Jaestra sees the beast burst out of the pile and swipe angrily at the air as she backs out of the chamber. The birds squawk and scatter. The unnatural bear shakes its head and roars loud enough to feel in your chest.
It moves forward... slowly at first..., and swipes a paw across its crusted eye.
When Jaestra sends an arrow into the creature's side and Vlad bursts into song, Vorik quickly figures the time for quiet has passed. He moves quickly up the steps to provide cover for Jaestra as she backs away and gives a shout of his own as the bear awakens.
His heart in his mouth, Hrafen urges Archibald forward , and tosses a pair of force missiles at the bear!
Remembering where the bear was, I move across to the other set of steps, nock my arrow to "GoldFire's" string, aim at the bear and loose it.
Vladimir moves forward...
"Oh, sweet she was, and pure, and fair!
The maid with honey,
In her hair! Her hair!
The maid with honey in her hair!
He smelled the scent on the summer air!
The bear! The bear!
All black and brown and covered with hair!
He smelled the scent on the summer air!
He sniffed and roared and smelled it there!
Honey on the summer air!"
Jaestra's arrow just barely kisses the top of the north steps, and somehow finds its mark.
When Vladimir looks in, he sees little more than a bear-sized dark shape against a lighter color pile of debris...
Seeing the bear has not really moved, Vladimir stops his movement just in just past Hrafen and enters a defensive stance, motioning for Vorik to come up and join the front rank.
Unable to see where the bear has taken refuge, Vorik acknowledges Vlad's signal and moves to cover the northern staircase.
The bear displays its rage - gnawing off the one arrow it could reach, and swatting at the pile... sending bone fragments toward Hrafen and Vladimir. It seems about to charge when Vorik dashing into position seems to catch its attention. It launches at him... the filth coating its eyes flakes off as it tries to bowl over the red warrior. The vines which fill the outer perimeter of the room slow it down enough for Vorik to avoid the charging attack. The beast does not seem to realize the severity of the wounds it has already received.
I move towards Vorik and release another arrow at the bear, trying to make sure that I don't hit Vorik by mistake.
Unfortunately the arrow flies over the head of the bear and scitters into the pile of bone and debris.
Swallowing hard when he sees the size of the bear, Hrafen nonetheless gamely throws another pair of force missiles at it.
Avoiding the bear's charge throws Vorik off balance as he attempts to land a hit of his own on the raging creature. Unfortunately, his swing goes wide and whistles harmlessly through the air.
Seeing the bear hurl itself toward Vorik, Vladimir moves in to attack the beast, continuing his song as he moves.
"Oh, I'm a maid, and I'm pure and fair!
I'll never dance with a hairy bear!
A bear! A bear!
I'll never dance with a hairy bear!
He lifted her high into the air!
The bear! The bear!
I called for a knight, but you're a bear!
A bear! A bear!
All black and brown and covered with hair!
She kicked and wailed, the maid so fair,
But he licked the honey from her hair!
Her hair! Her hair!"
(inspire courage)
(inspire courage)
After several ineffective strikes against it, the beast's eyes become clear, but remain hateful. It seems to focus its gaze on Jaestra. A growl turns to barely intelligible words "Cuuuurse..... Errrrassssil!!" It attempts to barrel through Vorik to reach the half-elf with what rage-fueled vitality it has left.
(inspire courage)
(inspire courage)
As the beast bowls him over, Vorik delivers a strong blow under its foreleg - where the hide offers less protection. The bear begins to stumble as it continues its charge. Vladimir slashes high on its rear leg, and it can no longer support itself. The creature drops flat, and slides down the remaining steps with its remaining momentum. It lays still, then after a moment, the skin begins to ripple and grey... It shrinks as the fur disappears. It transforms into the form of an impossibly old looking man, then turns to dust.
Hrafen has the grace to look stunned for a moment, before recovering.
"That... was unexpected. I dare say that there was a story there, but for the life of me, I have no idea exactly what..."
I too look shocked and very relieved that the creature did not make it to me, "Curse Erastil? Well that could either mean that he hated Erastil and wanted to Curse him, or Erastil had Cursed him and he hated him for that? Either way he hated the Elk Father ... so why stay in a place that is obviously an old shrine of his?"
"That is a fine question, Jaestra, perhaps Jhod will have more answers as this locale had been plaguing his dreams." the swordsman says cleaning off his blade.
"I trust we all made it out of this particular fight unscathed?" he asks the others before calling out for Jhod, Kesten, and Nouri to come down into the shrine.
