"Maka, Selena didn't really just die again did she?" Bulvi asks with genuine concern.
"Don't worry, Fin got her patched up, she's just sleeping off her injuries now!" Maka shouted as she continued to have fun jetting around the boat.
The merchant nods. "I am able to repair the vessel, but the help and word of warning to your friend elf is just as appreciated. Consider the mirror yours." He turns to retrieve it and hand it over to Tezuzu.
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Fin looks curiously at the mirror as Tez comes to shore. "What do you have planned for the mirror, my friend?"
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When the ship moves on, Fin will look to his friends. "Are we ready to move on to Artrosa? Erdija, what is it now...about two more days journey? As we get closer, we should be on the lookout for the will-o-wisps the Chief mentioned..."
When his friends are ready, Fin will draw his bow and scout ahead in his usual fashion...
Erdija finally makes her way out of the sparse trees nearby after hoofing her way the longer path. She eyes Selena's resting body. "It seems the short cut didn't cut so gently for her. Is everything ok?"
"A little more than two days. And yes, there are rumors of will-o-wisps."
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Sakitu listens to the others in their conversation with the boatmen. They don't seem to be up to no good but Sakitu's focus is split. She keeps checking on Selena. Even though the halfling is so condescending towards everyone, Sakitu feels like she has a good heart. She is trying to do the right thing.
In the middle of the river, the poleman puts his pole in the river and pushes the boat into the middle of the flow. The boat's employer stands next to the poleman and is talking in a voice too low to hear. The scowl on the poleman's face makes it clear the that his words aren't pleasant.
Sakitu shakes her head. Too many bad attitudes in the world. Why can't people just be nice? Why do some people have to think that they are better than others?
With the crisis over, she finds Selena's limp body. Some of the others are around her and are waiting for Tez to arrive with the healing wand.
"So guys, I know you are all mad at Selena. Believe me, I have plenty of reason to be mad at her too. Not just this time but remember before when she left us? But letting ourselves stew in those bad thoughts is just bad for us. It doesn't hurt Selena at all if we are eating ourselves up from the inside with anger and bitterness. I know I'm young so maybe when I've been beat up by life more I'll have a different attitude, but for now, I think we should be quick to let things go."
She kneels down next to Selena and straightens her body out into a comfortable position.
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"So guys, I know you are all mad at Selena. Believe me, I have plenty of reason to be mad at her too. Not just this time but remember before when she left us? But letting ourselves stew in those bad thoughts is just bad for us. It doesn't hurt Selena at all if we are eating ourselves up from the inside with anger and bitterness. I know I'm young so maybe when I've been beat up by life more I'll have a different attitude, but for now, I think we should be quick to let things go."
"You have a good heart Sakitu...I will try better to hold my tongue...but it's not easy when she questions every decision I make when I have to identify enemies in a split second. If I had waited this time, she might've been looking for a new body to reincarnate into..."
Erdija finally makes her way out of the sparse trees nearby after hoofing her way the longer path. She eyes Selena's resting body. "It seems the short cut didn't cut so gently for her. Is everything ok?"
Fin shrugs. "I guess as well as can be...she slipped and fell into the river...some kinda vaguely humanoid ice creatures came up out of the water after her...Saki pulled her from the river beforehand...Maka, Quasit, and I were able to deal with them, but not before Selena was rendered unconscious. Have you any idea what kind of creatures they may have been?"
"A little more than two days. And yes, there are rumors of will-o-wisps."
Fin nods. "Once Tez taps Selena with the wand, we should move on then...I'd rather come upon Artrosa in daylight with the will-o-wisps about..."
Fin looks curiously at the mirror as Tez comes to shore. "What do you have planned for the mirror, my friend?"
Tezuzu waddles over to the rest of the group a slight skip in his step if he still had lips you all would be sure they would be arched in big stupid grin. "Ah yes this beauty is perfect for remote viewing. You know I grew up in whitethrone I picked up a few tricks from the witches in my younger years."
After he wraps the mirror carefully away in a ripped blanket and stuffs it in the bag of holding he will address the unconscious halfling.
"You know I am not so much mad at our pint-sized princess...to be frankly honest I am simply at a loss for how to deal with her. She is quite brash."
He draws out his wand and shakes it around briefly before taping it to her forehead.
Once she awakens he will hand her a handful of berries.
Looking somewhat sadly at the banged up halfling as her wounds close up he stutters "Welcome back to the world of the conscious little princess. Neat trick with the teleportation, but lets try and not teleport yourself into such a dangerous situation next time. Chew on these berries they have healing magic."
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Quasit listens to Sakitu's kindness with a countenance that betrays her doubts.
In the end, she chooses to say nothing.
As Tezuzu shows off his new prize, she peeks into it and runs her fingers through her hair a few times, fixing her plumage. Then she winks dramatically at her reflection and finger-guns herself.
With Selena healed Erdija leads the way further north and slightly west, following the shore of the river. "We'll keep to the river this day and tomorrow cut directly north once we are within direct range of our destination."
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"You have a good heart Sakitu...I will try better to hold my tongue...but it's not easy when she questions every decision I make when I have to identify enemies in a split second. If I had waited this time, she might've been looking for a new body to reincarnate into..."
