Rose finally looked around a little embarrassed and self-conscious. "Good job guys! Though I think I went a little overboard with my new concoction, eh sis?" She looked rather sheepish and bent down to retrieve her arrow of light, stowing it once more into her quiver along with the other ones. She looked down at the bodies of the grigs, face kind of puzzled. "These were vicious little creatures weren't they." She asked, turning to the rest of them.
She stretched and sat back near the campfire once more. "I suppose we should have watches...just in case." She said, staring into the flames once more.
Lyra didn't say anything, pacing back and forth like a caged animal with pent up fury. Finally she snapped a finger at Shirak and the duo went to the mouth of the cave. Stopping just before the rain Lyra planted her feet and took a deep breath. Shirak also planted her feet and tilted her head to the sky. At unison both druid and tiger let out furious noises, the tiger roaring her dominance of the region while the druid screamed in challenge to anyone nearby. For several long seconds tiger and druid roared again and again and again, daring anyone to challenge their claiming of the area.
When they finally stopped Lyra listened for any response while breathing heavily, holding her staff like a spear and ready for any attack. When nothing called back after a long minute she turned away from the door and stalked back to the fire, still furious.
Rose blinked at her confused and surprised. "Soooo... does that mean no watches? Or still have them?" She gave her sister plenty of space as Lyra stalks back into the cave. "I think we did pretty well defending ourselves, honestly." She had a bit of a strained smile, but her heart was at least earnest.
Delan wouldn’t get the chance to use his weapon. By the time he’d healed Vetra and turned, the creatures had all been slain one way or another. Most of them were straight up melted, though one had been dismembered. He gripped his rapier hard, his hand shaking a little as he fought back the bloody images of the last time he’d seen his parents.
Forcing himself to try and think about anything else, he turned to take stock of the group. There were a few injuries, though none as heavy as Vetra’s. Lifting his free hand in the air, a bracelet caught the light Rosa had given them after the fire went out. A small silver charm hung from the item, bearing the symbol of Shelyn on it. Whispering, he said, “Blessed goddess, I thank you. Lend me your power once again, that I may tend these courageous wounded.” Energy once again swept from him, this time in a small circle around him that would reach all those in their party that might need it.
When that was finished, Delan still stood a bit shakily. He knew he wouldn’t be able to fight what was coming, and he didn’t want to, but he would do it in some state of privacy. Glancing around once more to make sure the others were okay, he quietly told them, “I need to step outside for a moment. I'll be right around the corner.” His voice was even, but his eyes told a different story.
Without any other explanation, he walked out of the cave and turned. He didn’t go far, only to a spot on the outside of Lyra’s hand crafted cave where he could lean against its wall out of view of the group. Sliding to the ground, he set his sword down next to him. One knee tucked itself against his chest while both hands rose to his face, his fingers laced into his hair. Then, he finally gave way to the tears that he’d not been able to shed for his family, the sobs coming at last in a steady, quiet stream.
Vetra, once the blood rush and adrenaline was fading she seemed to slump down to the ground on her rear. Now confused and well... still pretty angry at the attack. Snarling she shakes her head, trying to clear it but it only made the world spin a little. Huffing she crosses her arms and stares at her feet for a moment.
When Delan spoke his prayer and she felt another wash of energy flood her, bringing that familiar rejuvenating warmth once more. She looked up at him, blinking as she studied him for a moment as he left. Feeling conflicted, she wanted to pursue him and speak with him but at the same time, she wanted to give him the space he needed. Sighing she elects to give him some space now, her hand coming up to her throat and rubbing the cut that nearly ended her. She had never been close to death before and it honestly scared her. Pulling her knees to her chest she turns to look at the fire.
Eventually, she looks to Rosa, "I think watches are going to be important. We should be a bit more mindful of it... we don't know these lands and we do not want to get caught off guard like that again... I... I don't want to come close to death like that again." Standing, she brushes herself off. "I'm going to stand in the rain, try and wash my blood off of myself..." With that she moves to stand outside, entering the rain as she begins to pat herself down. She turns her head to catch Delan and finally made a move.
Approaching slowly and carefully, she frowns as she what position he was in. A pang of worry and empathy washed over her. "Delan..." she whispers, her hand coming to touch the top of his head as she stood before him, trying to giving a reassuring pat. That's how they do it right? Well, that's what her old friend did and it always brought her a great amount of comfort. "Thank you. For saving my life." She says softly.
As the adrenaline ebbed, her sword became heavy, her hands began to shake and the pain in her back returned. Gently, she reached back to inspect the damage. A small wound but there was ice around the edges. That meant waiting for the ice to thaw, cleaning away the dead flesh, and applying a bandage. Difficult considering the location. Did she have a mirror? All of that became moot as something washes over her and does all the work in the blink of an eye. Instead of thanks she frowns at Delan and goes to restart the fire. Stupid magic.
It was getting harder and harder not to feel inadequate. She couldn't even hit one of the little bugs while the others blew them up one by one with fire. Even her opponent was blinded collateral damage. On her own she'd have died or had to flee the situation...and probably died anyway cause those things were fast. Stewing in her sullen thoughts she tries to rekindle the fire. "What's the point of a watch when a whole tribe of invisible enemies can just waltz right in? I mean we were awake and mostly aware and they still caught us off guard," she says grouchily. Once the fire is going she checks her sword for damage from the rock ceiling and starts grinding them off with a whetstone.
The rain dripped on him through the boughs of the trees around him without letup. In fact, it seemed to pick up a bit. He didn’t really care too much in that moment. The weather merely mirrored his heartbreak and sense of loss. He wasn’t sure how long he sat there weeping, though it had been only a few minutes when the tears finally started to slow. His breath came in low and ragged as he tried to calm himself down. By the time Vetra came out and approached him, his crying had been reduced to jagged sniffles.
He didn’t look up at her right away when her scaled hand rested itself on his head. Neither did he speak at first, still trying to get his breathing entirely under control. The simple touch did help to calm him, however. “You’re welcome,” Delan finally told her softly. Breathing in deep, he let out a slow sigh and his lungs relaxed at last. He tilted his head back until it rested against the outer wall of the cave. There was a small smile on his face, though it was a sad one.
“I wasn’t sure I was ever going to be able to do that,” the half elf admitted regarding his crying. The smile faded a bit as he sobered once more. He was staring up at the treeline, his mind drifting in that memory. “I never got the chance to before. I was never alone at that camp to have a moment to grieve, not even once. After so many months I’d become numb to it. Even after you guys got me out, it seemed like the time for being able to do so had simply passed already.”
