The Paladin snorts at the very idea. "Convert you? By the holy, if I were to inflict you upon Iomedae, I'd not only lose my Paladinic powers, I have no doubt I'd be struck by lightning until I glowed in the dark." He laughs, wincing at the pain of the wound from the laughter.
The next morning, which comes with restful sleep for some (Mahb and Lineeera) and not so restful sleep for others (the rest of the group), arrives inevitably, as it always does.
The ritual is restarted in the morning, and Cathran and Riley and Eva and Pyewacket and Bertha and Lineera's Mule are in turn purified of taint.
The holy water feels like boiling water as it pours over you, and you can feel the taint clawing at you, but it seems to have a week hold to start with, and all that happens is some smoke and pins and needles feelings in your body occurs. It's painful, but no more so than a good fist fight or heavy training session, and when it's done, you're panting, sweaty, and feeling like you're 50 pounds lighter. The day is brighter, the air sweeter... it's as if you'd been walking in a cloudy haze and not realized it until the haze is gone.
The holy water feels like boiling water as it pours over you, and you can feel the taint clawing at you, but it seems to have a week hold to start with, and all that happens is some smoke and pins and needles feelings in your body occurs. It's painful, but no more so than a good beating from a jealous husband or from a wrathful property owner, and when it's done, you're panting, sweaty, and feeling like you're 50 pounds lighter. The day is brighter, the air sweeter... it's as if you'd been walking in a cloudy haze and not realized it until the haze is gone.
The holy water feels like a mild acid as it pours over you, and you can feel the taint clawing at you. Tendrils of smoke cling to you, pulling at your hair and your soul. It's painful, almost as painful as losing all those people in Perdition's Point was. You scream in pain and writh, and when it's done, you're a pale, panting, sweaty, trembling heap. But the world is so much brighter and magical than it was when you woke up. Light bounces off the flowers, it glistens in the morning dew, little rainbows pop up here and there from the mist. It was as if you'd sunk into a fading without realizing it, and suddenly that fading is gone.
You're not sure why all the humans were making such a fuss. The smoke pours out of you as if it wasn't really comfortable under your feathers anyway. It takes less than a second for the world to brighten up, and you feel like you could fly for hours.
Cathran and Riley both end up pale and sweaty, but looking better afterward. Eva screams in pain, but not nearly as bad as Mahb or Lineera did. Pyewacket and the mules seem to be mocking the humans as they simply stand passively as smoke pours off them. The mules just chewing grass even.
After the humans are cleansed, all their equipment is put in the circle, and Kalvant again uses his sword to dispel magic on it. A cloud of darkness wafts up off the equipment from the pulse of anti-magic, and then the equipment is cleansed.
When they are done, the caravan begins to pack up again. Kalvant addresses the Perdition's Point group. He holds out a handy haversack with holy symbols and runes on it. "I need your group to take these tainted items to Caliphas, to the Temple of Iomedae, for disposal." He holds the bag out to Lineera. "It is vital that they be taken there before their taint can be spread." Looking over at his coterie, he points with his other hand. "You, Aurora, you will accompany them to Caliphas. Ensure they are able to get in to see the Bishop." Kalvant then turns back to them. "If you are not willing to do this, then I will have to do it myself. Which means I have to send the Caravan back to Rozenport. I cannot send them on to Perdition's Point with the almost certain taint without the means to break it. Nor can I entrust these cursed items to anyone other than myself or Lineera." He nods at Lineera, as if they share some common bit of knowledge about why he suddenly trusts her with the cursed items. "And no, you can't go alone."
From among the ranks of the caravan's knights, a very tall woman steps forward, dressed in simple clothing covered by a well-made chain shirt. She possesses fair skin, light blue eyes, strong but pleasant features, and a long mane of stunning blond locks kept in an elaborate hairstyle.
The woman looks at Kalvant for a brief moment, as if asking for a silent confirmation of some sort, then turns her gaze toward the group of travelers from Perdition Point.