"I know. She is difficult. But maybe there's a reason. I don't know. I guess it's just hard for me to stay mad at someone."
Sakitu looks around to find her bow.
Erdija follows where she thinks Findurel has headed. The elf sees nothing of note so doesn't emerge from whatever hiding place he's found.
The remaining morning is uneventful and as midday approaches Erdija slows just enough to address the party without worry of running into something. "If you all don't object, I would suggest partaking of rations on the move rather than halting our progress."
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Quasit by now has become an accomplished cross-country hiker, and this pleasant walk along the river is a far easier trek than her recent slogs through thigh deep snow while half-starved and frozen. So when Erdija suggests eating on the move, she doesn't really take much convincing.
"Sure, seems like a good idea. Maybe just a few minutes halt every now and then to catch our breath or to bathe our toes in the river."
"Do you know this part of the river well, Erdija? Any good hunting stories you can share while we walk?"
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Erdija shakes her head, "It is rare from anyone among my tribe to travel beyond the river. Most of what I know of the area is only what our chief shared and the few stories from the oldest of the scouts. She pauses. Although after encountering Operal I might do well to recall those tales from the old scouts in a bit more detail."
As Findurel continues onward, making himself seen occasionally to note the clear path ahead, it is clear Erdija is trying to piece together a tale she heard. As afternoon wears on, she nods as if finally piecing bits together.
She slows her pace only slightly as teases Quasit, "I was trying to remember one tale in particular. You remind me of her. The oldest of the scouts used to give me a hard time. There was a time when female among the centaur wouldn't have been permitted to serve as scouts. He told me this tale to try to put me in my place. It turns out that the actual legend, as he himself heard it, put him in his place."
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Quasit had forgotten asking Erdija about any old hunting tales and was looking around at the tries in distinct boredom as she trudged along when finally the centaur woman began relating her marvelous story, at which point she finds herself hanging on every word with growing delight.
"Yeah, we have loud ones back where I'm from too. One of them is my brother, in fact. He doesn't think much of girls either."
"So, is this Lady of the Wood a real person? What is she? Like, a forest spirit or something? Or a centaur like you?"
Quasit picks up a handful of little stones and begins to casually juggle them with surprising adeptness, a skill she has never before displayed to this group. She continues to walk and talk as she does so.
"Hey, have you ever heard the story of the four Pathfinders who sought a magic sword?" She considers this a moment, then gives a roll of her shoulders and a self-effacing chuckle. "Actually, that doesn't narrow it down much, does it? Half of the missions of Pathfinders could probably be described that way. But this one involves a spooky forest and some tricky fey. And a guy reading a book of poetry."
Erdija smiles, "I do not know if she was real or what form she took, but I know her spirit lives on. She pauses as she considers the somewhat familiar phrase. I have heard bits and pieces of these Pathfinders. I cannot say I remember mention of a sword." She waits quietly in anticipation.
"I know. She is difficult. But maybe there's a reason. I don't know. I guess it's just hard for me to stay mad at someone."
That's because you are super nice!" Maka said as she wrapped an arm around Saki. "It's hard for me to stay mad because I burn up all my anger real quick. And I'm pretty easily distracted." Maka said with a hearty laugh at herself.
"Still Selena is hard. I've never not been good friends with someone after traveling and fighting with them for this long. Even tickling her just makes her angry. Normally I would have tried fighting or sex by now but...she's a little scary." Maka lowered her voice and leaned in, despite Selena's unconscious state. "She might turn me in to a frog. And not in a fun way like if Saki did it..." Maka drifted off for a second as she day dreamed about being a fire-spitting frog fighting a cat with her powerful frog kicks. "...Yeah it wouldn't be fun like that at all, I'd just be a frog!"
As the group traveled, Maka heated their rations, allowing them enjoy a hot meal on the go.
Lady of the wood
"I liked that story!" Maka said as she clapped. "It reminds me of Quasit too, all fast and smart and pretty and boys being mean and not listening to her. I guess boys are jerks to girls here too huh? I'm glad our boys aren't like that."
Looking over at Bulvi toothy grin, Maka took off at a dead sprint and leaped on the Ulfin warrior's back, wrapping her legs around him tightly "You run I'll push!" She shouted as jets of flame erupted from her back stretched hands.
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That's because you are super nice!" Maka said as she wrapped an arm around Saki. "It's hard for me to stay mad because I burn up all my anger real quick. And I'm pretty easily distracted."
"You guys all say that I'm super nice and now I think that's a bad thing." Sakitu huffs. "But I don't care. I'd rather be too nice than even a little bit mean."
"That's an interesting story. It reminds me of stories that I would hear back home. The old people would tell them to us to teach us how to behave or something. But this lady in the woods. That would be really exciting to meet her. Hey, maybe it was Operal! Wouldn't that be funny!"
"You guys all say that I'm super nice and now I think that's a bad thing." Sakitu huffs. "But I don't care. I'd rather be too nice than even a little bit mean."
"No it's not a bad thing! If most people were as amazing as you the world would be super awesome!"
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"I heard this story from Hestia Themis herself a few years back. She swears it's true."