Shaking himself of the thoughts, he turned to look at Vetra with a slight frown of curiosity as though enlightenment had just dawned on him. “Did you breathe fire?” he asked, his tone adding emphasis on the last word to convey just how impressed and fascinated he was by what he’d witnessed during the grig fight.
Whether or not watch is set the rest of the night passes without incident. The next morning dawned with clear skies and cooler temperatures as the party emerged into a sodden forest with many pools of standing water as the ground struggled to absorb all that had fallen the previous night. Due to this Lyra leads the group through more heavily forested paths so the the horses would be walking on submerged tree roots and not open ground that was more liable to grab their hooves with thick mud.
Within an hour they had broken free of the new forest and were making good time through the damp long grasses that covered most of this hilly area. Under the warming sun the temperature rose and by lunch the group was traveling over dry ground. The only animals the group would encounter would be herds of deer that scattered at their appearance and the occasional rabbit that would vanish into the tall grass. As the sun began to move through the last quarter of the horizon the group would stop at the banks of a large pond that sat hard against the side of another tor with bare rock sides that rested within a small dell. Anyone who tasted the water would find it heavy with minerals but fresh and clean.
As the group began to set up their camp Lyra would be refilling the groups stock of fresh water and looking a bit confused. She kept scooping handfuls of water and tasting it over and over while muttering to herself. "Why does it taste like that? Those minerals aren't usually found on the surface."
Shirak would be up on the edge of the hill and keeping overwatch on the surrounding land. Outlined by the sun the big cat looked almost majestic. High overhead Mylee flew happily in complex patterns and kept watch with her keen eyesight. With the two animals on watch the druid was completely unconcerned with anyone sneaking up on them and focused all of her attention on the strange taste of the clean water.
Rose perked up, listening to Lyra mention minerals. "Well if they aren't usually found on the surface I should take samples to analyze for later. Who knows, might be another useful reagent for my experimental catalysts and potables." She said with a shine in her eyes, smiling broadly. As she crouched down to start taking samples the fading sunlight and struck the surface of something down below the water. "Ah, what the...?" She said reacting to seeing the golden glint under the water. "Uh guys? I think there is something shiny deep in the water." She stands and points where she saw the glint before it disappeared completely in almost the same instant she saw it.
Finally, they'd had a peaceful night. Everyone was able to get a bit of rest without interruption, and the next day dawned brightly. After a bit of travel they were finally able to get out of the forest and even onto land that wasn't still damp and muddy from the previous day's thunderstorm.
They stopped at a pond toward the end of the day as the sun's light began to fade. Leading his horse to the water, he let the beast drink as he got down and had a handful or two himself. The water tasted a bit sharp, but at least it was clean. He wouldn't have looked past that if it hadn't been for Rosa speaking up next to him, pointing at the water.
Turning his head, Delan looked where she was indicating. Sure enough, there was something shimmering deep below. "It looks like gold," he said, leaning to try and get a better look through the ripples in the water. "Or at least, it's gold in color. Looks like it's right up against the side of the tor down there. It's pretty deep, though." He wouldn't be able to reach it outside of the water, even with his longspear. The pond was deep enough they couldn't even see the bottom of it. If they wanted to know what it was, they'd have to go under water.
"Anyone curious enough to take a dive?" he asked candidly. It could be something of interest or value, but it could equally be something dangerous. He knew first hand that some of the worst dangers in nature were clothed in bright, fascinating, and alluring colors.
Meha rest and seeks her Goddess through prayer and mediation. She feels she gained some insight into the working of the plans her Goddess had laid out, but was not completely sure yet.
However, when it came time to check on everyone before bed, Meha paid close attention to Dom. It seems the priestess was sweet on him, and while if asked directly she would change the subject, it was clear she was thankful Dom was alive. She even babied him about his wound, something she didnt do for the others. She would discreetly ask him about sharing a bed together in service to Calistria, and if turned down, she makes the unusually choice of accepting it and asking no one else, almost as a sign of respect.
The next morning however, she seemed a bit happier, and as the group made its way from the terrible forest lands into the sweet open grassy plains, she even relaxed and joked more. Coming upon the pond as the group makes camp, she was too busy brushing her horse down to notice anything outside of the ordinary. " What? Something in the water? Dont they have horse eating monsters in rivers and such? Its why I never went to them. Always some such things to snatch you and eat you."
Lyra would stand next to Rosa in curiosity and stare hard at what her sister was pointing at. Seeing nothing but darkness at the bottom she squints her eyes and looks but still sees nothing. Hearing that Delan had seen what Rosa was talking about ensured her sister that the Alchemist wasn't doing any crazy talk and that intrigued her. A tor in a hilly area wasn't anything unusual but a source of water obviously from underground could erode the bottom of the tor over time and expose interesting things that would normally lie hidden for all time.
"I might have something that would help. If someone could do me a favor and toss an object enchanted with Light into the center of the pond so we can see if anything will go after it." Lyra said while going into the tent she shared with Rosa. A minute later she would come out but this time stripped down to her undergarments and in the process of tying her hair back with a leather strap.
Rose thinks for a second and snaps her fingers. "I'll do you one better." She grins and then she wiggles her fingers, calling to mind the image of fireflies or will o' wisps. "Light from shadows and shadows from light, I beseech thee to gently come and dance for me." She conjures a number of softly glowing spheres bobbing and rotating around to float from her and then gently sink into the depths of the water, still doing their dance at her behest for as long as she wills it for one minute.
The multicolored lights drifted down into the pound and illuminated neolithic rocks that must have sat in this depression for untold amount of years, smoothed into rounded shapes by season after season. Tiny insects bagan to gather and chase the lights but nothing else emerged from the darkness.
Vetra was glad to have a good night's rest, feeling a bit refreshed and thankful she got her own blood out of her leather jerkin. She rode along with the others, this time keeping close, even to Moira of all things. She kept her eyes on the surrounding lands and would hum a little during the long day of travel.
When they began to pack for camp and Rosa called out something she would scuttle over to try and peer into the waters to see anything. Frowning she think's for a moment as she watches the water and then looks about everyone else. "Don't know about you... but I'm not a great swimmer and I might just look like an afternoon delight to whatever's in there." She shakes her head for a moment before clearing her throat, turning to finish setting up camp as there really isn't much she could do at the moment as she thought over what she could possibly do.
Suddenly she stops, looking back to the lake as she felt something nagging on the back of her brain but she just couldn't place it.
Seeing nothing emerging to eat the insects or investigate the lights Lyra chewed her lip while she debated the wisdom of swimming down into a deep pond to investigate something shiny. As time ticked on the druid let out her breath in exacerbation. "For goddess's sake, mother would be slapping me right now. Nothing ventured means nothing gained."
