"Are you okay, Mort? Did the little buggers get to you?" Solrisa asks, offering a hand to help the man to his feet.
Mortimer tries to raise his hand to take Sol's, but initially only manages to stiffly bend his arm at the elbow. He reaches up, takes her hand and tries to pull himself up, but instead unintentionally starts to pull her down onto him. He then lets go and groans. He lets his arm drop back to the ground limply and sighs.
Damnit. ' gonna have to pace myself just to get out of here..."What's wrong? Is it the 'down there' itches? Lemme see..."
Oh, Sol -- maybe not in front of everyone -- He lies very still with his eyes closed as Solrisa heals him, quietly resisting the urge to deliberately pull her.
"Ah!! Thanks Solrisa! That's much better." Contrary to what he cheerily says, he continues to groggily lay on the ground.
"ASCARIA! MORT IS BROKEN! HELP!"
"Nah, it'll be fine, it's barely a scratch -- look," he mutters, turning his forearm so she can see where he was bitten. "I'm feeling much better already."
He doesn't even try to sit up.
"Thank you. I have long held that soft-skins are blind to my kind's struggles. But you have fought alongside us now. Not only that, you helped to protect our future, our children. We are indebted to you." Shesht approaches each of you, and extends a scaly hand.”
”It is boon when new friends are in the right place at the right time. Thank you for your good will.”
Eri returns the shake with vigor. He also puts in the neck wrap, but without a twirl.
As the various armor items are passed around he looks at his torn clothing with real battle bloodstains and then longingly at the protection they provide.
I’m the new guy. I’ll need to wait my turn.
Tynan graciously accepts Shesht's handshake, and the proffered neck wrap. He puts it on, and nods to the lizardman.
Tynan speaks to his companions. "It looks like we are on the right track after the source of the worms after all. Sol is right... we need to find the dragon."
I can't believe I just agreed with Sol...
"ASCARIA! MORT IS BROKEN! HELP!" Sol looks to see if the gnome can help.
"Everybody relax. Mort is grievously injured that's true - his constitution has been drained by those undead things. But he'll be right as rain tomorrow. In the meantime, Mort, you're going to have to walk with us. We need to get back, and we've lots of wounded."
Ascaria thinks a moment, "Unless you think it's safe to camp here? Should we? Could we? Lots of our injured will be better tomorrow with a bit of food and water, and my ministrations."
He looks to the party, and Shesht, for thoughts.
Hourpen nods, "This seems a safer area to stay now, among family. I don't know about you all, but I don't relish the idea of trudging back the way we came spent, hungry, and injured."
"Are you sure it's not the 'down there' itches?" Solrisa asks. "I keep seeing him itch." Solrisa frowns momentarily at Mort, then smiles at the man.
"Come, let the Dragon help you up, Mort!" Solrisa smiles even more broadly, more innocently, more happily.
She places her hands on Mort and calls upon the Dragon to help.
con healing + remove fatigue
"Do you feel it, Mort!? Do you!?! That's the Dragon!"
Solrisa again tries to help Mort up, offering her stonework-calloused hand.
Shesht and Hishka invite you to rest for the night within the Twisted Branch dome. Evening has come, and the Mistmarsh has veiled Herself again. Marzena and the two surviving soldiers have no words, so have no objections to the rescue party's decision.
"If we can stay here overnight, we shall, thank you for the generous offer. We've wounded who could use a good nights sleep before traveling onward."
Ascaria takes the best of the quarters they're given for the wounded and sickly. He spends the rest of his evening treating them all, moving from one to another, feeding, watering, and checking bandages.
At one point he dumps a little dirt into a large container of water and casts Enhance Water to create a full-bodied wine. He uses it medicinally for his patients, and shares the rest with the party as a toast to their success. He likely has to cast it twice...
He casts Purify Food and Drink on all their consumables to help cut down on disease creeping in while the injured are weakened.
"Sol is right...we need to find the dragon."
Solrisa nods, smiling at Tynan.
"Oh yeah, we need to find and kill all the bad dragons. Especially ones that leave unhappy bad eggs in places they shouldn't."
"I don't know about you all, but I don't relish the idea of trudging back the way we came spent, hungry, and injured."
Solrisa smiles at Hourpen, agreeing.
"Could they make cake? That would be good! Let's see if we can get cake!" Solrisa seems really excited about the promised cake.