"So, one day, Venture Captain Themis sends four Pathfinders on a mission to the Verduran Forest. There's a nice, quiet, profitable county of Taldor called Baringshire that has been squired for generations by a family called the Gleanwells. But unfortunately, Count Gaston Gleanwell had just died without an obvious heir, and there were two claimants for his title. And since we're talking about Taldor, resolving this dispute was going to take a long time in the courts and a lot of bribes and it wasn't in the Pathfinder's interest for that to happen. Now it just so happened that when the family was first ennobled, they had been entrusted with a magical sword called 'Fidelity' that would quickly indicate who the rightful heir should be, and both Hertigan Gleanwell the nephew and Eustace Gleanwell the cousin agreed to abide by the sword's judgment -- if it could be found."
"Because the sword had been stolen a century earlier, and it had been carried off into the Verduran Forest by fey when the count at the time lost it on a hunting expedition. Attempts had been made to find it, but those had failed. But Pathfinders are resourceful people, and they had now crafted a special wayfinder what would divine the location of the sword. So the mission was simple: find the sword, bring it back to Gleanwell Hall, let it choose the heir."
"For this mission, Hestia chose experienced Pathfinders. There was Ragnarok the barbarian, a huge and lusty man who gloried in blood and battle. There was Guilfoyle the wizard who was subtle and crafty and cruel. There was Clinch the dwarf rogue who was a shameless mercenary. And there was Vicarena, the lovely elven priestess, who could effortlessly charm any man to do her bidding and serve her vanity. The four adventurers take the mission."
"Well, they march bravely into the wood, following the needle of the magic wayfinder compass, and after a long walk they come to a clearing in the middle of the wood. Here they find a very old elm tree and a noble looking young man, finely dressed, reclining on a stone and reading a book of poetry. He is armed with the magic sword. The adventurers try and speak to him. They learn his name is Benjamin, but he proves haughty and unsociable. He chides the Pathfinders for disturbing his reading - a book called 'Afternoon of a Nymph' - and refuses to give up the sword, saying it is his. Well, you can guess how this turns out. The Pathfinders lose their patience and attempt to take the sword by force."
"At which point, Benjamin draws the sword and throws it into the air, and it melds with the great elm. And then he takes his true form, a huge and ancient dragon! There is a terrible battle, but the Pathfinders are skilled and doughty killers, and they eventually slay Benjamin, and Ragnarok cuts off the great dragon's head. At that moment, the mighty elm falls, its trunk fractures, and a huge hoard of gold spills out, along with the magical sword. The Pathfinders are pleased and about to leave, much richer than they had been. But this is when they discover that they are being watched by an old gnome, who begins to chide them angrily."
"'You killed Benjamin! And look what you've done to the Heartwood! You had no right to do that! It was HIS sword! This is dreadful! The earth will suffer! Oh dear, oh dear!' he says, obviously in great agitation. 'You've thrown life out of balance! You must learn respect. You WILL learn respect!' And then he snaps his fingers, and the four adventurers begin turning into animals! Guilfoyle is transformed into a duck, Clinch is changed into a shrew, lovely Vicarena becomes a lizard, and the mighty Ragnarok -- a fluffy bunny rabbit! 'You will stay this way until you atone. Until life is brought back into balance! Until you are friends of the forest, and not destroyers!' As he turns to leave, he gives them a piece of advice. 'If you want to start making amends, go talk to Old Man Oak down that path over there.' And then he vanishes.
"Well, you can imagine the panic of the four mighty adventurers, now humiliated and helpless as tiny animals lost in a great wood! And while they wail to one another in their tiny new animal voices, they draw the attention of a fox who nearly eats Guilfoyle. But the duck wizard was still clever, and convinced the fox that he was old and tough and sick, and would not make a good meal, and the fox left him alone."
"So the animals go seek Old Man Oak, who proves to be very sad because he has lost his acorn. 'Without my seed I am nothing. Nothing at all. My sap runs heavy today.' he moans. The four animals offer to help find the lost acorn. 'Oh, you are kind little animals to try and help, but the thief is a HUMAN, an old mad hermit. He will not listen to you. He may even try and eat you. I would not wish for you to get hurt.'
"But the little animals are still brave Pathfinders at heart, so they seek out the hermit in his dark dell. There they find a dirty old man at his camp. He spots the animals and claps his hands wickedly. 'Well, well! What have we here? Dinner walks into my little home! Oh how lovely, Mr Harrison, we’re so famished aren’t we Mr Harrison?' But the animals bravely ask for the Old Oak's acorn. 'Ooooh, talking again are they? Animals shouldn’t talk out of turn, not their place! Don’t worry, I’ll teach you the right way to talk. Questions! Questions and Answers!' And so the mad hermit begins to test them with riddles, saying that if they guess the answers, he will give them what they ask, but if they fail, he will cook them all in his pot.
'“What’s the name of that lovely red star I’ve been seeing in the sky at night? I used to know its name, but I’ve forgotten now. It was off that way last night. Oh I stared and stared. Give an answer!' And Guilfoyle the duck, who knows a great deal of the heavens, answers that the red star is the planet Akiton.
'One tooth to bite, he’s the forest foe. One tooth to fight, as all Ulfen know.' And Ragnarok the rabbit immediately guesses that this is an axe.