"Well met friends, I'm Aurora Beldusk, follower of the Dawnflower and paladin of Her church. By order of Sir Kalvant, I will accompany you and help you in your task" - her tone is calm and formal, and she even offers a little bow at the end of her speech, but when her head rises again, a huge smile appears on her face and her voice becomes much warmer, even playful - "And since we'll be traveling together, please call me Aurora, no need to be formal! I'm sure we'll get along wonderfully... Now, I just need a moment to gather my things, and I'll be up and ready to go!"
Whistling a little tune, Aurora hurries back to the caravan to get her things, apparently quite happy about the new arrangements.
Eva returned the smile sightly,, though she was still visibly upset and worried. "I... I know. I... I just can't help but worry about him... all... all of them..." Thinking of home, tears start falling again, and a sob escapes. Eva starts rubbing at her face trying to wipe them away and stifle her sobs. "S-sorry. I...I'm trying to stop.. really I am..." She doesn't seem to be having much success seeming to only make herself more upset. "...I hate crying in front of people..." Taking a deep shaky breath, she spoke a little louder. "Those fiends will not get away with this."
----
Pain. Lots of Pain. Everything hurt. Everything. Someone was screaming? Was that her? She couldn't tell. Was she... dying again? No. Not dying. Just... pain.
Then, it just all suddenly stopped. As she collapsed to the ground in trembling and out-of-breath pile, she tried to get her bearings. Thats when she saw it, a pretty butterfly. It made her smile. 'Today really is a pretty day.' She tried to get her shaky limbs to support her, taking in the area around her. Her eyes were wide and sparkling and a big smile was on her face. "Look at the wildflowers! All the different colors! And the birds! Such pretty songs! Is that dew on those flowers? It's making such pretty rainbows. Look! Look!" She continued on talking about the weather, the trees, all sorts of happy things getting faster and faster. She was starting to bounce and get hyper and be very very excited. Even her coloration brightened to the happy bright colors, like it had been slowly dulling and fading while she was tainted. Her face was one big huge smile. She went around giving people hugs as she started to get moving, starting with Mahb and ignoring any protests against the action, before getting Lineera, and then moving on to Cathran and Riley. She even gave Kalvant a hug, just sharing the love and the happy she felt. Before she moved on to hug anyone that would let her.
Eventually, her excitement calmed down, even though she was still smiling. Her smile slightly dropped at the mention of a detour to Caliphas before they would head to Illmarsh. "What about Illmarsh? Is... Is it possible the taint is there as well? Since... it seems their children were being taken too. And... as much as I'd rather not think it, what of those that have left Perdition's Point since the attack there? Should we try to find them?" A small but with a hint of sadness smile was on her face. "I understand this taint must be stopped. I just... don't want other communities to go through what ours has recently. What if, ours is not the only outbreak of this taint, since there seems to be more than one of them behind this."
Lineera spends the rest of the night just chatting aimlessly with Sivalla, tired of their reunion being nothing but business, work and awkward apologies and blame. Quickly tiring again from her ordeal, this however, doesn't last forever as she decides to return to sleep. Upon waking, Lineera's still quiet, but seems better than the day before. Tired, but not as drained.
As Eva bounces around excitedly, Lineera smiles at the sight, and picks up the little gnome to hug her when she comes to give such. The drow poorly stifles a laugh at the sight of the stuffy paladin Kalvant getting a hug from the exuberant Eva.
As things get back to business, Lineera accepts the bag offered by Kalvant, eager to not let the chance to examine the foul things further slip by. "We can make the detour, we'll be by the coast once we get there, should be easy for us to book passage to Illmarsh and get back on track quick enough. Delays like this are why I was in a hurry, but hurrying gives us the time, and I don't want to leave Perdition's Point unattended any longer than needed." Lineera does her best to try and comfort the worries Eva expresses.
