"I believe in you, Chosen. If we live, I shall sing your deeds and rejoice that Ogrol the Fat was in your company this day."
The Great Pan's face splits ear to ear with a joyous smile. "And if we die, we shall hunt forever on the Plains of the Dead, rising each day to hunt again."
Kia thinks that Fey-Kargzant relations would be best served if she just remained silent.
Taking out her bow, Kia kia attempts to deliver her last power point to the land.
Kia's aim is sure and the land trembles on the brink of explosion. The pending storm writhes over the sacred circle as the world hangs in balance.
Sensing at some elemental level that Vel is the greatest threat, the Hunter fires a deadly arrow at the mage, aiming to sweep her out of the protective circle of healing. With a scream of triumph, the monstrosity does just that and retreats from Whiteclaw.
LAND STATE: 6 - mildy hostile.
POWER POINTS DELIVERED: 19/20 (nine kills (inc. two Landbinders worth 2 each) and one arcane delivery each from Vel, Arianwyn and Kia, 2 more from Pashira)
Land: -1 (Pashira's double siphon)
Vel, arguably against better judgment, stands once more. Ignoring the hunter and aiming her arcane might into the land under Pashira, she echoes the Pan, "We are the Chosen!"
As the last power point sinks into the land there is a moment of total stillness. Pashira rises, face alight with triumph and shouts a single incomprehensible word. In the instant the syllables leave his lips, the waiting storm strikes, scything down through Pashira and ripping outwards to engulf the area. Nothing can withstand the force of the shaking ground as it twists violently, lightning snaking towards the lone tencaru.
The creature screams and tries to run, but there is no escape. Lightning winds around it dragging it back into the earth, a flaming symbol of a changing world. The ancient fortifications are pulled downwards and the earth bucks like a wild horse, free from a hated bridle.
Pashira's iron vambraces crack together and as suddenly as it rose, the land subsides, leaving all the party prone, bleeding and barely alive. The sound dies away and with it, Pashira himself vanishes.
All that remains are a set of stones in the place where the sacred circle once lay.
Stay in combat order until you know if you're all alive or not.
Arianwyn is bleeding from his eyes, nose, mouth and ears. He has been thrown around, smashed into the ground, been in the centre of a godlike conflagration.
He laughs to himself.
"Well, that's that then. Let's go and help Vel. I hope Morgzil will be alright."
Arianwyn looks around, but sees no sign of the Ironwood Hound. Dimly he recalls it bounding to Pashira's side as the Iron Warrior crashed his vambraces and looking expectantly up at its master. Purpose fulfilled, it has returned to guard the grave once more.
Whiteclaw will do what she can to help Vel and Morgzil.
Ixu dances in the air, spinning in little victory circles.
After Vel and Morgzil have ensured that each other and the rest have survived, Vel looks around at the battlefield and the battered companions.
"We did it," she says in quiet tones. "We brought the Skyburning." Vel, for perhaps the first time since the others have known her, sounds awed.
Arianwyn grins, "And it was a child of the Sun Stallion who delivered the final blow." he adds.
All
"It's what we came here to do."
Kia turns to Ogrol. "Has that fixed things then? I hope it has because I don't really want to do that again." Then as a sort of aside: "Although, after that, I may even feel up to facing my mother now."
She straightens up and actually looks proud of herself.
Working together with long familiarity you have honed over so many battles, the companions banter and heal, grateful perhaps for the release from the turbulent events they have precipitated.
For the Kargzant-born (and by virtue of her embrace of their culture, Vel), the Skyburning has made, at first, too deep an impression for speech. At Kia's words, however, Ogrol finally comes to his senses enough to answer her.
"It is for the shaman to say for certain," he responds, with unusual humility, "but I feel the change in Kargzant."
He turns then, as up the hill come the gathered clans of the People, lead, triumphantly by the Bone Riders.
"Kargzant!" cries the Great Pan.
"Today the Chosen have given us rebirth! I, Ogrol the Fat, descended of the Sun Stallion, First Arrow of Kargzant speak it. Is that not so?"
The assembled shaman enter the newly formed stone circle and commune there. With the unspoken consent of all the enaree of the Bone Riders steps forward to speak.
"It is so. The ward is restored."
As always, the enaree's form flickers back and forth between male and female, but this time the forms are distinctly those of the Sun Stallion and Moon Mare. Primal power courses through the seer's body as the gods of Kargzant take control of his words and actions.
"Let the Chosen approach."
Vel leads the way, Adalram perched on her shoulder.