She took a thin hair that she had been holding and stretched it between her hands. Taking a deep breath the druid began to speak in the draconic language. Green energy swirled out of the air and spun around the slightly green hair strand she was holding before it sank into her hands and spread up her arms. Where the light passed webbing grew between her fingers and her skin become slightly reflective as miniscule iridescent scales grew and her muscles became larger and more defined. The sides of her neck stretched and folded as 4 parallel slits appeared on either side and stretched open to reveal gills. Her gently pointed ears elongated until they matched Mehaila's. When she spoke her words had gained an odd hollow resonation to them. "This shouldn't take me long."
Without another word she ran forward and dove into the pond, her form slipping quickly down as her webbed hands and feet propelled her through the water far quicker then she could have done in her normal form. Slicing through the water as if born to it Lyra quickly arrived at the bottom and disturbed a turtle that had been feeding on a fish. With a gentle hum that reverberated through the water and a stroke along the turtles neck she calmed the creature and it went back to eating dinner.
Moving forward she investigated the area of the pond that had been pointed out and found a pile of boulders. This close she could feel the subtle current that flowed from the pile and realized the source of the spring must be under there. Swimming against the current wasn't difficult and she carefully investigated the boulders for any sign of this golden glint.
After a minute she found a small opening that was barely large enough for her to wiggle through and she peered into the darkness beyond. What she saw caused Lyra's heart to skip several beats and she froze in shock and amazement. Turning she swam quickly and almost exploded out of the surface. "You are not going to believe this. It's...you have to see it. You won't believe it." she repeated dumbly.
Swimming back down she found the hole again and after a few seconds of wiggling managed to squeeze through the narrow opening and vanished from the few of the group. Swimming down the natural tunnel that was buried under the tor even the druid's normally ambivalent attitude towards material wealth was sorely strained as every greedy dream she ever had as a child suddenly resurfaced.
Plucking a stone from the mud she quickly rinsed it off and stared at the large raw topaz that was roughly the size of her fist. Spitting out a word underwater the topaz began glow with bright golden light that speared through the boulders outside. With the new light the caster could fully appreciate the enormity of the silvery metal that laced through the walls in abundance down the tunnel. She pulled the dagger she had brought along and dug at the rock around the tiny tip of what appeared to be quartz. It took some effort but eventually she was able to pry the raw diamond out of the wall and marveled at the chicken egg sized stone that sparkled with the light from the topaz. She could feel her spell beginning to wear off so spared the bright silver metal veins another glance before taking both stones with her and wiggling out of the cave.
Just as the spell wore off Lyra broke the surface of the pond and coughed out the water that had accidentally breathed in. Swimming to the shore she stood up in the shallows and breathed heavily while leaning on her knees. It was several long seconds before she could stand up straight and speak with awed reverence. Holding up the two extremely valuable stones she said "It's a Wondrumm Umgor."
Rose tilted her head. "A what? Sister speak plainly, I see those are very beautiful stones. What's a one drum um gore?" She repeats, butchering the words of the unfamiliar tongue as she struggled with the words. She thought her sister might be ill, reaching out to feel her forehead with the back of her hand, but ultimately useless because she was covered in cool water. "Common tongue if you please, or frell even draconic would be satisfactory." She huffed.
Mehaila looks at the stones that Lyra found, her eyes are first guarded due to her disbelief anything found would be valuable. One just didnt discover things of value in the wild. You could get one from the corner market but that was it. However, looking over the gems that Lyra brigns forward, Meha gasp, understanding exactly their worth. And it wasnt a small chunk of change. This gems could bring them fame and fortune like they have never seen " Rosa, I think your sister is saying we have stumbled upon a great deal of wealth that we must use responsible. For dresses and such."
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As soon as Moira closed her eyes she opened them again somewhere else. She was standing in the forest again with everything frozen around her and a light pouring through the trees. For some reason none of this seemed strange. In a daze she walked forward towards the light. As she expected, the light came from the bolt of lightning earlier that day but Lyra was not standing beneath it. Not that there was enough space. The bolt was resting on the ground, branching upward like a tree. Beautiful.
Moira felt more than heard a presence beside her. She turned to see a large man sitting on a log that wasn't there before. He was hunched over hands resting on a gnarled branch he most likely used as a walking stick. He was covered more than dressed in dirty looking hides, the hair slicked down in some parts and sticking up in others. He had a wild mane of hair and large bushy beard, both streaked with silver. And antlers. A large and majestic set of antlers with an impossibly large number of points. Even without them she know instinctively who this was.
Erastil, Old Deadeye, Stag God, Estig the Hunter and a thousand names besides.
She did not bow or kneel before him. "What's going on?" she asked arms folded. Erastil rolled his eyes.
"Your going to be a fun one I can tell. That is for you silly girl," he says pointing his walking stick at the tree of light. She turns back towards it, confused.
"It's pretty but what it is?"
"Try a different angle."
Frowning at the god, Moira walks around the tree a bit and finally sees an image in the branches. The image she had seen earlier but not recognized. A stag. And it's antlers matched that of the man on the log. She walks a bit further around and sees something else. It wasn't an image though. It was words, and gestures and the flow of power.
A spell.
A spell to imbue an item with light. She could cast the same spell Rosa did on her arrow now.
"I don't want it," she blurted out. Something hard smacked her in the back of the head. She growled in annoyance and looked at the old man but he didn't appear to have moved. How?
"To bad. It's a gift. Can't take it back."
"Why?" she said, not giving in. Another hit to the back of the head. She was even looking at him but never saw him move. She looked around but there was no one else here.
"Ain't anyone ever told you not to look a gift horse in the mouth?" The old man squinted at her, annoyed. She folded her arms and returned his stare. After a long while he sighed and shook his head.
"Stubborn. You've been praying to me for a long time. Hunted well. Performed a ritual to my name," he said nodding at her. He looks up and says angrily, "Even if that harlot took the credit." He looked back at her and shrugged. "You sought strength. What kind of god would I be not to provide to such a devout follower?"
"I didn't pray to you," she said, confused and a little defensive. "At least not a lot-"
"Didn't you?" he interrupts. "I am the god of the hunt. But what do you do when hunting. You are pursuing something. Reading the signs. Gaining experience. Knowledge. All to catch sight of your prey, your goal." He pauses, watching her intently. When he sees she hasn't gotten it, he continues slowly like a teacher trying to get a student to reach the answer. "With every swing of your hammer, you get closer to the goal." Recognition dawns. "It's been a beautiful hunt to watch." He smiles like a proud old grandpa.
"That's..." Moira stops and looks down, thoughtful. "Okay. But I haven't been seeking power. And this is the easy way to...end the hunt," she says gesturing at the tree.