When Aurora is introduced, Lineera replies warmly, "Well met indeed Aurora! Once you get your things, you can put them on the cart, there's still some room." As the surprisingly chipper Paladin bounds off to gather her belongings, Lineera calls out "Oh, and I like your hair!" watching the elaborate hairstyle bounce and flow away.
Cathran gingerly places a hand on Eva's shoulder. "It's okay," she whispers as Eva fruitlessly wipes at her eyes. "We will make everything right again." She gently squeezes Eva's shoulder and wipes her own face with a handkerchief drawn from her pocket. She pull out a second one, offers it to Eva, and sits with her, looking at the campfire until it is time to sleep.
---
Cathran winces as the water pours over her, but after it's done the sun drying her clothes feels like spring after a harsh winter. She watches Eva bounce from person to person, and returns her hug with a small one of her own. She is reequipping herself, strapping on belts and packs to herself and Bertha as Kalvant approaches them once more.
More delays, she thinks after Kalvant charges them with the haversack. Before she can work out in her mind whether it's more important to head toward Caliphas or Illmarsh, a tall (almost as tall as Cathran) human woman steps forward to introduce herself. As Aurora looks up from her bow, smiling as her blonde hair dances around her face, Cathran wracks her brain. Between the gloomy haze of the taint, and last night's separation of the camps, she must have missed noticing Aurora. Cathran's face starts to feel hot, and her thoughts turn to panic: the boiling feeling of the cleansing was returning--was the taint returning? Her thoughts are interrupted, though, when Lineera calls out, "Oh, and I like your hair!" Cathran blinks and realizes two things: one, she had been staring, and two, the hot feeling in her face had been, and continued to be, fierce blushing. She glanced once more at Aurora--taking in the sight of her hair shining in the sunlight, her light blue eyes--before turning back to Bertha, partly to finish packing and partly to hide her reddening face.
"Proceed on to Rozenport, you can get a ship from there to Caliphas, which shall be faster than over land. Aurora can arrange passage on the church's copper. If they don't like it, they shouldn't have given me a mission to spend money on." Kalvant snorts. "As to taint, I am certain there is more in Perdition's Point. I don't think there will be any in Rozenport, I'd have noticed it. But keep your eyes open. Lineera will be able to tell you if it's around." He nods at Lineera. "Only one who has been tainted deeply by great evil can become one who fights great evil." He tells the drow cryptically. "I have heard of no issues in Illmarsh, which argues, unfortunately, for a successful ritual there. Which means the taint is likely not wide spread there. Only in a place where they are stopped will people find the amulets and handle them carelessly. I will send word for this Tommas's parents to be checked, but I doubt they are tainted. While the cultists were sneaking around, they would have taken precautions. The taint is more of a booby trap for those who defeat them. We will cleanse your town, and see to it's reconstruction. Once done, I'll cleanse your kobold caves, and then collapse them. Aurora, I leave them to you. We must not tarry overlong, but I will answer any questions I can before leaving." The paladin returns to all business as the caravan rushes about to pack in record time.
Lineera clenches the bag tighter as she's charged with the trust of the paladin, realizing the pressure of the position, and not particularly enjoying it. But remembering the previous animosity, it was a definite improvement. All in all, Kalvant wasn't that bad of a guy she supposed, just lacking in moderation. "Be careful in those caves, I doubt they'll be re-inhabited, but the shrine in there is... well, if an amulet is as bad as this... be careful." Lineera shifts, remembering her recent reprimand, but quickly decides that she's never been a good listener before, so why start now? "One question. The symbol on these amulets, I remember reading about it. It's the symbol of an old cult, The Lord of Things Which Are Buried. Do you know anything about them, and is there anything you can tell me?"
Kalvant frowns. "I do, but the symbol isn't quite that symbol. It is similar. Similar enough that it might be a derivation, or perhaps a sub-cult. All records of that creature were expunged, to prevent a return of it's cult." He strokes his chin. "Tell this to the Bishop, but I am unable to confirm or deny the supposition. I can tell you this though, the cult you speak of predates even Iomedae and Pharasma. If it's returned, it means something very old and evil is moving again."