Arianwyn follows, at a slow pace.
Whiteclaw heads over as well, Ixu following after a moment. True, the little dragon isn't really a Chosen, but isn't about to be left out.
Feeling a little awed at what is transpiring, Kia moves to join the others.
Reason struts over to join his companions, giving the Great Pan a smug look.
Ogrol returns Reason's look with a measured one of his own, but bows deferentially as the companions pass by.
The enaree's voice rings unnaturally loudly, overlaid by the spirits of Kargzant speaking through him.
"Be blessed. Your purpose here is fulfilled. The gates of power are open to you and you are worthy to receive it. Each of you will become more than you are."
Light pours from the enaree flooding over each of the group in turn. Unaware that she is doing so, Whiteclaw kneels.
"Primal child of the world, we touch you first. We see your kinship with your daughter here and grant you a greater bond with her. Yours is the way of winter. You bring the chill of death to the undeserving and the solace of peace to the needy. Ice is your gift. Snow is your gift. The chains of winter are yours to command. Protect this world as you protect your daughter."
As the light passes over Whiteclaw it moves on to Kia.
"Loyal daughter of the fey. Your strength lies in the bonds you forge with your companions. May they endure. The Raven chose you long ago and offers you his skill to keep and guide your comrades. Trust in his guiding inspiration and lead them well, wherever their path may take them."
"Pact-born." The voices take on a tone of great respect as the light passes to Reason. "The light of your faith in Ioun burns away your foes and cherishes your friends. It grows ever brighter."
The teifling seems to glow from within, his internal light outshining the glow surrounding him and forcing it away to settle on Arianwyn.
"Well did you say that the fey and the People are alike. Grow in vengefulness. Draw on your power to strike down your enemies. Your curse will bring down doom on any who would gainsay you. Let your wrath be manifest in your actions."
Finally, the light moves on to Vel as she stands serene and expectant.
"Daughter. The fire that burns within you will burn beyond you. Even now, a child sparks within you. We grant the boon of your heart and end your journey here. We burn away all that is not Kargzant in you. You are ours and we embrace you."
Vel erupts in flames, emerging unscathed after a single agonising second.
A moment later, and the voices fade away, leaving only the exhausted enaree and the greatly changed company.
As the flames subside, Vel gasps in shock, though at what may be hard to tell. She touches her stomach, wonderingly. Then she looks to Adalram on her shoulder, where he still glows brightly. The raven has transformed into a being of flame.
Vel smiles.
Kia is lost in thought for a moment and doesn't really notice Vel's pyrotechnic display at first. "Well that was interesting. I feel... different in some way."
"I hope that's not going to happen too often Vel, it could be a nuisance in a fight if it happens at the wrong time. Still I'm glad you're happy. It seems that for the first time in a long while we don't have anyone telling us to go somewhere or to do something. That calls for some sort of celebration I think."
"Do you think they have cider in Kargzant?"
Around the newly formed stone circle, the Kargzant are preparing to celebrate in traditional style. Seemingly from nowhere, skins of kumis are brought out and are rapidly circulating. For the Bone Riders, there has never been a more triumphant moment. The haughty Sun Clan defer to them and Ogrol the Fat, joins the Chosen and overhears Kia's request.
"We have nothing but kumis! Who would have it otherwise?"
More seriously, he pulls both Kia and Reason into a formal embrace.
"You saved me many times. I would be hunting the Plains of the Dead without your aid. My debt is great and I will repay it. We will offer you gold before you leave if you will take it, but the debt is worth far more than that."
"You hope what doesn't happen too often, Kia? That I burst into flame, that Adalram does, or that I have a child?" Vel laughs merrily, and moves to join the celebration.
Kia manages to gasp out "Flame!" to Vel as she is unexpectedly embraced by Ogrol.
Having politely extricated herself, she allows that she will happily take kumis as a substitute, but that he should really try cider as well.
"This adventuring life doesn't give us much chance to earn a regular supply of money, so I confess that the gold will be very welcome, if you can spare it. But my main concern, now, is to mend the rift between our people. I will do what I can in my land - when I get there. Can I hope you can do the same among your people?"
Vel is unlike the others can remember ever seeing her. She joins the celebration, enjoying the kumis and dancing with Morgzil, with smiles and genuine laughter. One who didn't know her would call her carefree.
Ogrol continues to wrap an arm around Kia as he gives serious thought to her words.