"Haven't you though?" He smiles at her annoyed look. "You wish you were stronger because you feel you haven't been pulling your weight. Yet you're too stubborn to ask for help. Well here you go. You wouldn't pass up accidentally walking into a 10 point buck when out hunting. Might seem too easy or unfair but also no better than to let an opportunity to slip by. You might be a blacksmith at heart but you're a hunter by birth and calling. You don't have to use it to make the hunt easier. Keep the handicap. I don't care. Still fun to watch."
Moira bristles a little but says nothing. She looks at the tree of light again in thoughtful consideration. Eventually, after a few long minutes she sighs. "Fine. What do I need to do now?"
"Nothing. It's already done," the old god said, smiling. He stands and Moira's eyes go wide. He was enormous and powerfully muscled. More so than the hunched figure suggested. A tiger laying wait to pounce. "Have Courage girl. It's going to be a wild ride. I can feel it. And good hunting."
--------------------
The dream disappeared and Moira awoke just as light was coming back. She tried to keep hold of the dream but it faded quickly. All that remained was the tree. And something else. A beam of light was shooting from the a spot a few inches from the tree. She turned her head and the beam of light moved around, always pointing the same way. Towards...
A massive head peered at from around the rock face. Her horse stared right at her. And she could...feel something from him. Contentment, a little hunger, a little curiosity, a little fear. The longer she stared at it the more fear increased. "Courage?" asked hesitantly. Now she felt recognition and happiness from it.
"Oh s$@@."
Domitian pants heavily as his companions finish off the last of the assassins. I wonder who they were? He begins to look at his friends, to make sure they were alright, not even thinking about his own wounds yet. He was thankful when Delan quickly took steps to heal everyone, including Domitian. When that is finished, Domitian makes sure to say "Thank you Delan" with a nod of appreciation. As the man excuses himself, Domitian gives him the privacy he seems to desire, and instead turns back to Mehaila.
Shaking his head, he says "not exactly the most pleasant way to wake up. Sneaky little things. You alright? You fought well." He continues talking to her as they make arrangements to return camp to some semblance of normalacy. He smiles warmly as she gives her attentions to him, though a part of him hesitates.
When she privately asks him about sharing her bed, a part of him very much wants to agree, to throw caution to the wind and experience everything she was offering. Another part of him did not, though. He knows where that leads, and had seen it end poorly too often. All this is going on in his head, as he pauses for a few seconds, eyes dancing. Finally, he responds with some hesitation "I... uh... " he coughs a little bit, getting a little red, then finally finds his voice again. "I'm afraid I must decline. Erastil frowns on such things outside of marrage." He smiles, a sad and a little bit ackward sort of smile. "I appreciate the offer, though." It is clear that the idea appeals to him, and that he likes her, but that he wasn't ready for that kind of step.
He then goes and finds his gear, giving his horse a solid pat on the shoulder as he does. After glancing around to make sure nobody was nearby, he mutters to the horse "Fearless in battle, but put me in front of a beautiful woman, and I go to pieces. Tell me how that makes sense." The horse seems to lean into him, almost sympathetically. "You're a good horse, you know that? Good listener. Need to come up with a good name for you." Another pat, then he starts digging through his gear before finding his older chain shirt armor. "Those damn things caught me armorless, that's not good. Need some better evening wear." Before going back to bed, he puts the chain shirt on, and sleeps in it.
Domitian enjoyed the sun beating down on him once they left the forest behind. After that storm last night, he was ready to be good and dry. He decided to stick with the chain shirt rather than the plate mail after waking up, because it felt more freeing, particularly as they traveled. His shoulders felt lighter than they had in a while. He made a point of riding next to Mehaila as they traveled, talking to her about the various plant life they encountered on their ride. "I know plants haven't been kind to you recently, but they really are generally quite beautiful."
He gives more attention to his horse as they ride than he had previously. It was weird, but it almost felt closer to the beast since the storm. He had stayed with Domitian, even as the storm worsened, even as the lightning struck and everything went to hell. He needed a good name. "I'm kind of thinking about Benjamin" he says to Mehaila. "A reminder, that even when things are going to hell, you do what you can for who you can. What do you think?"
When Rose first mentioned something shiny in the water, Domitian came over to look. "I don't see anything down there. Looks like normal water to me." Even when Delan confirms, and both are helping him look, he can't see anything. Wishful thinking maybe? As they begin to talk about diving in, Domitian looks rather uncertain. "Taking a swim in an unfamiliar spring with an odd taste to chase after what might be something shiny seems unnecessarily risky." As more people see it, though, he thinks maybe there is something down there after all...
When Lyra decides to go into the water, Domitian hesitates, then says "Be careful. Erastil, protect her." When she emerges, the stones she presents make his eyes shoot up high. Then he starts thinking of what they could do with such a find. The good they could implement in settling this place. His mind zooms along that path for a while, before slowing down.
"We need to be careful here. The allure of wealth could lead us to taking risks we otherwise wouldn't. But the gains seem significant." He looks at Lyra and asks "How deep did you have to go to get to these stones? Is it something we'll be able to get to without magical aid?"
Offers up an idea that she had while listening to the group. There was a great need for the gold, and she asks " While I know the exact value of these, I joke when I mention spending it on dresses. WE all for the most part have a deity we serve. And what is the basis for all service? A place to do so. Perhaps using these for better armor or weapons would be nice, but if we are to settle this area, we should have seed money. I propose we keep these gems for that reason. So we may have a good fountain to build on. While not to much of a wilderness guide, Meha did understand the workings of the clergy the best perhaps, and knew that one needed to have funds to make anything happen
Rose looks at the gems, feeling part of her growing somewhat covetous but more for the reasons of being able to fund more of her hobbies and projects. "Dresses? Perish the thought. Unless we are going to some aristocratic party or an audience with a kind I prefer comfort to formality." She looked down at her current attire as if to punctuate her statement as well. "Lyra...How much did you say was down there? Perhaps we should mark it and come back if it quite the deposit as you say it is. I don't know how much we can transport safely." She said, thinking back to the bandits they still had yet to completely deal with that could have patrols wandering about the area as well.
I have an animal companion now. The thought buzzes through Moira's head over and over again. More so then the fact that she had been blessed by Erastil and given divine magic. She could cast spells now. She hadn't tried but she knew it was there. She just had to find the right angle on the tree and there it was. Divine Inspiration. Yet the fact that she was aware of all the horse beneath her felt was even more concerning than anything else. Like constantly feeling pressure on her mind. It wasn't unpleasant but it was new and weird. She'd have to ask Lyra what to expect. And some specifics on taking care of a horse. She had a general idea but there was a lot of missing steps.
