Quince nods, "I will consult the maps."
The group gathers in the clearing of the statue with the elves.
Question are the fey appearing openly around the elves or care they hanging back.
Quince when a moment presents itself inquires of the fey if they are aware of a place elves bury their dead or if there is an even settlement near.
Once at the statue Quince looks over the map.
Finished looking over the Stag Lord and finding nothing of real value, Kevros looks at the Elves, "I also will not judge and you are forgiven as long you do not return to being thugs in the Stolen Lands."
Kevros looks at the Statue of Erastil and mutters to himself ...
The fey are not around. At least you don't see them.
"I am from these lands and don't know of such a tower, but that doesn't mean there is not one. We are scouting and mapping the lands now. Part of this was ridding it of banditry as well and this man drew many to his cause. I think with his death we have made the land safer again for travel, though there are still many dangers in the wild here. I would think if there were such a tower it would be to the south. Quince bring the map."
Tristan ask Quince to bring the map and has the elves take a look.
"Here is Oleg's. You can purchase gear or get a nights rest and a fine meal. We have taken the fort here. It was the Stag's, but we were able to take it from him. You are welcome to camp or rest there as well in your search."
Katrina walks around checking to see if snyone else is hurt, Then she murmurs a few words and her eyes become blue, she looks through the Stag Lord's items and asks, "Any one want an interesting Magical suit of leather armor +1, An amulet of natural armor, his helm will help Angeus, and can I have this composite longbow +1?"
Angeus smiles at Katrina, showing her the gash where one of the Staglord's arrows cut her.
She frowns at the mention of the helmet, "Help me in what way?" she says, turning it about in her hands.
"Here is the map. Perhaps you might have insight if these lands that can help us if there is anything you know of not on our map?" Quince points to the map, [b]"We found ruins here but they did not appear elven."
Quince grimaces at Angeus wound, "You are hurt." Quince begins a prayer and moves his hands toward the wound.
"Better?"
"Are you sure his helm is not evil . . . I mean he has been running around claiming a name and likeness of Erastil himself with that helm. It might be benign . . but . . ." Quince looks over the items, "May I have a look?" He examines the armor, "Hmmm."
Quince mutters and takes a close look at the armor.
Quince also look over the helm.
Quince looks over the other bandits (the dead/unconscious ones) gear.
The elves seem grateful then the leader says, "Excellent we will make forays out from that fort then. We will set out then back to our camp, good travels and good luck."
All you know is that the four items are magical.
Katrina hands over the helm with the antlers attached to Quince as she explains, "There is a magical enchantment on it that allows the weilder to make a target flat footed for one attack. Tomorrow I can prepare a detect evil and we can find out if it is evil. I suggest we spend the night here."
Once the inspecting and passing out of the magical items is done, she says her goodbyes to the elves. Then she walks around the statue several times before she starts to carefully cut the foliage and remove the vines.
"I wish nothing from this corrupted man. Though I hold nothing against any of you for using these tools to combat the corruption in these lands."
Quince agrees with Katrina's notion of camping here. Quince speaks with the leader of the elves and points out where the ruined tower was. "There are there now a group of monks who are were going to make the complex home. So you will not find it empty."
"Excellent, oh we never got your names just Katrina's." the elf responds to Quince.
Katrina emphasizes some of her words to Quince since Kevros is a bit distracted, "Quince will you give me this bow?"
"I am Tristan." He offers in passing as he calls for his horse. Giving it an apple and a pat before mounting it again.
"We should continue are searching and be on our way. No reason to spend more time here."
Quince regards the elves, "You have meet Katrina and Tristan." Quince points the others out as he speaks, "This is Kevros Droverson, Angeus, and I am Quince Medyved, we are the Greenwatch Wardens."
"Of corset Katrina I think it would be a great asset."
"Please Quince hand me the bow, and bless it please." Katrina asks Quince.
Once she has the bow she makes a prayer herself, slings it on her back.
She offers the last two items displaying them a bit more, if no takers she puts them on.
Then she tells Tristan more than the rest, "You go and explore, take anyone that will go with you, I will be staying here for the day. In fact take the group, Kevros will stay behind and protect me."
"If that is what you wish. Just keep camp set up. We will return for you."