"Gold you will have. It is nothing. What do we need in Kargzant other than the things we are given by the Sun Stallion? But for the Chosen, who move through the world and tell their legend, maybe gold is useful - ha?" He prods her in the stomach.
"For the rest - none will deny the Chosen. None will deny me - Ogrol the Fat, First Arrow of Kargzant. If the fey come, we will greet them with honour to honour the Chosen. That is our way. But ..." he pauses and looks at Kia slightly owlishly,
"Your sister will stay with us I think. Morgzil will not part from such a prize and she is home. Her child will bring glory to us all and you will visit and see him grow. You will need another. I offer you my son, Tutavak. He will run with the Chosen and the world will learn of Kargzant."
A young warrior is standing behind and to the left of Ogrol. He is smaller than most, and as close to delicately featured as a Kargzant is likely to be. He shares the proud look of all the People, though, and is beaming at Ogrol's words.
"I am Tutavak of the Sun Clan, son of Ogrol, the First Arrow of Kargzant. I am honored to be named to ride and run with the Chosen!"
Arianwyn had smiled at Vel's happiness but had distanced himself from the celebrations. He could sense the dark side of the earth power that they had recently utilised, and that he now had a sliver of that darkness bound to him, in a similar manner to that which he had stolen from the Prince of Frost.
He is interrupted from his brooding by the appearance of this new companion. He raises an eyebrow.
"Shall we see how far this vaunted truce extends?"
From the circle steps a familiar fey figure. It is Thurichand, the assassin you spared a bare week ago. Behind him, something flickers just out of vision - a dark road leading into shadow.
Thurichand bows elegantly to the group, and nods slightly at Ogrol and waits for a second, hands on his daggers. Ogrol, true to his word, nods back and none of the assembled People make any move to intervene.
"The restoration of your ward reopened the shadow road. Most timely. It seems that her gracious majesty, the Queen of Air and Darkness is ... intrigued. I have no idea why - I am merely a humble messenger." Thurichand doesn't sound particularly humble.
"Do join us at the Courts at your earliest convenience."
Smiling lightly, he turns to Reason. "This is the ritual. We have no tedious prohibitions on writing things down." A scroll appears in the teifling's hand. Thurichand bows once more, turns on his heel, and vanishes down the shadowy road, which mists over as he passes.
Kia is slightly taken aback at losing Vel and having a new companion foisted on the party the same sentence. And even more so by the peremptory way their path seems circumscribed again.
She tries to remain calm and polite.
"We would be happy to help you see the world from our point of view, Tutavak. But we lead a dangerous (and, apparently, not very free) life. If you would like us to accept you, we would need to know a little more about you."
"Hm."
Tutavak glances at Arianwyn, but answers Kia. "I am a warrior of the Sun Clan," he answers proudly. "The Sun Stallion blesses me in battle. I ride and fight with spear and bow, as well as any man of the People but my father and elder brothers. My horse and I are as one.
"One day I may be more than a warrior, but even now I am a scion of the Sun Stallion, and that which you call danger can only kill me -- not destroy me. I do not fear it."
Whiteclaw isn't thrilled at all that Vel is staying behind after all the group has been through, and the gnoll hugs Vel gently.
"If you need us, send word, and we'll be at your side."
"Thank you, Whiteclaw," Vel murmurs, returning the embrace after a moment's surprise. "And if I can do anything from my position here . . ."
The Bone Riders gather with the Sun Clan and Arginu goes up to Whiteclaw.
"We will take all care of her and she of us. Kargzant will always welcome you."
The Gatherer smiles. "Did I not say at our first meeting that our world was changing? You have done a great thing for the People. Maybe we will repay the debt one day."
Ogrol nods. "This is true. All Kargzant will rise to your call if you desire it. For me and all the Great Pans to follow me, you have but to think the thought and we will aid you."
Reason looks up from sniffing suspiciously at the kumis, which has apparently irritated his eyes.
"A young one?"
"Vel, I hope that you will remember me when the time comes for the child to have a tutor."
"Be well. Be safe. Be happy. And may Ioun watch over you and yours til we meet again."
"Thank you, Reason. Though the child will be Kargzant -- you will have to think of a way to teach without books!" Vel teases.
"Be safe, my friends, all of you."
"Well, goodbye Vel. For the moment at any rate. I'm, glad we met even though we haven't always seen eye-to-eye. As Whiteclaw said, we'll always be available if you need help."
Kia takes the opportunity to say her farewells to all those who have befriended her.
Arianwyn smiles warmly at Vel for perhaps the first time, "Be well, Vel of Kargzant." he says simply.