This was so weird.
She stayed quiet, mulling over her new direction in life when they came to a pond next to another tor. Moira didn't pay to much attention to what was going on until Lyra uttered the words Wondrumm Umgor. "What?" she asked loudly. All her considerable attention turned on to the half-elf.
She was right, she had to see this.
Moira immediately hopped off the horse-Courage now-and began tossing aside gear and stripping in a frenzy. In moments she was down to her under things. "Show me," she said as she dove into the water.
Delan watched as Rosa dropped tiny but beautiful spheres of light down into the water, while Lyra prepared for whatever plan she had to go take a look. After a few minutes, nothing in the water stirred to investigate the shining orbs. "Well, it doesn't seem to be dangerous so far," he said, though his tone was still reasonably wary. Better safe than sorry.
"That's a neat trick," Delan commented with interest as Lyra temporarily spelled herself into the form a sea elf. Able to breathe underwater, she went down and all they could do was wait and watch from the surface. When she shot up later and started babbling incoherent sentences, he knew she'd seen something beyond exciting. Now his curiosity was in overdrive. Down she went again, this time coming back up with evidence of what she'd found.
Eying them keenly, Delan knelt next to the shore in deep thought while the others spoke around him. They'd just stumbled on something even better than a gold mine. It was exciting, yes, but a lifetime of being a merchant and trader had shaped him to greet such finds with a different approach. "If we're going to do this, we need to do it carefully," he told them slowly, his mind still churning gears over the situation. "Carrying around that kind of worth is beyond dangerous. As long as no one knows we have it then we don't have to worry as much, but once you start spending it people take notice and that's never good. I think we should do what we can to gather as much of it as possible, but we'd need to approach selling them very carefully. In fact, we probably don't even want to try selling them all in one spot."
He lightly scratched his cheek as he pondered. "My parents were the ones who did the direct trading, but I still know of a few of their merchant contacts that might be willing to work with me fairly. If we keep to just selling one or two at a time to different people and put the vast majority of it somewhere secure like with a bank or in a personal vault, that would be our safest option." Looking toward Lyra, Delan asked, "How much more was down there?"
He didn't even notice Moira stripping down. It was only the splash of the water as she dove in that drew his attention. He blinked at her and then smiled, pleased at her excitement despite his caution over the matter.
Tossing the gems to Domitian Lyra dove in after Moira and quickly caught up to the powerful fighter. Seeing Moira was having no issues with swimming the druid moved past her and plucked a pebble from the bottom of the pond. Surfacing quickly she gasped out word that caused the pebble to glow with light and ducked back down before motioning to Moira at the small opening in the rocks. She tossed the glowing pebble through the opening so that it's light would reflect off the thick veins of silvery material and the dozens of miniature stars as the tips of gems buried deep in the rock reflected the light.
Moira's eyes lit up at the sparkling treasure trove in the gap between the stones. She tried to get through the gap but it was just barely to small. She could maybe force it but survival won over greed. If she got stuck, she'd suffocate here. Surging to the surface, Moira practically launched out of the water with a happy shout. She floated in the middle of pond with a smile of childish wonder. The cotton bands she used to contain her well endowed frame were soaked through and left little to the imagination.
When Lyra surfaced she swam over and grabbed the half-elf on both sides of her face and pulled her in for a swift and slightly painful kiss. She quickly pulled back and smiled radiantly, not bothered or not caring about the intimate gesture. "Thank you. ThankyouThankyouThankyou," she muttered as she pulled Lyra in for a hug. "Mithril. That was mithril. Tons and tons of it. And other gems. Wondrumm Umgor. I can't believe we found one." Stunned by that revelation, she let go and floated away in a daze.
Edited: After some minutes, Moira snaps back to reality and looks at the others. She is greeted with several different expressions at her state of undress. Some fidgeting, some looking away, some blushing, and one open ogling. She looks down at sodden clothes then up in anger. "Oh suck on a lemon you prudes. Except you Mehaila. Stop ogling. Do you know what this is?" At there curious stares she continues going from angry to almost reverent. "Wondrumm Umgor. It means Cave of Wonder. A random cave warped by wild and powerful magic to produce exotic gems and ores. Adamantium was first discovered in one. Throughout dwarven history only 9 have ever been discovered. And now there's one right here." Her speech devolves into mumbling as many expressions pass across her face. Happiness is the greatest but also, determination, fear, worry, and more. Strangely, greed doesn't seem to be a factor.
Trying to hold in her mirth and her ogling, Mehaila states " Moira hunny... if I didnt have my eye on some one else, I would be jealous of your bountiful.... chest. My dear you have had those hidden. How do they not give you back pain?" The lithe figured elf was too busy trying to smother her laughter to be any real help right now. After gathering herself and a long stare at Dom, she states " As much as I understand how much of a find this is... how do we mark it and come back to it? And what good does it really do for us? Don't armies march over these?" She appraicated Lyra's form as well, but it wasnt nearly as distracting Moiras. And even then, imagines of Dom stripping down in the water caused the priestess to get a star-eyed look and possibly drools
Rose watched as Moira stripped and dove into the water, surprised at her eagerness. Still pondering that Wondrumm Ungor phrase that Lyra bandied about, she only barely noticed Lyra and Moira resurfaced once more. Cave of Wonders...that sounds amazing! She thought happily. Of course when she snapped out of her fantasy and came back to staring at Moira's gracious endowments, she flushed and let out a little cough. She averted her eyes, fidgeting uncomfortably, even more when she called her out for her reaction. "Sorry..." She apologized even more embarrassed at Moira's lack of modesty and Mehaila's usual avid response in kind.
Clearing her throat and trying to suppress her feelings, "Trying to find a way to inconspicuously mark the area will be a hard task indeed. How do we go about it, Lyra?" She asked, a bit of a pout on her face, chewing her lip softly as she ponders her own question as well.
When Lyra came to the surface of the pond she was completely unprepared when the stronger Moira grabbed her and planted an almost savage kiss on the druid's lips. Before Lyra could protest she was pulled into a hug as Moira thanked her over and over. Patting the fighter's back awkwardly she swam back to the shore and smothered the complicated feelings that had risen up with the sudden contact with the...healthy looking...
Snapping her attention back to the gems in Domitian's hands Lyra plucked the smaller of the two and stared at it closely. Rubbing it hard to cleaned away some of the grime she revealed a vivid orange- gold color. With the last of the sunlight reflected from the raw stone in her hand it appeared as if she was holding a heart of fire and the druid gasped at the inner beauty that she could see, the future of this precious stone once cut and polished. She wasn't sure how much this stone would fetch on the market other than...alot.