Solrisa goes to work cleaning up the wurms and checking eggs, often looking at things through the Dragon's Eyes to see if any evil remains.
Hourpen groans as he looks thinks of the many broken eggs and corrupted spawnlings.
"I don't think I want anything to do with breaking eggs for quite a while. Maybe our new friends might be able to suggest a sweet that would meet your fancy?"
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Unless you think it's safe to camp here? Should we? Could we? Lots of our injured will be better tomorrow with a bit of food and water, and my ministrations."
Mortimer points to the floor underneath him and nods. "Here, please."
"Are you sure it's not the 'down there' itches?" Solrisa asks. "I keep seeing him itch."
There's definitely an itch , but it isn't that kind of itch.
Mortimer sighs.She places her hands on Mort and calls upon the Dragon to help.
Slightly taken aback momentarily as Sol touches him, Mortimer instinctively tries to press himself into the floor, but then relaxes as the Restoration surges through him. The image of himself sitting on a green hillside clad with wildflowers springs into his head. The Sun brilliantly and blindingly emerges and bathes him in a healing light. Or, maybe it was Solrisa's golden locks?
Oh, yeah! That's just what I needed!
"Do you feel it, Mort!? Do you!?! That's the Dragon!"
He takes Sol's hand and almost springs up off the floor to his feet, clearly less disoriented.
"Thanks Solrisa, that was -- great. I didn't even know you could do that!"Pacing himself, he spends his energy helping to care for the wounded in whatever manner that he is capable, fetching supplies and whatever else is needed.
He then prepares himself, Cinder and others for tomorrow's travel back to the Keep before bedding down for the night.
"to create a full-bodied wine. He uses it medicinally ”
”Yes, please! I could use some medicine!”
Eri takes a long pull and sits back to let it roll down his gullet. He feels the warm glow and lets it melt his insides into a more well-mixed batter. A slow, steady smile creeps into his jaw and lingers and gets stoked by a sip now and again.
Solrisa's look about the eggs finds nothing remaining, save for a brownish-green paste coating several intact eggs, and floating on the waters.
The paste is... special. It's something raw, something transmutable. With a decent Crafting in Alchemy, or possibly even Brew Potion, and this substance can be used against the living form of these creatures.
The egg chamber suffered the loss of twenty-five of its numbers outright from the undead transformation rendered by the worms. The fires launched or started by the few in the party managed to destroy another twenty-five. This leaves the lizardfolk with the custody of the remaining one hundred and fifty.
The evening is part mourning, part celebration for the lizardfolk. They convert the front room in the northern section of the dome, the harpys' previous dwelling, to your room for the night. The room is able to accommodate you all, including Cinder. Marzena, Davy, and Elliot lie together, slight looks of pain across their strained faces, but no complaints.
Throughout the late evening, into early morning, the lizardfolk continue to be active. From the looks of it, they're mobilizing. The conversations have come to this. Earlier, Hishka and Shesht made impassioned arguments to convince the others of their new reality. Several remain unconvinced, but their minority is respectful of the new leadership. Ascaria is able to understand one or two votes to slay you all for waking the great evil, but they are quickly quieted, and reason seems to prevent further talk on the matter.
Morning slowly seeps into the Twisted Branch Lair. The trek back to Blackwall Keep is somewhat subdued. Marzena nods in appreciation as she's allowed to ride Cinder. Davy and Elliot walk in silence, occasionally stumbling through the muddy waters of the Mistmarsh. Marzena insists that she can walk, giving the men a turn to rest on horseback, but the two wave her off, often.
The day is largely uneventful, until the group wanders into a pair of large constrictor snakes. Several swift strokes later, and the two reptiles lie dead in the waters. Male and female, the female bringing forth living baby boas from her slit-open side. They wriggle away into the waters, presuming you allow them to live.
You manage another uncomfortable night in the Mistmarsh. Tynan helps to secure the bedding, and Eri provides the cleaning the next morning, to avoid the dampness and the discomfort.
Mid-morning, you manage to cross paths, yet again, with a scouting party of four lizardfolk. Outnumbering their party, they watch you pass, silently. They bear the same coloration as before, and they seem to have spotted several of your hide neckwraps.
It is early evening when you finally make the clearing, and Blackwall Keep comes into sight. You are sighted, and the door is open when you arrive at the top of the hill.