'The root tops the trunk on this backward thing, that grows in the winter and dies in the spring.' And Vicarena the lizard guesses that this is an icicle.
'A part of heaven, though it touches the earth. Some say its valuable. Others-no worth.' And for a time they cannot guess the answer, until Clinch the shrew looks up into the sky and sees a rainbow, and realizes that this is the answer.
At this point, the hermit relents and agrees to give them a gift, and offers them their choice of a river stone, or a lovely pine cone, or a scrap of felt. But when they point to the acorn, he refuses to give it away unless they can give him something valuable in return. Realizing they have no choice, they offer him the dragon hoard of gold they'd found, all for a single acorn. But the mad hermit scoffs at this, and calls the piles and piles of gold worthless and far too heavy to carry around. But when they offer him Benjamin's book of poetry, he instantly brightens and accepts. It takes the tiny animals a day and a night to drag the book to the hermit, because they are so small and weak, and the book has many poems in it. Eventually Clinch the shrew rigs up a little sled that makes the pulling easier. Once they bring the book to Mr. Harrison, he gladly surrenders the acorn.
They return to the Old Oak.
'You have my acorn? Oh frabjous day! Callou Callay! What good little animals you are! I will now grant you a special boon! You may now go into the Hidden Forest. It has ever been my job to guard one of the entrances, but clearly you are noble creatures who can be trusted. Enjoy yourselves my new friends!' With a sweep of a branch, there is rippling like a curtain being drawn, and a new bright and shiny forest path leads off into a new forest landscape of golden leaves and silver trunks.
The four animals now enter the Hidden Forest. After a while, they see a dryad -- her upper half is a girl, and her lower half is a deer. She is pacing around and sniffling sadly. But when she sees the four adventurers, she bounds over and gathers up Ragnarok in a big hug! 'BUNNY!' she says, and then begins sniffling and crying into his fur.
They ask her why she's sad. 'I'm in love! But he doesn’t love me anymore! I wish I was dead!'
Who is she in love with? 'Kuvulin! Who else? He’s perfect! We were going to live together and be happy forever! But now its all over! I’m so miserable!' And she blows her nose into the bunny.
What happened? 'He had a stupid dream! And now he says we can’t be together any more! I hate dreams! I love him! Why isn’t that enough? Why can’t he see how unhappy he’s made me?'
Vicarena the lizard immediately promises to try and help the poor dryad win back her lost love. They find Kuvulin by a pond. He's a satyr, and he's sadly strumming a lute and staring into the water, singing.
'Alas my love has gone away, and never shall return
forever now my tears shall fall, and poor my heart shall burn
For Fate has stepped between us now, with interposing hand,
And now my gloom and sadness grow, to fill this dusty land.'
And then he sees the little animals and smiles sadly at them. 'Oh, hello little ones. Have you come to look upon misery incarnate? Well, you arrived just in time. I was about to throw myself into this pool, and drown myself forever. For if I cannot have my Miffli, then life is not worth living. She was the jewel of my heart. But now, she’s lost.'
Vicarena mentions that they met poor Miffli, and that she'd referred to a bad dream. The satyr sighs in absolute despair. 'Yes. I dreamed of kissing her, as I often do. Her lips, ah her lips are like sweetest nectar, and I drank from them as the hummingbird does. But in my dream, my kiss, it poisoned her. The corruption spread from her mouth and encompassed her whole. Oh it is yet still too dreadful to remember! There she lay, like a wilted flower in my arms! And all because of my poisoned, tainted kiss! It was a sign, we may not be together, for I will bring her only pain and death. Dreams are ever harbingers. I must accept this pain, so that she may live and be happy and free. But oh, woe, WOE for my poor soul. I shall ever consider myself accursed. Kuvulin the Accursed shall I be called!'
But Vicarena has long been adept at molding the hearts and thoughts of men, and she climbs to his ear and tickles his ear with her little tongue, telling him that dreams may have other interpretations. And then an old owl who sits nearby pipes up and says grumpily that Miffli and Kuvulin have dreams like this every so often, and always behave like foolish children afterwards. So Vicarena talks to each in turn, and eventually convinces them to get over themselves and make it up.
The fey couple are overjoyed and immediately declare that they are having a re-engagement party. Fairies, pixies, sprites, nixies and all sorts of other marvelous forest creatures come to play and dance about. The satyr plays his pipes, and all the adventurer animals find themselves dancing in spite of themselves, Guilfoyle slapping and marching about on his flat feet, Ragnarok bouncing around cutely, Clinch two-stepping and prancing on his tiny paws, and Vicarena keeping time with her forked tongue and scaly tail.
But suddenly the music stops, and Miffli the dryad notices that her best friend Kiki the brownie is missing. And then the fairy dragon Gimble tells her that Kiki has been taken away and imprisoned by the mean old ogre Grotsnot, off in his cave under Dinglinghollow. All the creatures wail in despair at this news, because Grotsnot is the terror of the Hidden Forest, and he will certainly eat poor Kiki at midnight when the moon rises. But what can any of them do against a powerful ogre?