Frowning she looked up at the rest of the group. "We have to be very careful with what we just discovered. The wrong people find out about this and we're all dead."
Domitian looks more and more uncomfortable as people keep stripping down and going into the water. He tries to look anywhere but at the ladies, clearly uncomfortable, but also very interested in what they were finding. He flinches in surprise at receiving the stones, then focuses as much of his attention on them as he can.
"Marking the area shouldn't be hard - we can mark it on our map, and the spring here should be enough of a landmark to come back to, it isn't going anywhere. Perhaps we could take and sell just one or two stones, enough to well equip us for now, then come back for the rest later? I think using most of it as seed money is a terrific idea." He gives a quick smile to Mehaila at this.
"Once we have dealt with the bandits, this could form the foundation for our future settling of this land. It is an incredibly valuable find for sure."
Moira looks down at her chest and folds her arm over them more annoyed than conscientious. "Binding and exercise. What else?" Now that she was in the water and not so focused on the cave, it really did feel nice. She ducked down and resurfaced, flipping her hair about. Then she noticed Lyra's slightly covetous gaze and withered a bit. "Sorry," she said looking ashamed. "I think I will go back down."
Moira swam closer to shore and found a decent size rock. With a look of concentration, she dove back into her mind and found the image of the tree. With a mental flick, it spun to the spot she saw last not and found the light spell. In reality, Moira mumbled some words with a glazed over look. Instantly the rock shone with a bright light. She smiled again looking at it. Without a word she then dove back down to the cave to peer in.
Best. Day. Ever.
Even for the normal liberal cleric Dom's praise causes her to blush and she murmurs "It isnt really much just a common idea, nothing worth praise" She brushes her armor a bit and stands straighter, before looking about trying to figure out a way to mark the area, or to even cover the area so no one else can stumble about it. She prays to Calistria about guidance to spend the sudden wealth wisely and in service of all present, and for peace and no fighting over the wealth among her friends. After a few more moments she says " Lyra, Moira, as beautiful and varied as you both are, I think some of us here are not that liberal when it comes to clothing. Let us explore fully and then move on to our real quarry, before we make a quarry here."
Vetra was just really confused at why everyone was displaying a range of emotions about Moira stripping and going into the lake. She wandered closer to listen in to what was being said, drinking in all the details. She'd give peek at the stone and her eyes would go wide at the gems... it was so shiny! She'd have to fight a sudden urge to grab them and just, hold them close to her. For whatever reason, they were becoming irresistible to hold or touch.
She'd approach Lyra looking closer at the orange diamond that she cleaned up being drawn by the beautiful color. She wouldn't say anything but would be hovering close, just entranced by the gems beauty and the revelation that they just became incredibly rich incredibly fast. But that diamond she held, it just... drew her in curiously as her bright blue eyes watched the refractions of the sunlight bounce around in the gem. The world just seemed to melt away the longer she stared at the gem, almost forgetting where she was.
Delan raised an interested brow when Moira returned to the surface of the water. "Mithril?" he asked, more to himself than her -- she was too busy forcing affection on Lyra in any case, not that Delan seemed to notice the awkwardness of that exchange. He was too busy thinking.
"I don't think we're going to be able to sell these gems," he admitted to the others. "These two alone are worth several million gold. Even if we have merchants that would be willing to work with us fairly, none of them are going to have that much money. But the mithril... that we could work with. It would still give us more than enough funding, and wouldn't paint as large of a target on our backs. Plus it's something that merchants would be able to afford to buy. For now, we may want to find a way to mark and seal off the entrance so no one else finds it after us, and then come back later when we have time and a solid plan of action for it."
It was hard to say. He was in as much awe as Lyra and Moira were. A Wondrumm Umgor! The trader and the spellcaster in him both were itching to do as Moira had done and strip down to take a dive, maybe study the magic of it a bit. But they simply didn't have time right now. Vetra had made a time sensitive deal with the Kobolds, and they had bandits to deal with. As wonderful as this was, it was not as important to him as avenging his family's deaths...
Faced with the harsh reality of the world and that the value of the two gems she had recovered couldn't easily be sold Lyra took both in her hands. Retrieving her staff from the tent she waded into the pond and swam back over to the cave entrance. Taking a deep breath the druid ducked down and kicked to the cave entrance before tossing both gems inside. Hesitating a moment as the light shimmered on the immeasurable wealth inside she spoke the command word in a burst of bubbles and touched the top of the cave entrance with the staff.
The stone flowed like water and fell down to merge with the boulders, sealing off the entrance from all light. Staring at the sealed cave for a moment more Lyra pushed off one of the boulders and erupted through the surface. "That should hide it for now, barring any other entrances." she would say as she swam back to shore.
Once back she would unwrap her hair and squeeze the water out of it before ducking into her tent and changing into dry clothing. When she came back out she was dressed in a white linen shirt that she left untucked and baggy pants. She sat down on a camp stool while drying her hair with a rough linen towl. She was silent for several minutes as the group got back to setting up camp as she contemplated the massive change in plans this cave system brought up. "One thing we've never talked about what kind of settlement do we want to create? We've been so wrapped up in hunting down the bandits that we haven't talked about what happens afterwards."
Mehaila sighed and watched the lovely gems disappear, but her fingers were itching to be moving. They had two timetables to get over and done, and then she could get back to wooing Dom. Which to her was the more fun challenge. She was getting her saddlepacks checked and rechecked, making sure everything she would need for the night was either secured or nearby. She only grumbles under her breath about needing better armor, but gets out a few daggers and her rapier, knowing the group will need a watch. She brushes down her horse, still unsure of a name for the spotted mare. She was lively, but also about as brave as Mehaila herself. Which meant she hated certain things. After that was done she would overhear Lyra's comment, and think on it.
" I think... I knew we would set up a settlement, but I never gave it anything thought. How big are we talking? Do we answer to anyone? Or will it be one of us? And how do we decide who runs it? I could run a city, but a simply village I would be lost on I feel. Perhaps I could do it" The normally playful cleric seemed serious on this, for out of everoyne gathered, expect for Delan, she was possibly the most experienced with the workings of a city and town.
Rose bit her lip in thought. She was wistful about the gems but knew there was nothing to do about them. They were too valuable and keeping them on their person subjected them to being lost or stolen or killed for. She sighed dejectedly, still bummed by the thought, but perhaps they could come back soon enough to retrieve them again.
She did perk up at the question from Lyra. "One of Education? Knowledge? It seems a lot of pain can be attributed to ignorance. I would like to be in a society where the barriers are torn down and we were able to rise from the stagnation to a more glorious society of progress and prosperity." She looked around herself at the others, returning back from her little fantasy she spoke of. "That is if we could make something like that a reality. At the very least I don't want Vetra or others like her to keep suffering persecution. Right?" She asked, reaching out to gently grab and feel comforted from her staff.