Sampson has the rescued brought to the basement, where they are brought to their beds. He orders dinner prepared, then invites you upstairs.
"Thank you for bringing them back. We were starting to fear you'd been lost as well. What can you tell us? Should we expect a fight shortly?"
Weapon Equipped = None
Cold Iron Bullets (5/5), Silver Bullets (5/5)
Conditions = None
Life Link (5)(100’) = Eri, Hourpen, Mort, Sol, Tynan
Channel Energy (9/9) (DC: 18)(Avoid 6) (3d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Rod of Extend (lesser) (3/3)
Melee Attack: BAB +3, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 5, Concentration +11)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (16): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Spark, Stabilize
First (17): (8/8) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Undead, Diagnose Disease, Enhance Water, Liberating Command
Second (18): (6/6) Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Lesser Restoration, Pilfering Hand
Ascaria continues to tend to the injured, though there’s little he can do about hunger and thirst but provide food and drink - which he does, and frequently. He largely walks on in silence and though for a time he has some interest in drawing their battles, he resists exposing his drawing supplies to the wet of the swamp.
He’s relieved when they make it back to the keep, and says so. ”What a relief. I wouldn’t have thought so sorry a structure would look so good.” he muses.
"Thank you for bringing them back. We were starting to fear you'd been lost as well. What can you tell us? Should we expect a fight shortly?"
”No. In fact we’re authorized to talk of peace. The remaining lizard folk are under new management and have no interest in further battle with us. The siege is over!”
Solrisa thanks the lizardfolk for their hostility hospitality and urges them to call upon her if they find where the black dragon might be.
Solrisa switches back to her lighter armor for the return trip, only donning it again when they reach more solid ground. She is pretty happy with herself for having *two* armors, when Rae mostly only had one.
Upon her return, she answers questions with a smile, talking over the deeds of others and is happy to spar with others if they wish it. She misses her sparring sessions with her sister, but is happy to take her lumps from the soldiers if they wish it.
"The siege is over!"
Solrisa smiles happily at the news and her part in it.
"Now what do we do? Do we go find Allustan?"
Eri walks in silence, too.
This has been a wild couple of days. So much action, I think I like it. I sure need a bed. I might sleep for a week if I get a chance.
Nodding at Solrisa's question. "Yes, Allustan. I'm worried my commander is going to send others after me. I've strayed quite a bit from my original orders."
Mortimer plods through the swamp, leading Cinder by the reigns, making sure the ride can be as smooth as possible for the charge she bears. When they happen upon the boa pair, he hurls the Trident at them and is pleased when the weapon returns to him on the next round. "That was easy!" he exclaims, gripping it tightly, preferring to pummel the boas with his bare fists.
"You have a moment to talk?"
"At the risk of sounding naïve, does that mean you are actually betrothed to a Dragon?"
"Maybe. Mum didn't really explain. 'Promised' can have many meanings and I've never bothered to ask. I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise! I do love surprises, don't you Mort?"
Mortimer scowls, not liking the sound of something. We'll just see about that.
He asks Solrisa quietly:
"Do you -- do you remember how your -- uh -- Mum phrased it at least? Did she say "Oh, I think someday you'll make a fine wife for a Dragon", or was it something more like "Oh, I think someday The Dragon will want retribution for some thing Mummy did, and Solrisa -- you'd make for a great sacrifice what with your perfect breasts and all..."?"
" I mean brains, not uh, ... " What in the Hells am I saying?
Mortimer ears turn beet red. He tries to shrug off his embarrassment.
"I mean -- do you remember at all?"
When they arrive at the Keep, though he knows it's none of his business, he nonetheless keeps a subtle eye on Sampson and Marzena.
"Now what do we do? Do we go find Allustan?"
He remembers what Shesht and Hishka said about the nature of the Black Dragon's entrance to their elaborate but cozy abode, and wonders what all that was about.
Was the Dragon and Her Wormy Agenda trying to push her way further and furher North and West?The Keep! The Siege!
If that's the case, did Allustan and his brother know anything?! Presumably, there's an Army on it's way to Blackwall Keep! Is it really to fight a Dragon?!
"It'd be nice to fend off a Dragon with a whole army, not in a swamp or cavern, but we could go back if It doesn't find us here first."
"Yes, Allustan. I'm worried my commander is going to send others after me. I've strayed quite a bit from my original orders."