Vorik picks himself up off the ground and slaps his hands across his thighs in a futile attempt to brush some of the dirt and dust from his clothes. Stepping over to join the others he gives a shake of his head while looking and the decayed corpse. "A lost soul for certain. Whether cursed by the god or doomed by some other magic, I suppose his spirit can now rest easy." He starts off to get Jhod and the others. "Whoever he was we can't leave his remains here. I'll get the priest and a blanket to wrap the body. Then the lad and I can get to digging a burial grave."
Hrafen nods towards the dust.
"I think he is past the point where wrapping him in a blanket is feasible..."
I listen to everyone and smile at Hrafen's comment, "We could always gather up the dust and place them into an urn or something. I don't suppose there is anyway we could learn anything about him from the ashes of his remains? If we could do that or find out who he was, we could send the urn to his home? I am sure his family would be grateful for it, if there is anyone left alive still, he did look very old."
I place the arrow back into my quiver and stow "GoldFire" onto my back, I then take another look around the cave and the shrine. My hand ready to draw my blade in case anything else is in here that may be hostile.
Hrafen shakes his head.
"I know of a spell that can give you a lot of biographical data about a person, but it requires some blood... I am sure that if we *really* wanted to know, we could probably arrange for a scroll of Legend Lore or Limited Wish, but I think that is probably a tad excessive... the monetary cost would be ruinous, and such a scroll would be well beyond my limited magical capacity."
Hearing Hrafen's comment, Vorik turns back to see nothing but dust where the body had been moments before. His face turns a slight shade of red as he says, "Well, perhaps there's no need after all."
He offers Jaestra a warm-hearted smile as she mentions an urn. "I've an empty water jug that could work temporarily as an urn. The thought of cursed ashes just floating around the cave seems somehow wrong and...unsettling."
He steps back out of the cave and calls to Kesten and Jhod letting them know that all is safe and to bring the horses up. When they do he grabs the empty jug and works carefully to put the ashes into the makeshift urn.
As you exit the cave, the others approach. They see - as you do, the dark vines wither, drop, and turn to dust as well. The clumps of algae and scum shrivel in the pool, and the water becomes crystal clear. Filth flakes off the wall between the steps facing outward - revealing a bas-relief of a crouching humanoid with the head of an elk. One hand rests on the ground, in the other is a bow. "Behind" him is a one-dimensional fountain of birds in faded fresco... all colors of the rainbow.
All three gaze silently about in wonder before coming to, and helping Vorik with the remains.
Inside the cave, Jaestra sees the light increase as the vines inside turn to dust, and reveal a circular hole in the ceiling of the cave. Around the perimeter there are five alcoves. At the end of the alcoves, names are engraved into the stone... many with druidic titles.
In the alcove opposite the entrance, several quotes are engraved.
I stare in fascination as everything turns to a beautiful scene, looking up around the cave I see the engravings, "Well ... that definitely proves that this is the Shrine of Erastil that Master Jhod was looking for, these engravings are part of the Parables of Erastil, the Elk Father himself."
Seeing that there are no more threats in the cave, I step outside again and just admire the beauty of the area. Seeing the water is now clear, I cup my hand and take a sip to make sure that it is safe to drink. If it is, then I fill my waterskin with some.
Jaestra gives off a brief radiant glow when she drinks the water, as if bathed in a beam of sunlight. Now that the water is clear, writing is visible at the base of the pool. It reads...
"I knelt at the water
Awash with the Dawning
and a Voice came so brightly
It opened my eyes."
You feel invigorated.
Jhod nods... smiling beatifically. "Mmm. Yes my dear. I know it is." He looks at the carving "The multi-colored birds?... hmm.."
The birds represent the four factions of the Green Faith settling their differences. The inclusion of the birds to the carving is likely representative of the pact between the local followers of Green Faith and Erastil against malevolent fey of which Nouri spoke.
Seeing that the water is drinkable I fill my waterskin up and turn back to the others, "You should try this, it tastes amazing!"
"Multi-colored birds eh? Does not seem to ring any bells for me." the swordsman says filling his waterskin with the water from the pool.
Pulling Jaestra, Vorik, and Hrafen aside, "It seems Jhod and the others would like to stay here for a while. I think we should accommodate them and then accompany them back to Oleg's before we explore anymore. No sense in risking their safety any further."
I follow Vlad and listen intently, "I agree. we should stay here for the night and make camp in the cave. It is defensible and will get us dry, then take them back to Master Oleg's tomorrow. While here I would like to take this time to replenish my supply of arrows."
Once everything is decided I head out into the nearby tree's and start to collect some natural materials to make the arrows.
Vorik walks over and scoops a drink of water from the fountain. Nodding at Jaestra with a smile he says, "Some of the finest tasting water I've had in a long time. Very refreshing."
