The core area of the Life Greenhouse.
Amid a swarm of busy automata, the Scholar was concentrating on adjusting the parameters of a device. The old halfling was so focused that he didn't notice the unusually active shadow creeping up on him.
He even ignored the sharp warning from his "good buddy" revival program, continuing to adjust the strange parameter before him that refused to fall into place no matter what he tried.
Only when the shadow suddenly erupted did he react. The formless thing turned into a writhing swarm of snakes, ready to swallow the Scholar whole. But the instant that ominous force drew near, a layer of pale blue light sprang up from beneath the Scholar's feet and shielded him. The shadow-devouring snakes slammed into it, shattering themselves to pieces.
"You should have picked a better time."
The Scholar adjusted his engineer's glasses and said:
"This is the Life Greenhouse, sir, a place dear to the Creator. No force of Chaos can easily pass through here. So if you meant to joke with me this way, all I can say is that you succeeded in making me laugh."
"Ha! Of course not. I was just saying hello to my good subordinate."
A familiar voice emerged from the scattered shadows. Then, in the form of a projection, it shaped itself into a man. He wore an Eden District councilor's robe and carried a refined ebony cane, looking every bit the gentleman.
The little notched lapel and black-and-red tie especially made the stern-faced middle-aged man look like a successful person of lofty status.
But the unique, mysterious, profound sigil on his forehead gave away his true identity.
Look closely, and the serpentine sigil contained at least three symbols of the shadows of Chaos. That proved this "big shot" had drawn