" Is that how big we are going? I would certainly say all who are good are welcome and can help out. I however do say some differences of opinion are needed. Look at our group. We are three half elves, two humans, and elf, and a kobold. We all have different opinions. Some of my kind even think half elves are to be pitied, and yet others do not. So why can we not have both opinions? Perhaps both have a point?" Mehaila sighs, as even she knew there wasnt reason to keep anyone out on basis of race. " We would even welcome a dragon if they where a gold or silver. It would be nice atleast to have some variance. Perhaps no persecution period, but everyone is entitled to their own opinions. WE are not tyrants are we?"
Lyra's eyes locked on Mehaila and a faint hint of anger entered her features. "I am NOT a half elf! That son of a...!" she broke off her tirade before it grew explosively and calmed herself with several deep breaths. "Our mother was a human and raised us as such. And what half elf lives to over 100 years old without so much as a grey hair? Rosa and I were born 93 years ago so please do not apply titles when you don't know the entire truth."
Finally calmed down from her outburst Lyra switched to the topic at hand. "We have several other countries to model our own after, I would suggest we refrain from becoming to much like Brevoy. Personally I have no loyalty to that country or it's corrupt nobility and refuse to hand them anything that we create. Whatever we do decide I would hope that a reverence for nature will be instilled in the populace. This land is bountiful and will provide more then we will need if we manage it carefully."
Warming up to the subject she leaned forward on her stool. "The biggest question and we don't have to answer it now...who rules? Do we create a monarchy and select one of us rule or a democratic society that opens the possibility of electing someone who will act counter to our desires for the country? Where does duty end and personal ambition take over?"
Moira sulked at the bottom of the pond as long as her breath would hold out. She didn't care so much about the gems. Unless they turned out to be necessary to create a magic weapon, she'd leave off such embellishments. Yeah they sold for money and money bought things but it didn't buy experience. At least not directly. The Mithril was the real prize. Sweet silvery ore of legend. Enough to craft a damn army of colossal golems. She couldn't wait to work with it. That more than anything convinced her to leave. She wasn't ready for Mithril.
Stepping out of the pond, she retrieves her stuff and dabs her self with a linen towel before putting something more modest on. She rings out her hair goes about setting up her on tent, being extra careful despite the lack of wind. She was not about to have a repeat. While tying down a stake she listens to the ongoing conversation. She really hoped they didn't ask her what she wanted. Because honestly, she hadn't really thought about it. She just wanted a forge and maybe some strapping young men to work the bellows. Or women. She wasn't too picky. That was enough to make her happy. The blast of heat from the furnace, the sound of hammer and steel, the hiss of quenched metal. Beautiful music. The others could wax philosophic all the wanted about the big stuff. As a big girl, she appreciated small things more.
"Hey Lyra, could you give me some pointers?" she asks in a lull during the conversation. "Some...things happened last night and...well now I have an animal companion...of the magical variety. Since you have two I was wondering what to expect. And how to take better care of them." Though the words made it Lyra they didn't actually travel through the air strangely enough. And Moira didn't realize she hadn't opened her mouth the entire time. Yet somehow they appeared in her mind just as if Moira had spoken them.
Verta snaps out of her trance on the gem when Lyra moved to seal the cave. Letting out a sigh she moved to finish working on the camp, helping set up the tents and campfire while the others watched Lyra. It was when the subject of a settlement came up Vetra quickly chirped up, "A place of acceptance and justice. My kin should be welcomed, should be allowed admittance and a trial. I am fine if we remove those who do not work but my kin, the ones I left behind, they can help us, especially with the mining of that." She gives a short nod to the... thing that was just sealed.
Looking to Mehaila she nods a little, "Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but everyone should respect each other enough where it isn't a problem. Everyone will learn how to get along and live peacefully, in time. But I want this settlement to be a home for my kin." Her voice was steady and serious. She wasn't asking, more of informing what she wanted. She stood there, watching everyone's faces as she spoke, "If... that is an issue, then I understand and I will find other lands to settle. I want a home for everyone."
Taken aback by Lyra's anger about their birth, her face seemed surprised by that admission. She had been raised by both her parents, and while her father was a ranger for the forest, she still saw him and knew him. She didn't really know how to respond at the venom, but she tries her best " Lyra, I can not speak for your father, but I can assure you most half elves can live about as long as most dwarves. I believe my mother when last asked was nearing her 300th birthday. Some would say she is merely reaching middle age for one of her station. But that is not your point. I do not understand, and... I have to confess we have survived much together, and we are planning building a home for all of us, and our kin"
That was said with a pointed look to Vetra to let her know she was counted among those she thought of as friends and needing their kin to come, before continuing " But I think we must stop with our own secrets. We must trust each other. I agree perhaps a monarchy would work best, as most of us still have 50 years left of time, and then even a fair number can help guide the descendants. I would even rule if no one else would, for I can run a temple or a city. My mother was a minor diplomat for the Queen of the Evergreen Forest, and my father a ranger in the Queen's Forest Guard. But let us know each other, and therefore we can say which is best for us. I will start. I can not stand dogs. They are hairball gathering, slobbering, slime balls of fangs and terror and need to not be in our kingdom period. They bring nothing but death and destruction. And to be honest, I feel bad about how we have treated Vetra. She has given herself to our cause, yet sometimes we treat her as a background piece. WE need to share."
She looks to her companions, understanding for the first time that they where who would make up the first council, first board, first whatever they decided to make up, and now was the best time to know and understand each other. They had survived storms and killer fae, and even killer plants, might as well face each others past. " I think all should be welcome in the kingdom of the Silver Tree. We will only ask you maintain civility and kindness while in our borders."
Rose smiles, almost a maniacal grin as she felt herself kind of mirror, yet reflect Lyra's tirade. "How would you think us to be? twenty? thirty? My sister and I watched our poor human mother wither, while we stood against 93 winters. If I ever saw our father again, I would treat him no different than those grigs. He gave her children that had to watch her rapidly age and pass before their very eyes, making them feel even more as outcasts before our mixed blood becomes apparent."
She sighs, and then holds the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. "I beg your pardon Mehaila, I don't wish to go off on you mere moments after Lyra did likewise. Just..." She sighs in frustration. "We aren't even sure what we truly even are. I feel like I relate more with Vetra and the unusual things she is experiencing than any other 'half-elf'." She said bitterly, looking down at her feet.
"Kingdom of the Silver Tree. That is something I feel that I could support..." She smiles at the suggestion, but softly laughing she adds, "And as far as your... dog-aversion? I feel like I want to know more about what brought that about. I worry about your health and happiness sometimes Mehaila. Especially since those assassin vines from before."