"Thank you Tristan," she says relieved and thankful.
The group leaves Katrina behind with Kevros as they explore ahead. Early on in your exploration you find a possible ford across the river. Several sandy islets create this does across this remote section of the Skunk River. The sandy islands make for a natural choke point in the river, but thick piles of rubble, branches, and leaves help make the islands.
Tristan rides on obviously thinking about something that is distracting him. Waiting on Angeus to take notice.
Magical suit of leather armor +1, anyone?
amulet of natural armor +1?
composite longbow +1, Katrina"Please Quince hand me the bow, and bless it please." Katrina asks Quince.
Once she has the bow she makes a prayer herself, slings it on her back.
** spoiler omitted **
Quince hands her the bow and then prays a blessing over it. "In the hands of a blasphemer this bow was an aid to destruction but in the hands of your servant Erastil may it find new purpose to aid the cause of justice."
Quince looks at the gear of the other lads and then at Katrina and Angeus, "Perhaps both you and Angeus should split the armor gear as well as you both are the lightest arrayed."
"What do we want to do with the unconscious he seemed unrepentant but I was running him down when last he was awake."
Quince gets ready to head out with the others notices the abundance of dead boar. "We have meat that might be going bad. Perhaps it can be cooked up or preserved."
Quince spends the first part of the ride quiet but trots up next to Tristan. "I need to thank you. Your drive and clarity of purpose has been a real support to me. My father was also taken by bandits as you know. You helped me bear my burden in this. I hope I have been a help to you as well."
When the sight of the sandy islands comes up Quince's attention is spent on searching for quill ink and maps so as to note the ford as a land mark. "Clearly still the River Skunk."
She responds to Quince's blessing with a hug before taking the bow and smiling. She says her thanks and a prayer, "Thank you Quince may Erastil watch over you and bless your steps. I will take this bow as my alter and use it for Erastil's good work. To hunt and to protect."
"Excellent suggestion Quince, Angeus which item would help you more?" Katrina offers.
"Leave the bandit with us. Kevros and I will deal with him as needed when he comes to, we can even have him carry the Stag Lord's head." She says with some sass and an evil grin.
Kevros would respond to Quince, "The other thug got away. I am sure he will go away from banditry or face swift justice."
Angeus takes the helm from Katrina, "I'll use this one." . She gives it a sniff, then rubs some fragrant leaves inside. Satisfied, she puts it on, smiling as it's a perfect fit.
She spends some moments tumbling and hiding in the bushes, to make sure it won't curtail her activities.
Riding with the others, she seems quite happy with her new accessory, admiring the shadow she now casts.
Arriving at the ford, she looks about...
... she blinks as she takes in the details of the debris pile, "Hmmm, lots of bodies in that debris....looks like an adventurer there, I see some armor and a weapon...." she says, sheilding her eyes, which widen in alarm, "Is that a dragon?" she exclaims, pointing.
Tristan pulls on the reins and whoa's his horse.
"A dragon?" He looks around and the bodies and the dragon come into view as he looks a bit.
"I don't know what kind of dragon that is. Seems it made this place a home, but it is a natural ford and we need to cross. Prepare for the worse."
He then looks to the faerie dragon and asks.
"Can you communicate with it?"
He dismounts and has his horse back away a bit and stay. He draws his shield and blade and awaits to see if the Faerie dragon can talk with it.
Kevros waves goodbye to the rest of the wardens, "Have a safe trip and we will be here when you return unless something forces us away!"
Kevros makes sure the unconscious bandit is tied to a tree away from the Statue of Erastil and his back is towards the statue, Kevros, and Katrina. "When he comes to, we will see what we want to do with him. He may have just made a poor choice or may have been forced to serve with a threat or through magic."
He then starts to help Katrina clear the statue if the statue still needs some maintenance. "Wow, this is the first time we have been the most alone." He looks at the statue, "That is the statue that Erastil was speaking of in the small temple!"
He looks deeply into Katrina eyes and whipers into her ear,
The faiere dragon who was sitting on Tristan's shoulder shakes his head and says, "wild one, eat rather than talk."
The armor and weapon might be recoverable but they are on the edge of the dragon's islet. The dragon has not moved.