But the four adventurers are still brave Pathfinders at heart, and they vow to rescue poor Kiki. So Gimble leads them to Dinglinghollow. As they walk, Gimble challenges them to games. He challenges Guilfoyle to a flying contest, creating bubbles in the air and seeing who can pop the most in 10 seconds. He challenges the Shrew to a hiding contest. He challenges the rabbit to a Cute-Off, and he challenges the lizard to a Giggle-Off, which is completely not fair and probably not even a thing.
Eventually they come to Grotsnot's cave. The old ogre is sleeping in his filthy bed, and in a little birdcage over the bed is the poor brownie. The cage is locked, and the key is around the ogre's neck, and is very large and made of blackened iron. But Clinch the shrew sneaks up onto the ogre's belly and chews quietly through the cord, then drags it to the edge of the bed. There Guilfoyle takes the key and flies it up to the lock. And there Vicarena, who has climbed up the chain that holds the cage, puts the key in the lock. And Gimble takes Ragnarok the bunny in his teeth and flaps up to the key, where the rabbit's strong back leg turns the key with a kick. The door pops open! The brownie squeals with delight and flies away laughing! Which wakes the ogre! Grotsnot is enraged and swats the poor fairy dragon out of the air, knocking Gimble unconscious!
And then a battle more fierce than the one with the dragon takes place, with the tiny animals fighting for their life, biting with tiny teeth and trying to cast spells with changed mouths and limbs. But tiny rabbit though Ragnarok is, in his heart is still the raging spirit of a barbarian, and with a great leap, he ends the battle by biting deep into the ogre's neck. The ogre howls in pain and runs from his cave, never to return.
The little animals wake poor Gimble and they all return to the re-engagement party. And there Kuvulin and Miffli and Kiki and Gimble all call upon the old Gnome to reverse his enchantment.
And the next thing the party knows, they wake up in a pond, just beyond the eaves of the Verduran Forest, with the sword lying nearby, and they are all back in their humanoid forms -- except for some small changes.
Guilfoyle had webbed toes, Vicarena had a lizard's tongue, Clinch found himself with a taste for worms, and mighty Ragnarok had a fluffy tail.
"Everyones a little bit mean and nice... the balance is just skewed differently for each person. I'm not angry at Selena, it's just her way. I've got more important things to worry about in the grand scheme of things. When she gives out I try not to get too worried about it but I don't cow tow either." Bulvi sighs.
"I think she means well by her lecturing but her demeanor can be grating. As a noble I think she's used to people listening to her words and giving them more weight. However we're not on her estate and with the scope of things she's about a hair higher in the social strata and I've been on this deranged endeavour longer. By and large if I disagree I just shrug and get on with it."
Selena wakes up seeming very unhappy with Fin, but keeps her silence for the moment. She does wash her face with a bit of river water to refresh herself, and subtly make a point.
She then checks her gear and what all she is carrying while she munches a few of Tez's berries (which she accepted with a nod of thanks).
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Tezuzu listens quietly to both stories arms crossed. Once Erdija finishes hers he comments "Hmmm...outside a few kellids warriors and trolls I haven't met many people who look down on women. Quite the contrary given the powerful fear the witches often instill.... Such a foolish concept."
Try as he might he can't help from getting drawn into Quasit's fantastical tale as he goes from mildly listening to sitting on the edge of his seat. Once she finishes he straightens out his posture and in attempt to retain his composed demeanor adds cooly "I liked Guilfoyle the duck"
With tales to pass the time the remaining travel for the day goes quickly. Though stomachs are ready for more than what can be eaten quickly and on the go, Erdija urges the group on until the last bit of twilight. There is just enough light to make camp by when she stops not far from a sturdy tree that lies not far from the shore of the river. "We'll make camp here tonight. A fire should be fine tonight, but tomorrow night not so much. Cook a bit extra fish to save for then. I can take the first watch unless you all have other plans?"
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Fin nods as Erdija signals for the camp. He comes in from a long day's scouting; while he heard bits and pieces of the stories told, his duties wouldn't allow him to hear them in full. A pity, for what he heard sounded very good...
Fin was in a somber mood as he helped set up camp; Oparal had to leave just as he was getting to know her and Selena was apparently mad at him for killing creatures trying to kill her...he'd never figure women out, that was a given...
He put his bedroll in an area near a tree as always and, then, saying, "Come on, Izzy," he headed to the river with his croc. He took a quick bath to wash off all the scouting stink for the day and then walked a little ways upstream to cast his line and fish...
The fishing was very good this evening. He cleaned the mess of fish he caught, there by the riverbank, tossing the guts for Izzy to devour. He then headed back to camp, announcing, "Got a buttload of fish here, they were really biting...Maka, you wanna light 'em up?"
When Erdija mentioned she'd take the first watch, Fin nods. "If you can take the first couple of hours, Erdija, I can take the rest..."
Since his ring nourishes him, Fin only eats one fish, as he does like the taste, so his friends will have more to eat, cure, and store for travel...
Fin then leans against a tree and drinks a decent bit of mead from his wineskin...he also knows that with his ring, he'll only need a couple of hours to sleep it off. He finds it doesn't help his somber mood, it only intensifies it. While he doesn't get sloshed, he does get quite a buzz...and, uncharacteristically, Fin attempts to sing a song, making up the words as he goes...