Mortimer stares at Hourpen for an uncomfortably long moment as if debating whether or not he should speak.
Doesn't sound to me like your commander is really doing you any favors... How many times did you almost die? That Commander guy must be a real jerk!He shakes his head as if to derail a train of thought.
"I was hoping they'd be here by now. How long were we gone? Hey, Henpeck, can your bird do a little recon and see if there is anything in the way of an Army approaching?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Solrisa smiles and listens to Mortimer, happy to have a chit chat before bed.
"Do you remember at all?"
"Oh, what Mum said? Oh yeah, that's a fun story!" Solrisa smiles and tucks some of her blonde hair behind her ear. Solrisa closes her eyes and remembers. She speaks, but it's not exactly her voice, but it is also her mother's.
A young Solrisa rolls this way and that in crib, sometimes bumping into a larger, angry baby in the crib next to her. Her slowly forming golden curls are a sharp contrast to her sisters. Her proud mother stands over her two precious twins, smiling over them...
"Rae was the child Dandi wanted, the one she bent and broke the laws of nature to have... but it took powerful magic to have the child of a dead man, and even Dandi couldn't do it alone. She'd needed help, and so she'd gone to the bargain with the Dragon. For a Year and a day she visited Hermea astrally, in deep diplomatic talks, until at last, Mengkare agreed; the dragon would provide the necessary solution, but for a cost. Dandi would have to agree to have two children... Barael's, and the Dragon's. They would be raised together, as much blood sisters as any... But one day, Mengkare would send for his child, and she would have to attend him in Hermea. Dandi would get the first years, but Sol's father would have his time as well."
"She vowed never to tell the girls, and yet, the truth of it crept into the tales she'd tell... She told them stories of princesses and swans, of wolves and cats, all with siblings that loved each other dearly, but one always had a different prophetic past...and a would eventually be called to a different future."
"In some, the other sister would follow, to stand with her sibling in defiance of prophesy...and in some, she would take her own path. But in all, though they were as different as night and day, they were sisters of their mother's heart, and, (and this part, she stressed most emphatically), nothing could destroy that bond."
"One day, though...not long before they set off for this place in fact, Sol remembers catching a gleam of gold as bright as her hair, through the trees. That night, she dreamt of flying to an island far away..When she woke, Sol told her mother...and that is when her mother told her about the Dragon."
"Dandi put in motion, the events that made the sisters decide to move to where they are now... to buy the sister's more time together, and more time to grow...before they must face Sol's father..."
Solrisa seems to stop talking, remembering all that she can. She looks at Mort with her big eyes.
"Yep. So I'm promised to the Dragon. Mum said so."
Ascaria, having nothing else to do, listens to the speech, spoken in that tone everyone always affects when telling a long remembered story.
"Yep. So I'm promised to the Dragon. Mum said so."
"Dragon's shouldn't meddle in the lives of humanoids. That's not right." he mutters, a little angry at such a bargain.
It's slavery pure and simple! he keeps to himself.
"Dragons shouldn't meddle in the lives of humanoids. That's not right."
Solrisa smiles at Ascaria.
"Oh, it's okay Ascaria. Mum said it was fine and the right thing to do!" Solrisa says with a cheery smile, as if that explained everything because Mum couldn't be wrong. No, Mum is never wrong.
~~~
"But one day, Mengkare would send for his child, and she would have to attend him in Hermea..."
In an attempt to hide his elation upon realizing the Dragon in question is only Solrisa's father, Mortimer briefly looks away from Solrisa while tugging at one of his cowlicks. Once recovered, he then resumes giving her his full attention.
Solrisa seems to stop talking, remembering all that she can. She looks at Mort with her big eyes.
His eyes look deeply into hers, and he reassures himself that she's quite serious about everything that was said. Nonetheless he finds his eyebrow arching under its own will and he fails to suppress the action. Yes ... but... His eyes then disengage from hers as they dart off to the side. ... this is not right...
"Yep. So I'm promised to the Dragon. Mum said so."
Mortimer closes his eyes and shakes his head in dissent.
"Dragons shouldn't meddle in the lives of humanoids. That's not right."Solrisa smiles at Ascaria.
"Oh, it's okay Ascaria. Mum said it was fine and the right thing to do!" Solrisa says with a cheery smile, as if that explained everything because Mum couldn't be wrong. No, Mum is never wrong.
