A Step Into Shadow

For several moments, Arran stared at the ominous dark mass that lay at the center of the space. The knowledge that it was a connection to a Shadow Realm should have comforted him — he used Shadow Essence every day, after all. And yet, even looking at it caused him to feel an almost instinctive sense of dread.

Finally, he tore his eyes away from the darkness and turned to Karanos. "How dangerous is it?"

There was no need to ask whether it was dangerous — just the look of it made that all too clear. And if Karanos tried to deny its danger, Arran would know the black mass was a death trap.

But the white-eyed mage made no attempt to conceal the truth. "Very," he said. "With my protection, you stand a good chance of making it out again, but I cannot guarantee that either of us will survive. There are enemies inside that neither swords nor magic can harm, and our lives will depend on avoiding them."