Morale is still high. The weather even seems to be cooperating, because the day is a bit cooler than usual. Marching is a bit of a drudge, but Rainblade, ever intent on keeping the group’s morale up, manages to find some fresh dinosaur eggs for food.
As the group nears the end of its march for the day, Malcolm has a sudden, frightening realization: the cooler temperature is part of a cold air front primed to mix with the warm, wet air of the coast. A storm–and likely a big one— is incoming. The group debates what to do: head southwest toward the mountains, or north to the nearer jungle. Either way, Marchmain is insistent that the group does not return to the valley. After some discussion, Marchmain realizes he and Doz shared similar dreams: first of a shadow giant, and then a shadow engulfing all the shadows of the valley.
The group gathers their gear and presses onward to the north. The slog is brutal, and gets worse as they ascend the slopes of the valley toward the jungle. Marchmain insists that the group push inward to the jungle to distance themselves from the valley, and the group agrees.
Finally, they make it far enough to settle, and Hamish sets the group to digging makeshift irrigation ditches and constructing what shelter they can to protect against the rain. They deploy the rain catchers and check everyone’s gear.
Strangely, the jungle is utterly silent, and shortly after the group sets to working, Anton feels as if he is being watched. Malcolm and Rainblade, and then Hamish notice, too. Rainblade’s fur bristles.
At the very edge of the fire light, the group can just make up distortions in the light: pools of darkness. Rainblade begins casting detect magic and creeping toward the inky pools. As she does, the darkness begins to take shape: dozens, no, hundreds of shadow figures surround the camp.
What will happen to our heroes? Tune in next week to Tomb of Annihilation to find out!
Shadows gather as the group weighs their options. Anton imbues some of the groups belongings with light, and Hamish gathers torches to create a perimeter of light. The shadows creep ever closer, and finally Rainblade hatches a plan. The group holds their lights aloft and tries to move through the shadows. The shadows part, and form a pair of rows like a gauntlet. Rainblade leads the way, and as she does, the shadows reach out with grasping hands. As they latch onto each member of the party, each person goes catatonic.
The group gathers themselves and attempts to outrun the shadows, and the shadows give chase. Malcolm stumbles and the shadows swarm him. He falls into a catatonic stupor, and the group rushes over to fend off the shadows and grab Malcolm. They flee through the jungle, but the shadows overtake the group. They point toward the fallen and one of them reaches forward to Anton. Reflexively, Anton raises his arm to shield himself, and the shadow grabs his arm. His eyes flutter and falls unconscious. Rainblade lashes out at the shadows and Hamish helps Anton. The group flees and the shadows continue their relentless pursuit.
The group grows wearier and wearier as they fight off shadows during their flight from the shadows. Doz does his best to carry Malcolm, but the shadows surround him and he collapses under their attacks. As he regains consciousness, he shouts that he is there to stop Ras Nsi (“Brad”), and the shadows hesitate. Doz continues to explain his quest to stop Brad, and the shadows recede into the jungle. Exhausted, the group tosses bedrolls and succumbs to sleep.