♫ Findurêl was an Elven lad
Of him the Harpers sing so sad,
His Dad fell in an ancient tomb,
With Fin not far removed from womb. ♫
♫ Elves from sand and wood forsake him,
But Mom was strong and she would take him,
To her forest home, where he found love,
An Elf maiden like a snow white dove. ♫
♫ He loved her well nigh fifty years,
His Mom then died, shed many tears,
Fin's girl left him for place and power,
He exiled himself, angry and dour. ♫
♫ Lived on the river, sailing a raft,
Natives thought this Elf quite daft,
Freed Kezhia from an abusive boor,
She lived with him, but was no whore. ♫
♫ Two years happy, t'would not last,
A bolt meant for him, it raced past,
Hit Kezhia's heart, broke Fin's heart worst,
When it comes to love, this Elf is cursed. ♫
♫ For many days, he was out of mind,
Killed all Razmirans he could find,
Till the one who shot his love was nigh,
And Fin put an arrow through his eye. ♫
♫ To a place called Heldren, Findurêl fled,
Took up a quest, likely end up dead,
Findurêl was an Elven lad,
Of him the Harpers sing so sad... ♫
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"Thanks Erdija. You and I will take the first watch. Then Fin can watch the rest of the night -- Saki join him on second watch, Maka join him on 3rd, and Bull join him on the dawn watch. I still think something might be tracking us, so we should play it safe. Tez and Selena get to sleep tonight."
As Fin's melody becomes evident, Quasit attempts to accompany him with her little tin flute.
With watch planned Erdija settles into preparing for the first shift. Fish cook well and in number leaving the party plenty to eat this night and supplies for the night to come.
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As Fin's melody becomes evident, Quasit attempts to accompany him with her little tin flute.
As he finishes, Fin nods appreciatively to Quasit. "Thank you, Q, that was nicely done...I fear my singing is not up to the level of your flute playing...that's why I only sing when I've been drinking..."
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When the time comes for Fin's watch, he'll pick an area where he'll try to conceal himself and then keep his senses alert for any signs of danger...
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Sakitu listens to Fin's sad song, swaying to the melody as Quasit's flute carries it.
When the song finishes Sakitu looks sadly at Fin. "Oh Fin. That is so sad. It's just awful all the bad things that have happened to you." She moves over closer to him and sits down. He nose twinges a little with the smell of the mead on his breathe but she ignores it. "Don't worry Fin. On this adventure we're on, I'm sure that your fortunes will change. You'll be a hero."
She pats and rubs his arm, trying to give him some comfort.
When the watch schedule is announced, Sakitu quickly agrees. "Yes, I'll sit with Fin for the second watch."
Bulvi kept his council, Fin's tale was sad but he had to wonder how long the poetic use of many days was for an elf... and the revenge fueled killing spree... was it purely against all those who were involved or against all Razmirans he could spy. Such line of questioning lacked tact, he'd probably react poorly under the circumstances too he had to admit.
Erdija and Quasit wake you with news of a quite watch and faces that look ready for sleep. Your watch passes in much the same way until it is time for Saki to wake Maka.
Tezuzu listens quietly to Findurels song accompanied by Quasits flute playing. Unsure of what to do with such a deeply personal melody he begins to clap awkwardly at it's conclusion.
"Hmmmm?... You seem to have gotten quite a bit better at that wind pipe Quasit...It sounds significantly less like a dying cat than the night we first met. Perhaps having a song to accompany it helps?" he says earnestly trying to praise her somewhat oblivious to how clumsy his words are.
When the song finishes Sakitu looks sadly at Fin. "Oh Fin. That is so sad. It's just awful all the bad things that have happened to you." She moves over closer to him and sits down. He nose twinges a little with the smell of the mead on his breathe but she ignores it. "Don't worry Fin. On this adventure we're on, I'm sure that your fortunes will change. You'll be a hero."
Tezuzu nods solemnly before polishing back some of his own wine knocking it back past his beak with a quick heave. He adds cheerfully in an attempt to raise spirits "Thankfully Findurel has a friend such as myself. One of my specialties is twisting and changing fortunes and I take care of my friends."
"...Tez and Selena get to sleep tonight."
Looking somewhat annoyed Tezuzu interjects "I shall respectfully dissent to that decision. I do not feel comfortable not pulling my fair share on watch. If you do not object I would like to take part in dawn watch. I must be up early to prepare my magics anyways."
Tezuzu will spend time working on his four leaf clover and turn in to bed early...
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Tezuzu listens quietly to Findurels song accompanied by Quasits flute playing. Unsure of what to do with such a deeply personal melody he begins to clap awkwardly at it's conclusion.
"Hmmmm?... You seem to have gotten quite a bit better at that wind pipe Quasit...It sounds significantly less like a dying cat than the night we first met. Perhaps having a song to accompany it helps?" he says earnestly trying to praise her somewhat oblivious to how clumsy his words are.
"Umm... thanks?" says Quasit, who appears amused by Tezuzu's standard level of pure awkwardness, and pleased by the left-handed praise. "I still don't claim to be anything other than a girl tootling for her own amusement, and actually, yeah, I think having a simple melody to follow is easier than free styling a song of my own. What can I say? Fin inspired me."