Family. As if I have anything to go on here... He scowls."Look, Solrisa," he says gently, losing the scowl and looking into her eyes again. "Shouldn't it seem clear that you should have a say in your own fate? The stories your -- Dandi -- told you about swans and cats and siblings -- doesn't it seem like she might have been suggesting that you can choose your own path here? You don't owe him anything, and he doesn't own you! Your free will shouldn't be at stake over a bargain your -- Dandi -- made with him." Mortimer's ears regain their bright red hue as his ire rises. What was the Hells Dandi thinking?!
"If you choose to go, I guess we'll have to respect that. But if you choose not to, we'll -- or at least I -- will stand in defiance by your side. You are your own self -- not someone to be treated like chattel."
He irritability plods back to his bedroll and tries to pull it back up onto a stable portion of the mangaroo root shelf big enough to hold his frame, but being too distracted and upset he's unable to pin it into place effectively. He eventually gives up, and sprawls out on his back at the edge of the root ball, leaving his legs to dangle in the swamp from the calf down.
That night he dreams that he keeps misplacing his Amulet, finding instead other Amulets floating in the still waters -- but whose functions he is unable to fathom. As he grabs for one in particular, he suddenly is sucked into the ripples he creates with his reach and falls spinning and spinning to the black void of the water. He's dragged back into the waking world violently and abruptly when -- in his dream -- his spinning forehead slams into the sharp edge of a foreign, dark and almost incomprehensibly huge boundary. Now very much awake, he tries to engage his reasoning powers as he rubs his compromised brow.
As near as he can bring himself to understand -- it seems to him to have possibly been the edge of a whole other world.
~~~
Ascaria sits on a root and throws bits of bark at the water.
"Oh, it's okay Ascaria. Mum said it was fine and the right thing to do!" Solrisa says with a cheery smile, as if that explained everything because Mum couldn't be wrong. No, Mum is never wrong.
"I think mom was desperate and made a bad deal." he stands up, ready to go, but there's no one there. He sits back down again.
"Mort's right, you should refuse this dragon when he shows up. Daddy wants to spend time with you? Fine. Let it be on your terms, not as some sort of chattle."
"If you choose to go, I guess we'll have to respect that. But if you choose not to, we'll -- or at least I -- will stand in defiance by your side. You are your own self -- not someone to be treated like chattel."
"Yeah, like Mort said." he says grumpily.
"Shouldn't it seem clear that you should have a say in your own fate? The stories your -- Dandi -- told you about swans and cats and siblings -- doesn't it seem like she might have been suggesting that you can choose your own path here? You don't owe him anything, and he doesn't own you! Your free will shouldn't be at stake over a bargain your -- Dandi -- made with him."
Solrisa smiles and giggles and then tries to cheerfully explain.
"Mum said it was okay, so don't worry! Mum wouldn't lie to me and she told me everything...so it's fine!" Solrisa says as if that explains everything. "Mum wouldn't do bad things to me. So...you know it's fine. Besides, I think the Dragon likes me and helps me and wants me to be good. So that's also good too, you know?"
Solrisa smiles at Mort, having completely explained everything. Solrisa thinks more, then her brows furrow.
"Of course, there may be an evil bad thing that I have to do that might tear me away from the Dragon, something so awful that he would never talk to me again. Something that I would have to do even though it was the wrong thing because I was very, very angry..." Solrisa looks as angry and sad as you've ever seen her as she thinks about this. "...but that shouldn't happen. That shouldn't ever, ever happen."
Solrisa brightens again, dark thoughts gone. She smiles at Mort. At the sky. At the grass. At the trees. At the birds. She smiles at everything.
"I know you all mean well, but do we know what sort of dragon you're talking about? Mort, I don't know you well at all, but if this is some sort of hero's quest to save the damsel, I don't have to tell you that Solrisa can take care of herself. And Ascaria, I've seen what you can do - even experienced it. But might there be wounds that not even you can heal? You have good hearts, but wouldn't it be a good idea to find out what you might be dealing with?"
Eri, letting a couple flies into his mouth, looks from one interlocutor to another silently taking it all in.
This is the strangest sh@#$% I've ever heard.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Tynan sees the look on Eri's face. Catching his eye, Tynan nods in agreement nods in agreement.