Lineera nods slowly, "Alright, well, I won't take any more of your time Sir Kalvant. I'm going to see to my things, travel safe." Lineera turns to getting her party's packing done.
It's somewhat surprising just how well organized the caravan is for a thrown together thing. Everyone moves with quick efficient movements. Then again, they are all either military or clergy of organized gods, so that may not be a big surprise.
When they are done, the wagons move off toward Perdition's Point, carrying supplies, building supplies, Clergy, and professionals to put up buildings quickly and efficiently.
This leaves the Perdition's Point folks together watching the caravan disappear, along with their new member, the young Paladin Aurora.
After everything is packed, Cathan has calmed down, her face back to normal (hopefully, anyway--it feels less hot, but she doesn't want to root around in the newly packed bags for a mirror). When she speaks, it is in a loud voice to the whole group, and her eyes stay on Berta's load as she makes the final adjustments to the straps of the bags and saddle. "It's another two days to Rozenport." She speaks more quickly than normal, almost flustered, but trying to control it. She clears her throat, which helps. "I know we wanted to get to Illmarsh quickly, but it's still a while until the solstice. We can get these dangerous objects destroyed and then get back on our original path.... It'sgoodtohaveyoualongAurora."
Mahb clucks over Pyewacket, kissing the bird's beak, and making sure he's no worse for wear after the holy dousing. Despite her preoccupation with her friend, the witch can hardly miss the ranger's curious behavior. Her good eye rolls heaven-ward and she mutters an odd imprecation, "Youth."
Lineera raises an eyebrow at Cathran's introduction and utters a curious "Huh." But figuring it would be kind of her to try and cover for her roommate, Lineera steps towards Aurora and tries to grab her attention.
"So, Aurora! ...Nice day, huh?" It does not go well.
"That's the spirit!" - Aurora exclaims, taking the ranger's loud voice and fast speech as a sign of confidence about the journey - "And it's good to be here, Cathran, was it? I'm glad you didn't take offense about Sir Kalvant forcing my presence upon you all. I know he can be... Difficult at times, but he's a good man and he's trying to do the best he can with what little he has."
"Well, anyway, I might as well make myself useful! Do you need help with tha-" The young paladin takes a few steps toward Cathran, but before she can reach her the drow priestess catches her attention.
"Oh?" - Aurora raises an eyebrow at her new companion's odd question - "Well, it's not raining undead frogs, so for Ustalav this is indeed a nice day, isn't it?" - she chuckles a little, then offers Lineera a shining smile - "You know, since you said you like my hair, I could show you how to do the same with yours. It's actually much easier than it looks, and I think I'd suit you perfectly! Uhm... Now it's hardly the time though... Well, we'll talk about that another time" - she dismisses the matter with an elegant flick of her wrist, then she turns toward the others - "Now we need to get underway. Are we ready to go, friends? Or you need help packing?"
Lineera, hoping her distraction worked, keeps up the conversation. "Yes! Well that sounds enjoyable, we can maybe help each other with it. But you're right, little enough time right now for such things, we should hurry to Rozenport, should have plenty of time on the boat, nothing to do but sit and wait at that point. But I think we've got everything about ready to go, so I'd say let's go ahead and hop to it."
"Uh, no, you are not forcing yourself on us at all. I mean, um," Cathran replies, not turning to look at the young paladin lest the blush return. She can hear Aurora approaching her direction, and starts to very mildly panic when Lineera steps in to save her. She can't help but listen to their conversation, though, imagining Aurora's hair, imagining Aurora helping her style her own...
But she blinks off the thought and double checks Bertha's packs with a forced renewed focus. "Everything is packed now, I think. We should get to Rozenport." With that, Cathran takes hold of Bertha's lead and starts leading the mule along the road.
"Watch out for the big people traps in the Kobold Cave." ^^ Eva gave her warning comment to Kalvant before heading to make sure all her alchemical things were properly repacked and back on Bertha.
