glow was little more than that of a candle, but it was more than enough to draw unwanted attention, especially in the fading daylight.

Ignoring the wound, Inlé sat and once again pulled the map from his sleeve. "Inveni. Claíomh Solais. Deprehende." The pendant spun, then focused on a small area. When the pendant stopped, Inlé said, "Inveni. Choloepus avorsus. Vicinum. Deprehende." The pendant's circle grew slightly larger.

With a sigh, Inlé stood and started north with his hands in his pockets. It was only a few minutes before he reached a small road. A sign beside the road read WELCOME TO ROME, MAINE. Inlé crossed the road, then turned northwest, staying in the woods to avoid any houses nearby. The pendant pulled Inlé on until he saw the sword jutting from a rock ahead of him.

Description
Inlé landed on his back in a forest in Maine. Something was flung from his leg when he landed. Rolling back over his shoulders, he rose into a defensive crouch. Stuck on a tree like some sort of sappy cyst was a creature of utter shadow.

At a glance, the creature appeared black, but in truth it was utterly devoid of color. It had come from a light-less place, and so had been created from stuff with no relation to light. As such small conflicts with the natural world worked to right themselves, the dark creature seemed to flicker through varying colors and shades, an oil-slick onyx boil.

When the creature began to move, it took a quadrupedal form and ran at Inlé. He stayed still, watching the thing as it charged, dashing between his legs and running into a tree. It squashed, reformed, and charged in another direction, then another, then another. Its only sense being touch, the shadow beast was overwhelmed by the sheer motion of the slightly windy wood.

Inlé chanted while watching the thing bounce against the trees. After a few dozen passes, the creature ran blindly at Inlé. The wanderer was prepared, and grabbed the thing up in one hand as he finished the quiet chanting.

As soon as he grabbed the creature, it responded by stretching itself out, then wrapping around its attacker. His left hand completely engulfed, Inlé felt it begin to burn. He could see his hand through the creature, and he saw the flesh become pale enough that he could see his bones.

The Worldwanderer quickly drew a circle in the air before him with his right hand, and passed his left through. His left hand--and the shadow creature--vanished. Inlé shook his arm and pulled it out clean and bright. Too bright. The small creature had caused Inlé's hand to glow dully, and he bled from a small tear across the back of his hand. The glow was little more than that of a candle, but it was more than enough to draw unwanted attention, especially in the fading daylight.

Ignoring the wound, Inlé sat and once again pulled the map from his sleeve. "Inveni. Claíomh Solais. Deprehende." The pendant spun, then focused on a small area. When the pendant stopped, Inlé said, "Inveni. Choloepus avorsus. Vicinum. Deprehende." The pendant's circle grew slightly larger.

With a sigh, Inlé stood and started north with his hands in his pockets. It was only a few minutes before he reached a small road. A sign beside the road read WELCOME TO ROME, MAINE. Inlé crossed the road, then turned northwest, staying in the woods to avoid any houses nearby. The pendant pulled Inlé on until he saw the sword jutting from a rock ahead of him.