"And besides, I would think emulating the death throes of a cat might be a pleasing sound to a bird-guy." she adds, teasingly.
Looking somewhat annoyed Tezuzu interjects "I shall respectfully dissent to that decision. I do not feel comfortable not pulling my fair share on watch. If you do not object I would like to take part in dawn watch. I must be up early to prepare my magics anyways."
"It's not a punishment, Feathers." Quasit answers with a smirk and a sideways cock of the head. "We're all going to get a turn sleeping through a whole night. Tomorrow night you'll get a watch and someone else gets to sleep all night. At least that was my thought."
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When the song finishes Sakitu looks sadly at Fin. "Oh Fin. That is so sad. It's just awful all the bad things that have happened to you."
Fin shakes his head slightly, giving a somber smile. "Thank you, Saki...but I haven't had it any harder than others. Forgive me; we Elves some times like to have a pity party, especially when we've been drinking. My apologies..."
She moves over closer to him and sits down. He nose twinges a little with the smell of the mead on his breathe but she ignores it. "Don't worry Fin. On this adventure we're on, I'm sure that your fortunes will change. You'll be a hero."
She pats and rubs his arm, trying to give him some comfort.
Fin's smile grows a bit wider. "Saki, you have a good heart...and you are a good friend. I don't want to be a hero, though; I just want to help my friends get through this alive, and that'll be enough for me..."
"I still don't claim to be anything other than a girl tootling for her own amusement, and actually, yeah, I think having a simple melody to follow is easier than free styling a song of my own. What can I say? Fin inspired me."
Fin shakes his head, still smiling. "Thanks, Q, but you have low standards if my singing inspired you...I'm not very good. But I see I have some mead left, so maybe we can do it again tomorrow night...I'll pick out less self-centered tunes though, if we do..."
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Fin wipes the sleep out of his eyes as Q and Erdija awaken him for the watch, yawning and nodding his head as they tell him all was quiet. He rises silently cursing at himself for singing that song last night, as he usually keeps things close to the vest. Damn mead, he thinks. As he gets up, he nods to Sakitu, who'll be joining him for a couple of hours, and smiles...
Fin awakens Maka for their monk training after his watch with Bulvi...and he works with his bow at close quarters as much as he's able, adapting to any tips that Maka provides...
After training, he heads to the river and bathes...no need to fish this morning after the bounty he caught last night. He dresses and heads back to camp, letting Q and the others know of the strange patch of shadow to the southeast that he and Bulvi spied during their watch...
Erdija takes in what Findurel shares of what he and Bulvi seen with caution. "Seems like we should get moving then as soon as we can."
The early morning continues with the journey following the river for a bit longer, but then before midday Erdija cuts north. The sparse forest quickly gives way to a mix of barren plains and lowlands, that are bog like in spots. You can see in the distance the presence of hills.
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Quasit apparently didn't sleep all that well, and seems a bit bleary as she rolls out from under her blanket, though as she stands up in the cold morning air she quickly wraps herself up in it again, watching her breath mist before her. She groans feebly at the rising sun on the horizon, like a child annoyed by a parent, then stumbles down to the river, gets down on her knees at the riverbank, and splashes her face with icy water a few times. She fills her waterskin and then just sits there on her knees for a couple minutes, shivering and groaning and being annoyed at nature.
Then she picks up a flat river stone, marks one side with a scratch from her silver dagger and flips it into the stream.
It lands marked side down.
"Desna be kind to a humble traveler. May Fortune favor the wary and the wise. Let the arrogant and the foolish stumble on the path. Look on me and smile this day, at least when it matters most."
And then she pulls out a big silver Taldan thaler and plunks it into the stream next to the stone, then moves the river stone to cover it.
Then she returns to the camp and begins to ritually saw at her teeth with her toothbrush, still huddled in her blanket, her dark hair dripping about her groggy face.
He dresses and heads back to camp, letting Q and the others know of the strange patch of shadow to the southeast that he and Bulvi spied during their watch...
"That's at least twice we've spotted that shadow thing, whatever it is." says Quasit. "It seems like it's just keeping track of us. If it meant to attack us, it could have done so by now. But I'm not exactly comforted by that. I don't being watched like that."
"Selena, does this shadow creature remind you of anything Winter Witches do? Like a magical scrying presence or some sort of summoned stalker? Or maybe some new sort of fey?"
"And Tezuzu, you're the one who's in touch with spirits and omens. Any chance you can do some sort of augury on whether this thing means us ill, or is the agent of someone out to get us? And better yet, do the spirits have any suggestions of what we should do about our visitor?"
"I wasn't going to bring it up but was it just those involved or actually all the Razmiran's you could find? That poetic licence of for many days from one as long lived as yourself... could be combined for a pretty grim rampage." Bulvi shrugged. "Didn't seem like the time to pry. I don't think you'd do something like that now, but this was before I met you. None of us are the people we were decades back."
"Could be a demon, we know our foes hold some of them under it's sway."
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Fin will follow Erdija’s advice on the path they take as he scouts ahead...