Hearing Lineera and Aurora comment on how nice of a day it was, she spoke up. "Yes it is! It's a happy day ^^ With birds and flowers and a non-rainey sky" She was still a hyper bouncing gnome.
"Maybe they have all sorts of new things on Alchemy in Caliphas! Do you think they will? Think about all the sorts of things we could bring home to Perdition's Point!" She had gotten over the negatives of their trip, and the thought of bringing home things to help the village had greatly brightened her already happier day.
Rozenport
The group finally trudges into Rozenport. Even Aurora had left her horse with the caravan, so that others could use it.
The city has a gray stone wall around it, about 30 feet high. Beyond that wall, four and five and even six and seven story buildings jut up, showing that the wall has long been outgrown by the city, but tradition is important, so the wall get's moved and expanded when the city grows.
The streets are paved with cobble stones that mostly fit together correctly, the more public or up town the areas are, the more likely they are to be correctly put together.
The city has a good 10,000 people in it, and it sprawls over both sides of the river.
As the group enters the city, they are pushed aside by a crowd that's surrounding a truly odd sight. A giant beast of a unicorn clopping down the street, a thick long horn more like a rhino horn than the traditional unicorn horn leads it's way. Huge blue eyes stare out from under thick black hair, and the unicorn's entire body is shaggy and black. It wears an odd barding that seems made of leaves, but looks as thick as leather and hard as steel as it clops past. On it's back rides a pure white Tengu in black and white silk clothing, an oddly shield shaped hat made of straw on it's head. People are waving at the duo as they leave, shouting thank yous and best wishes.
For once, nobody even notices Lineera entering a city.
Aurora knows of this pair, they were instrumental a month ago in saving people from a tentacled creature that tried to kidnap a young child. The unicorn and Tengu left the abberation in several hundred pieces, saved the child, and fought off a dozen or so zombies in the process. This was one reason why Kalvant took the Perdition's Point report so seriously, and went personally to deal with it.
Lineera does her best to keep her head down and move the mules to the side of the road, clearing the way for the rather ostentatious unicorn.
"What do you think this is all about?" Cathran asks, trying to be heard over the crowd's cheers, glancing bemused at her traveling companions. She holds Luthor's supply list in her hands, and would currently be asking a passerby when the nearest general store could be located if any could take their attention from the strange, parading duo.
"Oh, the market district is down that way, near the docks, Deary." The older woman with blue hair responds. She seems to be paying more attention to a pair of teenagers who are waving bye to the unicorn than she is the unicorn and it's rider. "You can buy most anything down that way if you want." She responds distractedly. "HANS! GRETA! YOU GET BACK HERE! NOT OUTSIDE THE CITY WALLS I TOLD YOU OR I'LL SELL YOU TO THE NEXT WITCH THAT PASSES THROUGH SEE IF I DON'T!" The old woman suddenly bellows, causing a pair of blonde twins to laugh and come running back toward her.
Aurora takes a few steps to get next to Cathran, to be able to answer the ranger without having to yell over the crowd's noise.
"Uhmm, I'm not really sure, but... Oh, yes, now I remember! It happened a month ago, a tentacled creature tried to kidnap a young child, and the Tengu and the Unicorn came to the rescue! They saved the child, killed the aberration, and even fought off a dozen or so zombies in the process... You know, this was one of the reasons why Sir Kalvant took the Perdition's Point report so seriously, and went personally to deal with it."
Aurora turns toward Cathran and offers her a beaming smile - "It's nice to know there are still heroes around when you need them the most, don't you think?"
Mahb looks at the blue haired woman, "How much?"
"Oh?" - Aurora raises an eyebrow as she eavesdrop Mahb's remark - "And here I thought witches exclusively got children for their stew by stealing them! But buying seems so much better, much more orderly! Glad to see you are such a good law-abiding citizen Mahb!" - she chuckles lightly, her blond locks dancing around her.
