SAGA - Curse of the Shadow

In the Second Age, the Order and a fragile alliance of men, elves, and dwarves defeat the last great threat from the orcs and dark elves. Their victory allows civilization to begin rebuilding, but an ancient evil is rekindled in the Western lands. Shadow Cabal operatives begin moving in the shadows, prompting the Order to dispatch agents to uncover their origin and plans.

Nemyt Akaia hunts the fugitive orc bandit Fangtor Bloodmoon in the wastelands and brings him down with a ballista after a brutal chase. Fangtor dies, but not before curses Nemyt with the black sigil of the Shadow Cabal on her left forearm. The mark marks the beginning of Nemyt's struggle with a growing shadow within her.

Keltus tracks the dwarf Gyarmuck to his cave seeking information about the Shadow. Gyarmuck boasts that the Death God will awaken and that a mystic vessel will arrive via Kullimon's raiders, signaling the Cabal's power. In the confrontation, a homemade bomb explodes, blowing off Gyarmuck's arm and seemingly killing him, while the Cabal's threat persists.

Mulgrut's mutinous leadership fractures the orc horde as Mulgrut schemes for wealth. Kullimon is betrayed, overwhelmed, and captured after the raid collapses, leaving the horde divided and vulnerable. The fallout signals a shift in control among the orcs and a new obstacle for the protagonists.

At General Drennon's outpost, Keltus pressures for the chance to question the imprisoned Shadow agent Maggut Gulbrow to learn the Cabal's plans. Nemyt is brought in and chained in the same cell, marked by the Shadow, intertwining their fates. The growing Cabal presence tightens the stakes for both characters.

A veiled woman with a handcart confronts Keltus and Nemyt, warning that death comes to those defined by their hearts. She disappears as quickly as she appeared, leaving a chilling reminder of the costs ahead. The encounter nudges Keltus toward risking uneasy alliances to fight the Shadow.

Keltus secures permission from the prophetess to take Nemyt into his custody, and they form a tentative alliance to infiltrate the Shadow. They recruit Kullimon to reach the Bleeding Stone, where crucial steps—blood and Maggut's gold—will be used to obtain the sacred vessel. The trio advances with grim resolve toward a dangerous plan.

At the Bleeding Stone, Nemyt begins the task of collecting blood while the group securing Maggut's gold hidden nearby. A horde of undead and an Abomination attacks, wounding Keltus before Kullimon defeats the monster. Nemyt returns with Maggut's gold, and they press on toward Garret's Crossing.

At Garret's Crossing, Mulgrut's orcs prepare for the exchange of the bone-vessel. The real Shadow agent arrives, interrupts the deal, and seizes the vessel and the ashes. Nemyt is wounded and captured as the agent departs toward the Dimwood Pass, leaving the trio's plan in disarray.

Keltus pursues the Shadow agent to Dimwood Pass to recover the vessel, but is defeated and stabbed. He is cursed with Goth Azul's mark, rendering him unable to attack the agent as blood and vessel slip away. The agent departs, and Keltus languishes, near death and marked for undeath.

Kullimon pushes toward Mulgrut's horde, crossing treacherous waters and facing evil mermaids. He arrives in time to free Nemyt from Mulgrut's clutches, slay Mulgrut's captain, and turn the tide as the orc forces scramble under the Shadow's grip. Nemyt's survival hinges on Kullimon's timely intervention.

As Keltus lies near death, the veiled prophetess reveals herself as Tarsa, the goddess of light, or her emissary. She proclaims him her oldest and only friend, lifts his fate from darkness, and enchants his arm to grant a radiant mark of light. The oath renews his resolve and reshapes his path against Goth Azul.

The trio reaches the Pit of Demons for the final ritual. Nemyt and Kullimon confront the Shadow agents while Mulgrut's life is cut by Kullimon's blade. The avatar of Goth Azul is slain by Keltus wielding a spear of light forged by Tarsa. Nemyt dies in Kullimon's arms, but Keltus's prayers bring her back to life, and the trio escapes with Mulgrut's gold, ending the Shadow's immediate threat.