This is likely to end poorly for us all...
"No. In fact we’re authorized to talk of peace. The remaining lizard folk are under new management and have no interest in further battle with us. The siege is over!"
Sampson looks perceptibly relieved to learn that the lizardfolk will not be on their doorstep in the near future. "For all their aggression, I don't know if they understand peace. I guess time will tell." Sampson withdraws from the conversation as talk of dragons and promises arises.
Rauffe fetches you all after he's managed to scrape together something of a late evening meal for you all. Sampson bids you all to head downstairs, as the evening cools, and you find the warmth of the basement inviting.
The soldier's managed to put something in a watery broth, bits of dried vegetables floating among lentil beans that haven't fully cooked through. Hardtack bread softens to the broth, and it proves largely edible.
As the evening conversation winds down, Sampson points you to the rooms to the south, now uninhabited. "Danyel and Jurdan will take first watch, followed by Rauffe and Joppa on second. Theo and I will take third, so feel free to rest straight through the night."
Marzena, Davy, and Elliot are fast asleep, unable to keep any food down. Davy and Elliot occupy the north room, sharing it with Theo. Marzena remains in her personal chambers through the night.
"Ascaria, shouldn't Marzena and the other captives be doing better now? Is it possible they've been worm infected?"
"The meal is much appreciated. If you all don't mind I'll take my rest under the open sky. I'm sure I can find my way back to the top of the keep." Hourpen lingers, listening to conversations and responding in kind as addressed. He looks with concern at Tynan's suggestion, but doesn't say anything - deferring to Ascaria's expertise.
"A sure. I'll send her to check things out. And its Hourpen."
Hourpen sends Chasah out to scout the area.
Weapon Equipped = None
Cold Iron Bullets (5/5), Silver Bullets (5/5)
Conditions = None
Life Link (5)(100’) = Eri, Hourpen, Mort, Sol, Tynan
Channel Energy (9/9) (DC: 18)(Avoid 6) (3d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Rod of Extend (lesser) (3/3)
Melee Attack: BAB +3, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +3, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 5, Concentration +11)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (16): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Spark, Stabilize
First (17): (1/8) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Undead, Diagnose Disease, Enhance Water, Liberating Command
Second (18): (6/6) Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Lesser Restoration, Pilfering Hand
He creates a nice light ale for everyone to enjoy.
"Ascaria, shouldn't Marzena and the other captives be doing better now? Is it possible they've been worm infected?"
Ascaria scrunches up his face, "Good point. There is much I cannot do - the body must heal itself of course. But it's been a couple days - there should be some improvement."
He takes his time carefully examining his charges.
Additionally, to confirm his feelings, he casts Diagnose Disease on each of them after dinner.
Assuming he finds nothing untoward, he sleeps soundly and rises fresh the next day - eager to make a report to... someone. It occurs to him they must now wait for Allustan, and he's immediately restless.
He takes his largest piece of paper and draws another version of the siege, this time from the perspective of the guards. He captures each of their faces, following them around the keep all day to get a snapshot of them in time. Some are aggressive, some pensive - but all brave.
Unhappy with the result he keeps it largely to himself, promising himself to do another the following day...
"I know you all mean well, but do we know what sort of dragon you're talking about? "
Solrisa looks perplexed, her eyes squint as she looks at Hourpen.
"There are two dragons, Hourpen. Wait! No! There are many many dragons. There are gold dragons and silver dragons and copper dragons. And there are evil dragons too. There are good dragons and neutral dragons and bad dragons," Solrisa explains.
Solrisa's eyes go wide and she smiles again.
"And then there is *THE* Dragon, the Waybringer, the Maker of All, the Goodiest Dragon of them all. That is the one to which I am bound. Don't get them confused. That would be bad."
"I think the one the lizardfolk mentioned was a black dragon: they are the most evil dragons. I don't like them at all. We need to find and kill that black dragon."
Solrisa will offer to take a watch. It is her way to guard and protect, and so she will. She will be on the third watch.
For the first two sleeps, she will sleep in the kitchen (?) area on the map.
She keeps a keen ear to see if anyone needs help with anything.
Solrisa thinks more, then her brows furrow. [ ... ] Solrisa looks as angry and sad as you've ever seen her as she thinks about this."...but that shouldn't happen. That shouldn't ever, ever happen."
Mortimer's brow furrows along with Solrisa's.