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By now, the group has a fairly regular morning routine. Tez finds a quiet place to meditate, or something. Fin runs off to wash, when there's water. And Quasit can always been seen with her toothbrush. Bulvi and Maka seem to busy themselves around the camp chopping wood, in Bulvi's case, or burning wood, in Maka's case. Sakitu's job in the morning is to sit bundled in her bedroll until the last possible moment. That moment inevitably comes before she wants it to.
The journey in the morning is the same as previous days but Sakitu's thoughts keep going back to Fin's sad song. A dark and melancholy mood overcomes her. Her own problems at home seem minuscule compared to what he has gone through. And Quasit has also hinted at some big hurts in her past. A flush of embarrassment rises in Sakitu's cheeks. Her complaint was what? She was bored? None of the boys liked her? She was ugly? What stupid little problems. She was just a stupid girl.
Sakitu's face continues to fall and she keeps her gaze at the ground. She doesn't notice that everyone has stopped before the open plains until she runs into Maka. "Oh. Sorry," she says in a barely audible voice.
She glances up and out across the boggy plain. The hills on the far side draw her interest. She turns to Erdija. "Is that where we're going?"
"And besides, I would think emulating the death throes of a cat might be a pleasing sound to a bird-guy." she adds, teasingly.
Tezuzu's eyes sharpen playfully as he quips back "Fair point, but quick question for you I was thinking of updating my wardrobe possibly trading out the blue coloring on my robes for a fine yellow, but I do wonder would that make the lot of you unduly hungry for a snack time over my frivolous fashion choices. What do you think monkey?"
Looking somewhat annoyed Tezuzu interjects "I shall respectfully dissent to that decision. I do not feel comfortable not pulling my fair share on watch. If you do not object I would like to take part in dawn watch. I must be up early to prepare my magics anyways.""It's not a punishment, Feathers." Quasit answers with a smirk and a sideways cock of the head. "We're all going to get a turn sleeping through a whole night. Tomorrow night you'll get a watch and someone else gets to sleep all night. At least that was my thought."
Tezuzu nods "Ah that makes sense. Apologies for the misunderstanding. I just do not want to be neglectful towards my duties."
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"And Tezuzu, you're the one who's in touch with spirits and omens. Any chance you can do some sort of augury on whether this thing means us ill, or is the agent of someone out to get us? And better yet, do the spirits have any suggestions of what we should do about our visitor?"
Tezuzu shakes his head with a grimace as he scratches the back of his neck trying to find the appropriate words to put things into simple terms. "..Ah...umm... errr..well. To put it simply reading omens seeing glimpses into the future becomes more difficult the wider the scope. The practice can be infalibly accurate but broadly vague; unless you beseech a complex cosmic force like a deity, angel, or phantom getting answers that are more complex than bad, good or a mixture are beyond my current skills..."
His tone becoming more and more like a lecture every passing sentence Tezuzu continues to blather "...but predicting the future often requires a sacrifice of sorts. I can read the outcome by means vague outlines for a decision for up to about an hour at a modest cost of some of the expensive incense I purchased back in town or with a bit more work and a handful of precious metals like coins of gems do the same for up to a week for a broader course of action..."
"As vague as that might be it is a useful tool just not the right one for the job at hand. It is very handy avoiding ambushes or determining the safety of a particular strategy. It did serve me quite well after I left the city when I was a f-" he stops abruptly a look of panic on his face for a half second before regaining his composure.
Hastily shifting the conversation to more relevant matters Tezuzu diverts to talking about the creature "Nevermind I am getting off topic. I am afraid without having a track, a drawing, or some kind of first hand experience or reference with the creature I would not be able to siphon memories of others to learn of what it might be as it is hard to know what you are looking for without a foundation to work off."
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Tezuzu's eyes sharpen playfully as he quips back "Fair point, but quick question for you I was thinking of updating my wardrobe possibly trading out the blue coloring on my robes for a fine yellow, but I do wonder would that make the lot of you unduly hungry for a snack time over my frivolous fashion choices. What do you think monkey?"
Quasit arches an eyebrow and affects an attitude of patience and pity.
"I think that was a long way to go for that joke." she says as gently as she can, doing her best not to smirk.
Tezuzu shakes his head with a grimace as he scratches the back of his neck trying to find the appropriate words to put things into simple terms. "..Ah...umm... errr..well...
Quasit doesn't really seem to follow what Tezuzu is saying, if her creased brow is any indication. At the end of his tortured explanation, she shrugs mildly.
"No sweat. It was just a thought." she says.
*****
On leaving the forest and coming out onto the lowland plain, Quasit seems encouraged by the change of scenery. It felt like progress. "I can't wait to see these Artrosa monuments, even if they are just markers for witch dungeons." she bubbles.
Findurel's sharp eyes provide the party with just enough warning as a white furred elk rushes from the dense forest on the other side of the river and makes quick work of the river in a single leap. It's rider's helm is topped with jagged, twisting antlers of dark blue ice crown. The ice-armored humanoid figure eyes the party like a hunter that has flushed out prey unexpectedly.
Erdija yells, This one means to make sport of us. I'm sure of it. Stand your ground. Don't hold back, perhaps we can convince it there are easier targets afoot."
Surprise round: Party up.