As Kevros starts talking about being alone she stops tending the statue and looks at him blushing a little, "Why yes it is..." She cocks her head to one side not sure what Kevros is talking about.
An understanding smile breaks on her features then her blush becomes much deeper. She grabs your hands and pushes back asking, "Are you proposing Kevros?"
Quince shakes his head at the sight. "Whatever it is it has a taste for flesh." Quince nods at the faire dragon "Looks that way. If we need to cross we will need to fight."
Quince readies his (cross) bow and nods to the others, "Are we ready for action?"
You could spend a few more hours exploring this side of the river and come back tomorrow.
"Hold Quince. We need not cross today. Let us back off and explore more of this side. We still need to return for our friends. If we are to fight we will need them."
Tristan backs away to his horse and mounts it again. He takes the lead and rides away.
Keeping cool but worried, Kevros smiles a little and responds, "If I was would I be rushing things?"
She gulps and takes a moment to respond, "Rushing things seems like the right words though proper. Catfolk culture is different, then again I will need to learn Elven culture now won't I?"
As she finishes her statement she lets go of your hands and backs away as her skin begins to glow and you could feel the warmth in her hands too. The glow quickly intensifies to a blinding glare. A moment later the light is gone, after your eyes adjust you can see Katrina, she is changed and is a prime elven specimen. She stretches and is smiling. She laughs a bit and then says, "starting off this engagement with a surprise!" She walks around seeing how her body feels and works.
You can see there are elven and celestial tattoos on her body. You are pretty sure the Elven ones seem to be a prayer to Erastil, a ward of protection, and empowering of magic.
You easily finish clearing and cleaning the statue. You both feel empowered and your arrows/bolts have the special ability keen on them besides now being magical (+1). You both can feel the presence that much more of Erastil.
Tristan, Quince, and Angeus finish exploring this side of the river finding a few abandoned huts and adobes. When you get back to the statue/camp you can see that Katrina has lost her fur and now has clean yellowish skin of an elf. Though there are elven and celestial tattoos on her body.
Once she is done being amazed with her new body she sees Kevros watching her. She comes up and gives him a big kiss. Then she laughs enjoying being near him. She then offers, "Shall we finish this statue before the others get back?"
Once done, she nods her head in pride of their work and says, "Yep, that was the right thing to do. Now to make a temple to Erastil here. Nothing urgent, just something I want to do, perhaps a cottage for us?" She gives Kevros a kiss on his cheek before laughing and dancing a bit. If Kevros tries to catch her she does not resist being held by him.
Quince rides up and looks around confused. "Huh." He looks over at the others "It looks like we missed something . . . did you shave Katrina?" Quince asks in half jest.
"Well, Erastil has blessed me to fully turn a new leaf. I can leave my catfolk past there in the past. Opening up many new opportunities for my future." She says this as she goes over and takes hold of Kevros' hand.
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Before Quince arrives ...
He then gets up, helps Katrina up on her feet, and then embraces her and gives her a nice long passionate kiss before collecting his gear. "We will also build a cottage here."
As Quince Arrives ...
Kevros checks to see how the tied up bandit is doing and starts to collect his bolts that he fired during the battle while flirting with Katrina, "No ... no ... Quince, we have been blessed by Erastil. As you can see, we have been busy." Kevros points to the statue, "Katrina and I plan to build both a Temple and a Cottage here or in the area."
Confused and a little nervous, "Blessed . . . Great." She lost her hair . . . is this a blessing. They do not know my true form. Will they see it as a hindrance or curse. Will Angeus?
Quince smiles composing himself, "More temples? May the temple you build serve the needs of the people of these lands and glory to Erastil." He looks at them both, "A cottage. . . we have much work before we will let you two settle down. Seriously there is much to your story I will try not to pry but as a student of Erastil how and why he has chosen to bless you seems a deep wisdom to understand." Quince chuckles. Quince's eyes wander to Angeus and he smiles wistfully.
Quince works with the others to set up camp. He checks on and tends the horses talking to them in their language.
After things settle he takes up his new bow, "Tristan, it has been awhile since I have used a bow. To be honest I preferred the punch of the crossbow but . . . I find less strain in drawing the bow back these days and the crossbow takes forever to load. You are a gifted archer I could use a few tips."