I knew it was a good thing to keep her smiling...
"What is it Sol, what else is it that you remembered? What is going to make you so angry that you will have to do an evil bad thing, and tear you from The Dragon?"
~~~
"[ ... ] You have good hearts, but wouldn't it be a good idea to find out what you might be dealing with?"
"Sure," says Mortimer in response to Hourpen, still looking at Solrisa and thumping his chest lightly where he figures his heart might physically be located, "but I intend to stay behind you and whatever decision you end up having to make about your father, Solrisa."
~~~
"A sure. I'll send her to check things out. And its Hourpen."
Huh? What is he on about? Does the time really matter? What hour is that exactly?!
"Thanks!"
Mortimer shrugs, and wanders off humming to tend to Cinder and anything else that needs attending. He then passes out for the evening.
From the Keep's rooftop, you're able to send Chasah out in the direction of Diamond Lake, a roughly straight line as the
You manage to spend some quiet time with Davy, Elliot, and Marzena. They are largely silent in your presence, though Marzena appears to be the stronger of the three, and speaks with you briefly to thank you for your ministrations. Despite Tynan's assistance, Ascaria finds himself unable to treat what he is unable to identify as the problem. You both do understand, at least, that the patients are suffering from loss of constitution.
From the other side of Davy's bed, a faint glow of green begins to show. It pulses, then dies. Pulses, then dies. The next time you see the green light, it's erupting through Davy's belly, where it swirls, almost worm-like, then submerges into the soldier's stomach, the man none the wiser.
When Ascaria weaves his spell to secure a diagnosis, he feels something... squirm, then grow still for a moment. As if it plays possum, while the magic seeks it out. The truth becomes clear, moments later.
Your spell finally 'catches' the disease. A worm, but different from the worms you've seen with your own eyes in the egg chamber. It lies in the belly of poor Davy. The body continues to waste away, losing constitution at a frightening rate. The only method of curing the men, and lady, seems to be the casting of a Remove Disease.
"What is it Sol, what else is it that you remembered? What is going to make you so angry that you will have to do an evil bad thing, and tear you from The Dragon?"
Solrisa smiles.
"Oh, probably nothing. It will probably never happen. Unless it does. Then that would be bad," Solrisa answers as honestly and earnestly as she can. "The Dragon and I are bound and that would be difficult to sunder. Also, it would make Mum sad. I don't want to disappoint Mum."
* * *
Solrisa sleeps and takes her turn at watch. She smiles to herself, thinking of happy thoughts and clouds and stars as she does so.
"Seems there might be something of interest near Diamond Lake."
Eri tries to tie up his hammock in the SE corner of the big room.
"Seems there might be something of interest near Diamond Lake."
"Is it Allustan and the town's soldier's?"
"Whatever caught her attention is about 10 miles from here in that direction.
Hourpen points toward Diamond lake.
"Well it's bad." Ascaria says as he looks up at the group.
"Some wormy disease of some sort has 'em, and it's beyond my ability to heal. They require magics, and quickly. We should take them back to town and arrange Remove Disease spells through the church for each of them."
He casts lesser restoration on each before going to bed, "I can keep them alive a little while, but eventually the disease will take them without this additional help."
"Tomorrow we leave for town." he suggests firmly
I'll hit the first person again, just to give them an extra bump
...sigh
Solrisa sees if Ascaria needs any help with the injured, and offers it if she can. She will spend the day keeping them company and telling them stories and listening to what they have to say. She smiles sweetly at each of them, adjusting pillows, and bringing teas and food if they need it.
She will be ready to leave on the morrow.
"There, there," Solrisa whispers. "We'll take care of you and get you better. I'll be right here to help."
Your restorations settle in, and all three seem to rest in their beds more comfortably. What the morning brings is yet to be seen...
Hourpen takes to the rooftop to pass the night under the stars. Solrisa takes up sleep somewhat uncomfortably in the central kitchen, when beds sit vacant just feet away. Eri does the same, ignoring already existing sleeping apparatus in favor of his hammock.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Zzzzzzzz..."
Hourpen gazes up at the sky as he falls asleep.
Ascaria puts his charges to bed and mumbles, "Strong stuff..."
"Sol, tomorrow, please prepare, or whatever you do, for more lesser restoration. We might need your help with that as well. This disease is... troubling."