The blue haired woman looks at Mahb strangely, but then when the Paladin and her obvious holy symbol, chimes in, she gives the two kids a stern look. "Right now, 50 platinum, each... but if they keep this up, I might reduce the price deeply."
The two kids gulp and turn pale and stand straight up at attention looking nervous.
The young paladin bends over to look the two unruly children in the eye, trying to stifle her laughs - "Now, now, there is no reason to worry, Mahb's a good witch, she doesn't hurt children! But there may be bad people out there, and you should listen to your mother and not go outside the city walls alone, okay?" - she gives them both a warm smile and gently ruffles their hair, before straightening up and giving the blue haired woman a little wink.
The old woman smiles. "Well, grandmother..." She says with a small smile, and then drags the two off by their earlobes.
Lineera smiles at the interaction, but as the woman drags her children away, Lineera has an idea occur to her. With a little bit of her usual brashness, Lineera approaches the Tengu "Excuse me, thank you for all you've done. May I ask where you'll go next?"
The tengu looks down, then let's out an amused squawk. "Oh my goodness, Nike. It appears a drow girl is asking us where we shall go next. I do believe that's a first for us, is it not?" The tengu asks the unicorn, patting her shaggy neck.
The unicorn rolls one big blue eye to point at Lineera, and flicks her muzzle.
The unicorn cast Detect Evil.
The unicorn then snorts and loses interest in the drow.
"Aaei, my apologies, don't mind Nike, she's a grouchy type." The tengu whistles in amusement. "I'm not sure where we shall go next, young one. The whispers have not yet told us where we are needed next." The tengu's head flicks to an angle, thoughtfully. "They whispers were quite insistent we be here to kill that thing, and that we had to stay for a greater evil. But the earth whispered two days ago that we were no longer needed, and a hot breeze whispered to us that we are needed to the east, in a desert." The tengu shrugs. "It is not ours to wonder why, ours but to do and try."
The unicorn snorts and bobs it's horn, clearing people out from in front and sending fat sparks up to 6 feet as she scrapes the cobblestones. "Cén fáth na déithe saddled dom le inchinn éan a chloiseann guthanna a cheann, ní fheicfidh a fhios agam. Caithfidh mé a rinneadh roinnt olc Uafásach i saol roimhe sin. fhéidir mharaigh mé dia nó rud éigin."
Then the unicorn rears up to full height, whistling a loud challenge and making the crowd scatter. And then she's off at a full gallop that makes it hard to follow her, devouring hundreds of feat per second as she races out of the city and out of sight.
"Why the gods saddled me with a bird brain who hears voices in his head, I'll never know. I must have done some horrible evil in a previous life. Maybe I killed a god or something."
Lineera doesn't take but a moment to correlate the two days mark as being the time in which they were cleansed. The idea of facing a beast like that unicorn was frightening, and Lineera stiffens on instinct under its gaze. When the two ride off, Lineera simultaneously relaxes and seems disappointed and steps back towards her companions. "Well, I had been hoping to tell him there's evil stirring in Illmarsh, but nothing for it now. Let's head to the market, if its near the docks we can get Luthor's supplies taken care of and be heading out to sea today if we're expedient."
Cathran gives a curt, but polite, bow to the old woman, thanking her for the directions. She smiles at the scolded children when Aurora comes up next to her to answer her question about the unicorn and tengu.
"It's nice to know there are still heroes around when you need them the most, don't you think?"
Luckily, in the time it's taken to travel to Rozenport, Cathran has rapidly gained the ability to not blush every time Aurora speaks. Cathran pauses a moment before answering, thinking about her parents, about Elda. Before the silence grows too dramatic, though, her cheeks flush at the sight of Aurora's smile--still have to work on that one, she thought-- and she says, "Yes. Yes, it is. As much as I fear what is to come, I hope we can be those heroes. Um. So to speak." She sighs quietly in relief when Aurora turns away to talk with Mahb, the blue-haired woman, and the children, watching them happily.