Later Quince finds a moment and approaches Angeus. He moves next to her and bumps her shoulder. He talks quietly to her.
Whatever Quince said he is chuckling.
Kevros recovers 6 out of the 10 bolts that missed, the others either he could not find or were broken in the fight.
Kevros looks at Katrina and giggles, "No silly Warden Quince, we are not planning on building the Temple and Cottage now. However, we will probably lay down a foundation for the Temple of Erastil if the area is secure the next idle time we receive. And most certainly, Glory to Erastil since I am now one of his Warpriests! However, I will need your and Katrina's help until I learn more about the religion of Erastil so consider me your two's quasi-acolyte." Kev looks at both Katrina and Quince. "As for being blessed, you seem confused and concerned my friend What concern or confusion can we clear up for you? If you want?"
Kevros later helps Quince tend to the horses but has not quite learned Terran yet but still can speak to them using his voice tone and body language, and perhaps from his sweat since animals have a better sense of smell?
While flirting and helping Katrina, he takes a moment to speak up, "We can also help you learn the bow as well Warden Quince. Most likely Katrina more than I. And who says a crossbow takes forever to load?!"
Kev then shows off that he can now reload his Heavy Repeating Crossbow within a free action amount of time. Katrina looks at him both impressed but gives him the look of he is just now showing off. Kev sits down near Katrina, reloading and talking to her.
Quince chuckles, "It is a good location I suppose . . . there is already a statue here."
Quince pokes fun and smiles again, "Warpriest!? Go out for a ride and everyone has delusions of grandeur" Quince clasps Kevros on the shoulder, harder and firmer than you remember him capable. "No better choice."
Later when Quince started practicing with the bow a little. "I suppose you both can help too. I thought you might be too big a fan of crossbows."
After watching Kevros with the repeating crossbow, "That seems complex . . . are you sure you're not half gnome?" Quince winks as he teases.
Katrina is just happy. She laughs at most of the comical and serious interactions. She helps Quince with the bow after all she grew up with one.
The bandit comes to a bit unsure about his settings at dinner time. Katrina has made a boar stew and it smells wonderful. Ribs are also set warming on the rocks around the fire. Fresh water in your skins as Tristan found a nice stream to get water from.
Kevros nods his head, "Yes, we plan to tie in the Statue in building the temple. I wouldn't doubt there use to be one here? Maybe it was an open temple?"
Kevros laughs at Quince's playful verbal jabs, "Yes sir, I am indeed grand!" Kevros playfully pats Quince on the back, "I see these lands are making you stronger? It feels we are equal in Strength now?" Kevros smiles and nods, "Thank you Quince for the compliment!" Kevros then blesses them all, "And may Erastil bless the Greenwatch Wardens, their love ones, their friends, and those who support them with hard work and all the blessings that follow!"
Kevros shakes his head, "Quince, I am still good with the Bow but not as good as with the Repeating Heavy Crossbow. And once you get use to any weapon, it becomes an extension of you and can manipulate any weapon quickly like I can with my crossbow. Eventually, I will use the longbow for hunting and worshiping because that is what Erastil would want of me. My crossbow will then only be used for war and calming these lands."
Kevros lets Katrina do most of the instruction so she gains more confidence and enjoys herself. He only gives pointers if she looks at him for help.
The remaining thug appears to be human. He sneers as he feels the rope that binds him. Looking around he doesn't say anything.
Tristan wonder about not saying anything about Katrina's new form. When asked about archery he goes over the basics with Quince. Finally when the bandit awakes he approaches him.
"You... You have followed the stag lord for a time now. How long has it been? I know you may just want to sit here and not talk but you should know we have been authorized and given a charter to wipe out all bandit activity in these lands. Right now you are a bandit and your sentence is death. I am just and believe not all that followed that men to be evil. So convince me that you are not an evil man."
Tristan uses detect alignment as he approaches. Checking for evil in the man.
Seeing Tristan going over to talk to the now conscious human bandit, Kevros states to Katrina, "Please excuse me my sweetie, business is calling." He walks over casually (not silent) just behind and to the left of Tristan to act as back up and to hear the verbal interrogation. In addtion, Kevros has his crossbow in his hands at the ready with the bolt fly groove pointing down towards the ground to his left.