Lyra returned the gems to the cave and sealed up the entrance, a feat which admittedly brought a bit of relief to him. He was thrilled that they found the place certainly, but there was something unsettling about having your hands on that much of value. In a single fist sized gem, he'd seen more gold than he'd seen in his entire life working trade. He could only imagine what his parents would have done about the find.
But then the situation shifted. Lyra asked a question that greatly confused him, though it didn't show on his face right away. What did she mean by what kind of settlement they'd want to build? He kept quiet and listened to everyone without interruption as he set up and began to cook dinner for the group. Even as Lyra shocked him by expressing quite a bit of anger toward Mehaila for some previous comments she'd made, he just kept listening in the hopes that eventually their words would give him understanding without him having to ask.
But the more they talked, the more confused he got and it showed on his face. Monarchies? Establishing countries? Who the hell were these people really, and what had he gotten caught up in? He'd come along to kill bandits. No one had said anything to him about establishing an entire nation, and they were speaking about the matter so casually and matter of factually. When he found an opening during the back and forth between Lyra and Mehaila, he cleared his throat a little to get their attention. "Forgive me," he told them for interrupting. "But what... what exactly are you guys talking about?"
A part of him was secretly pleased by the knowledge that these people had accepted him so fully that they seemed to have forgotten he hadn't always been there with them, and thus hadn't realized that he wasn't fully aware of everything they'd been tasked to do. But mostly he was just confused and a bit taken back by the things they were discussing and the plans they were making.
Blush a bit as Rosa ask about her dog aversion. It was not a pleasant memory for her, and for someone who took the time each morning to make sure her hair was just so, she murmurs about something before finally answer " They are just slobbering beast that attack poor kittens and then bite innocent children on the butt and leave marks that are not ever going to be healed properly. You just don't attack kittens! I mean sure it was fine afterwards but that wasn't the point! Kilan was to leave his stupid dogs up while Whiskers was out, and he didn't and it was because my brother is a orc-headed dunderpot!" She was flushed and her eyes were a bit excited, but from her speech it seems her elder brother had traumatized her a bit when younger. However, she shaeks her head after a bit and assures Rosa. " I am fine. I am perfectly happy and nothing is wrong. I just.. don't like forest anymore. It isn't every day someone comes close to dying from plants. I would rather not relive that day ever again. Sometimes one's dignity is more important. That stays between us." She picks at her combat skirt, a bit obvious that the normal upbeat cleric was a bit bothered by that memory and recent events. She had talked to Dom over it, but it would take time for her to accept it. However, the twins had a point " Why dont you share a bit more about that? Who was your father? I might know him. It would give you some peace to confront him"
However, Delan's question puzzled her, her face showing confusion and says " I thought Vetra told you. We are to form some sort of settlement. "
Lyra looked at Delan in surprise and frowned for a moment before she remembered the full scope of everything that had happened. "Hold on a moment."
She returned to her tent and dug through her bags for a moment before coming out with a scroll wrapped in blue ribbon that she unwrapped after sitting back on her stool. "Be it so known that the bearer of this charter has been charged by the Swordlords of Restov, acting upon the greater good and authority vested within them by the office of His Majesty King Noleski Surtova, has granted the right of exploration and travel within the wilderness region known as the Greenbelt."
"Exploration should be limited to an area no further than thirty-six miles east and west and sixty miles south of Oleg’s Trading Post. The carrier of this charter should also strive against banditry and other unlawful behavior to be encountered. The punishment for unrepentant banditry remains, as always, execution by sword or rope. So witnessed on this 24th day of Calistril, under watchful eye of the Lordship of Restov and authority granted by King Noleski Surtova, Ruler of Brevoy."
Rolling the form back up Lyra laughed. "We've all signed and been given...permission by this royal jackanape to clear out bandits. What isn't stated in this pile of drivel is that we've come here to stake a claim for ourselves and not the pedantic pile of offal that wears a crown to the north."
Rose looked at Mehaila about to open her mouth, but then she looked over at Lyra. It was almost as if she was looking for silent permission. "He was a Drow. I'd like to leave it at that for now, perhaps later after we help the kobolds and clear the bandits I might tell more, but it is still very painful for me at least and I know Lyra's feelings about the man as well." She fidgeting, stroking her staff, feeling comfort from the grooves from the carvings she made around it. In a way it was her form of a security and peace that she grew into rather than grew out of.
Looks at Rosa, and covers her face with a hand to hide a laugh. After a few seconds she gathers her composure and states with a firm voice " I have never met a drow, and I never will for they are not real. Drow are elven fairytales designed to scare young children into bed. It could have just been a very dark skinned elf. But there is no drow, what so ever, and there never will be. Never has been. They are just boogeymen. Just because one bad elf who was dark skinned did a terrible thing to your mother does not make drow a real thing. Forget about that story." While her voice seems normal, something in her face changes as she speaks. It gets a bit colder, almost like a mask, as if something was shuttered. Something was off about she said, like she was lying, but what part she was lying about was unclear at this time.
"She's mentioned wanting to find a home that will be safe for her and her people," Delan told Mehaila, his face still etched with confusion. Had he misunderstood what the Kobold had been telling him, he wondered? Her words had seemed innocent enough at the time. She just wanted a safe haven for her and her loved ones. He assumed she'd meant to find a place that would accept them, or to find a place of their own, but he clearly hadn't grasped the gravity of what she'd actually been trying to say. "No one's said anything about establishing a nation..."
Lyra had gotten up and left for a moment, only to return with a very official looking scroll. The woman read the notice aloud for him to hear, and he listened to every word in attentive silence. By the time she finished, it took him a few long seconds to process everything. "And here I thought you guys were just trying to tackle a bandit problem," he joked, though there was enough truth in the comment to convey that he wasn't really taking the revelation as lightly as his words might suggest.
He scratched his cheek idly. "You guys certainly have quite the task before you, I must say," he finally offered, not sure what else to say. This was not what he'd expected, and it left him with a lot more questions. One thing the others would understand clearly by his demeanor was he understood this was their endeavor, not his. He assumed he would be with them until the bandits were taken out, and then after that would be sent on his way. He wasn't someone who'd be charged with this task by the powers that be, though Lyra seemed pretty adamant that once they established a nation they weren't going to hand the keys over to anyone else. He admired that.
"I'm sorry, I'm a bit in shock. I'm not really certain how to react to that. Is it permissible for me to even be traveling with you guys? I'm not signed to anything, and I would hate to repay all your kindness by my presence getting you in trouble with those who charged you with all this..."