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As the group moved behind Aegean, they got a good look at the charred ground left in the wake of his powers. Bones and blackened weapons and armor littered their path, hellfire still licking from them in wisps, speaking of ambushes effortlessly prevented by Aegean's newly revealed powers. As the group traveled, Ohriman spoke, deciding that these people could now be trusted and were in it for the long haul.

"It is said that the lost kingdom of Shandalar is still haunted by the damned soul of Prince Valero, cursed to watch his inheritance rot around him for his treason, at least according the the stories." He consults a book that he had pulled out, then continues. "Lore does not say exactly how to break the curse holding Shandalar, but it does say 'If you find the Heart you will have the key,' whatever that is supposed to mean. I'm not sure what the Heart is supposed to look like, but king's citadel seems like it would be the heart of his kingdom, so that was where I had intended on us looking first. I don't know what kinds of enemies to expect once we get to Shandalar, but at least the portal in this ruin will save us years of looking through the frozen northlands."

He stows the book away as Aegean breaks through the treeline. You see a maasive, squat building that looks like a mix between a church or some kind of temple and a pyramid missing its point. Set facing the treeline the group emerges from is a massive set of stone doors, easily twenty feet tall. Streching to either side of the door is a row of stone pillars of simple design to support a large overhang, some of which have toppled over or otherwise crumbled where they stood. Amongst the snow covering the ruin, you can easily tell that this vast structure has seen better days and that the centuries have taken their toll. In many sections, you can see that stones have fallen out from the walls to pile up at the base of the structure and even the left-hand corner of the ruin has caved in. Looking back to the doors, you see that while they appear shut, the door on the right is at an angle as if it is partially open. Although you see no undead stalking around and you don't feel as though you are being watched, a general sense of wrongness permeates the area, confirming Mordheim's observations. 

"You really have to admire his enthusiasm, don't you? He's gonna wreck that door! Although, I think we should keep on our guard. Selly, did you want to scout around a little while Aegy breaks us an entrance? I'll just stay back here with the boys." Rani stashes her knife and thunderstone, instead retrieving her bag of holy grenades and arming herself with one.

Aegean quickly smashed a large hole through the center of where the doors meet, watchign them crumble before him without releasing any magical energies. However, as Aegean broke through the door and sunlight pierced the darkness on the other side, the genasi felt something. A presence of some kind, hidden from him, was brushing his mind as though making itself aware of Aegean. the contact was brief, and the presence retreated immediately, but Aegean could feel its anger and hatred for the world around it.

The humans stand close by Rani, waiting for Aegean to finish. Ohriman is consulting the tome he was holding earlier while Bastun looked all around uneasily, as though every shadow and snow mound was about to leap up and attack him. Mordheim stood calmy off to the side with his arms crossed.

Scelestus saw nothing lying in wait in the shadow realm around the ruin. But as she glanced over at Aegean, she saw a haziness around him, just roiling energy with glowing red eyes staring at him, shadowy arms held open as if embracing him. It looked up and saw her then fled back into the darkness of the ruin. When her shadows entered the buiding to scout it out, they saw nothing inside the entrance and found no trace of whatever she saw.

"Rani something is here just like Aegean has explained. I watch it on the other side embracing him. Whatever demon boy has the thng likes which isn't good. But I can't tell what it was or where it went. We should keep moving because I have a bad feeling about this."


Neva stood up, she dismissed her shadows and walked toward Aegean's doorway. She slipped on in scanning and waited for Rani to give further orders.