Cathran nods at Lineera as she returns from conversing with the now speeding off heroes. "I think it would be wise to investigate what kind of magical aid is available here. A curative wand would not be amiss. My old mentor kept one on hand, and although they are not exactly cheap, the investment is rather efficient. Plus, you never know what else we might find that could come in handy."
Batch 1 Result : -16%
Batch 2 Result : -5%
Batch 3 Result : +14%
Batch 4 Result : -7%
Batch 5 Result : +5%
Batch 1 : Wooden Chest, Noble Outfits (2), Courtier Outfits (2)
Batch 2 : Chest of Jewelry, Silver Comb
Batch 3 : Rusty Dagger, Rusty Shortsword, Darkwood Buckler, 5 small repeating crossbows
Batch 4 : Wand of Sculpt Corpse, Wand of Inflict Wounds, Spell Component Pouch
Batch 5 : MW Studded Leather, Large Tent
Batch 1 : 115 * 0.84 = 97 GP
Batch 2 : 335 * 0.95 = 318 GP
Batch 3 : 828 * 1.14 = 944 GP
Batch 4 : 290 * 0.93 = 270 GP
Batch 5 : 103 * 1.05 = 108 GP
Total : 1737
Aurora drags Lineera and Eva through town at a whirlwind pace, hitting various stores and stalls, selling off bits of their looted treasure here and there. Some of the negotiations go well, some not so well, but at the end of the day she's sold off all the things they don't want, and brought the group's coffers up to 2,203 GP (in various currencies from Platinum to gems).
Eva's eyes went wide as she saw the unicorn. It might not be your standard unicorn, but still. 'I can't wait to tell Eli! I got to see one and he didn't! He'll be so jealous!'
When Aurora dragged her off on the selling expedition, she enjoyed every moment of it. The selling, the bartering. It was a breath of fresh air to her.
Riley enjoys being back in town. He takes in the sights. He is startled by the tengu and unicorn, but sits and listens as the group addresses them
Later he hangs out with Mahb while the others visit the merchants.
Once all the selling is taken care of, Lineera mentions. "Well, with that taken care of, we've got some things to buy. Luthor, the shop keeper at Perdition's Point had some things for us to get. And I want to get ready for Illmarsh... I learned some things with our first encounter, and I need to stock up on some things."
"Like don't run off with Munchkin, because the evil cloak-hats make a Munchkin mean."
Lineera sighs sadly, but otherwise doesn't respond.
"It's not your fault Lineera. I was... Refering to my own choice. I almost got myself and the rest of you killed. That wasnt you. So please, don't think it was your fault? Plus, I kinda... Liked munchkin, he was cute."
Lineera musters a chuckle, "That sack of bones? I just thought it was a handy way of carrying my stuff. But... well, I was trying to protect you, and I did the exact opposite. I knew it could happen, I just thought I had it under control. It's hard to not feel at least a little responsible for that." Lineera clenches her fists at her sides. "I'm not going to let that happen again."
Aurora raises an eyebrow and looks at the duo quizzically. "Uh... I don't mean to pry, but... What would a 'munchkin' be, exactly?"
"It was a little kobold zombie. I called it that because zombies like to munch people, and kobolds are small... and munchkins are small... It seemed funny at the time."
"A little kobold... Zombie? Which you made carry your stuff?" If the young paladin seemed a little perplexed before, she looks quite astonished now, after Lineera's revelation.
After a moment though, she erupts in a hearty laugh - "By the Dawnflower's infinite forgiveness, if only Sir Kalvant could hear you! He was ready to smite your pretty little head only on the account of you looks... Oh, gracious gods, if he had known this!" - Aurora shakes her head, trying to contain her hilarity - "Oh... Oh well... On second thought, maybe he suspected something of the sort... That could be the reason he assigned me to be your escort, and not someone more experienced. Well, doesn't really matter now, does it? In any case, as soon as we got time, you have to tell me the whole story! I'm sure there's more to it..."
Shaking her head one last time, and still chuckling a little bit, Aurora turns away and leaves Lineera and Eva to their conversation.