Shadows of the Past, by Chris O'Kane

Story name: Shadows of the Past
Author: Chris O'Kane
Publication date: July 2, 1999 (on TSA-Talk)

Date: mid-summer, 706 CR (2-3 days)
Location: Metamor Valley (Haunted Woods), Metamor Keep (Deaf Mule)

Overview

Misha and his three scout friends explore the haunted ruins of Mol Dahir.

+ Story info - Spoilers!

Summary

Misha, Caroline, Craig, and Matthias are heading into the Haunted Woods to scout out the ruins of a Suielman fortress called Mol Dahir. A creature watches them from the shadows, studying their weapons and how to attack, but takes no action.

They arrive in the overgrown ruins and make camp in the courtyard. At midnight, they see the ghosts of the villagers as they relive the moment the fortress was attacked.

The next morning, despite getting little sleep, Misha divides them into two teams to do a quick inspection of the ruins, unaware that the creature still watches them. As they each finish up, a score of lutins led by an ogre ambush them.

As the four scouts hold their ground, the creature suddenly kills the ogre, and the lutins scream and flee. The scouts thank the creature, a living shadow that reshapes into a fox, who accepts their thanks and leaves.

At the Deaf Mule, Misha returns from his research to his Long Scouts. He spoke to Raven, who told him that the creature was a Taugwaith, and Rickkter steps in, adding that they are guardian spirits and good omens. He is amazed that they've seen one, and wishes he was there. Misha tells him he may get a chance, as Thomas has approved a rebuilding of the fortress.

Characters

Main characters:

• Misha: Leader of the Long Scouts, a fox morph.
  • He wears camo and chain mail, and carries his 5 foot jet-black axe Whisper and a long bow.
  • He moves silently, without rustling a single leaf.

Supporting:

• Charles Matthias: A Long-Scout-in-training, a rat morph, and Rickkter's enemy.
  • He is barely 4 feet tall.
  • He wears camo without armor, and carries a wooden staff with four knives in his belt.
• Caroline: A Long Scout, an otter morph, and Misha's girlfriend.
  • She wears camo and chain mail, and carries a long bow and a long sword.
• Craig: A Long Scout, a prairie dog morph.
  • He wears camo and leather armor, and carries a shortsword and a short bow.
• A Taugwaith, or "forest shadow", of Mol Dahir. Rickkter calls it "shadow fox". They are guardian spirits, and considered good omens. It watched the invaders of its territory, before deciding to side with the scouts and attack the lutins.
  • Its solidified shape is of a coal black fox, with glowing blue eyes. It spoke with a deep voice.
  • It attacks by covering its victim's throat and face and draining its life.

Minor characters:

• Rickkter: A mercenary, a raccoon morph, Misha's friend and Matthias's enemy. He has heard of Taugwaiths, but only as campfire stories.

Cameo:

• George: The patrol master of Metamor Keep, a jackal morph. He is seen briefly at the Deaf Mule.

Important mention:

• Raven: The high priestess of Metamor Keep, a wolf morph. She is familiar with different kinds of spirits.
  • Craig calls her "the Ice Queen"; she comes off as aloof and unfriendly to people.

Referenced:

• Coe: A raccoon morph.
• Thomas: The Duke of Metamor Keep. He approves the rebuilding of Mol Dahir at the end.

Locations

• Much of the northern part of Metamor Valley is not yet fully mapped out; only the general lay of the land is known.
• The Forest of Ghosts is a dead forest north of Mycransburg and south of Giant's Dike. There is no wildlife, and all the trees are dead.
• The overgrown ruins of an old Suielman Empire road leads into the forest, to the ruins of Mol Dahir, meaning "Death Hill", a 2-hour walk from Metamor Keep. In the Suielman Empire, it was known as "Fortress 21".
  • Most of the structure is overgrown and in ruins, though a few remnants of its past are visible. A shallow ditch, once a moat, surrounds the fortress. The east half used to house a great hall.

History

• In CR 145, the Giant's Dike fell. The soldiers of Mol Dahir either fled or were killed in the long siege afterwards.
• In 702 CR, George took over as patrol master of Metamor Keep. Patrols had been kept relatively close to the Keep at that point; after George took over, patrols began heading north, up to and past the Forest of Ghosts.
• In 704 CR, the Long Scouts convinced Duke Thomas to build the outpost known as Castle Outpost. This was their first outpost in the northern part of Metamor Valley.

Story Connections

• Rickkter says, upon hearing of their encounter with a Taugwaith, he might reconsider Misha's offer, referring to the offer in Stepping Up To Destiny (or Fun and Games).

Points of Interest

• It is a moonless, starless night, though whether that is because of the weather or Mol Dahir is not clear.
• Misha has heard of ghosts in Mol Dahir, but only expected footsteps and voices. Instead, the ghosts sounded vivid and lifelike, with the brief visual appearance of a soldier killing the lutins before being killed himself.