When Vlad pulls him aside with the others, the paladin offers no objections to staying. In fact, him supports the idea wholeheartedly as he wanders over to take a closer look at the carvings and runic lettering.
With a shake of his head he says, "The birds mean little to me as well, Jhod. Perhaps they are just a bit of the artists own creative inspiration."
"Mmm perhaps. I really don't mind not yet knowing... so much to learn. It is wonderful! I noticed over here by the water, there is an area on top of which appears to have once been a statue. The faded words here seem to suggest it was moved to a new shrine devoted solely to the Elkfather. Not to say this is not enough for me! Ha! I had not realized the weight with which these dreams had burdened me. I feel exceptional!" He grasps Vorik's shoulder, and pats him fraternally.
The day is uneventful... peaceful. You see no wildlife other than insects and the few species of birds - which increase in number and song as the sun starts to set.
Nouri spends most of the day talking with Jhod, but by evening he begins to reconnect with his uncle. By nightfall they are deep in conversation and offer to stay up for first watch.
You cover the remaining watches in your standard order, and morning comes without incident.
As per usual I wake up early and scout out the surrounding area to make sure we are not in any danger, then head back to camp where I start to cook some of the remaining meat, if no-one else has started to cook anything else.
When I see one of my companions I look to them as the meat is turning slowly, "I think the Elk Father has granted me a boon for recovering his shrine, whilst I was out patrolling I left no trail behind me, even when I wasn't trying to be stealthy and speaking of stealthy I was a lot more quiet than usual."
Vorik wakes refreshed and rested. After taking the time to finish his usual routine of meditation, practice and washing, he makes his way over to where Jaestra has started to prepare the morning meal.
Hearing her statement he gives her a wide smile, "Aye, I'm sure Old Deadeye is pleased plus..." He adds with a wink, "You've spent plenty of time creeping through these woods tracking goblins, bugbears, and bandits for us. All that practice is bound to payoff."
He offers the help her prepare food and does a fair job of making of some griddle biscuits to go with Jaestra's stripped meat and a strong black tea he brews.
I smile back at Vorik and happily accept his help preparing the breakfast, "Did you sleep well Sir Vorik? I certainly hope your statement was not meant as I am a creepy person, that wouldn't be very good for people such as yourself whilst sleeping!" I let out a giggle and then take a deep breath, my voice changed ever so slightly from the playful tone heard just moments ago, into a little more serious. "Well practice does always make you better at what you are doing, so that could be very true. I just find it a large co-incidence that all my practice pays off once we have recovered the Elk Father's lost shrine."
Jhod approaches... smiling and hugging the journal in which he has been sketching and scribing his finds here. "The Elf Father need not gift when following him in spirit with open eyes and a strong heart will suffice." He sits and closes his eyes briefly before consuming his modest breakfast.
"When I was young I met a man in the woods. He was a bit of a hermit... notorious in the village nearby for various eccentricities. Our gazes had connected before... I felt as if he really saw me. Anyway.. I went to meet him - as I was curious and precocious boy, and found him sitting in front of his cabin looking at a rock.
I asked what he was doing... He replied that he was one with nature and had divined from the rock the fact that it had recently rained...
I told him... 'Of course... it just rained... the rock is wet. That's not being one with nature.' He replied 'If you say so..., but I say it is the first step.'
Confused, I asked... 'what is the first step?'
'Looking.' he answered." He looks down drifting off in thought as he continues to tear his food into tiny bites and nibble.
Vorik bursts out with a bright laugh to join Jaestra's giggling. "Aye, there's nothing more disconcerting than a pretty forester who creeps around the camp all night long."
He laughs lightly again and then nods thoughtfully when Jhod joins the conversation. When the priest finishes his story, Vorik smiles and says, "My father used to say something similar to me. 'Son', he'd say, 'You've got to see the world with more than just your eyes. Everything has a story and something we can learn. Doesn't matter if its a piece of iron, a noble lord, or a lowly beetle. Look, listen, and learn from the world around you and you'll know more than most of the book learned folks in a university. Combine that with hard work and a good heart and you'll live a life to be proud of.'"
I blush slightly at Vorik's comment, "You think I am pretty then?" I giggle again and stick my tongue out in a playful manner.
I listen to both Jhod and Vorik, "I was never given any talk like that, just the guard drills. To start with I hated them, but after a while they became relaxing." I look around at the group and where we are again, "I am glad we made it this far, a shame we have had so many companions leave us before getting to this point, wouldn't you agree Sir Vorik? Although I think this current group is by far the best we have had yet and we all get along well, I could not ask for a finer group of friends and companions. Have you thought about what you will do once we have finished Chartering the area?"