Isilme smiles at Ledsa and nods. It was good that she was in good spirits going into this. It was going to be hard for her once Yulin was born. She had already made an effort to warn her, but it would take more than words to show Ledsa the challenge that awaited her. Raising a half-demon to be something more than its heritage was a challenge few mortals were up to the task for, and even with their help and oversight it would be difficult. Hopefully they would be able to get Yulin into the school along with the rest of Aravashnial's students.
"Döyüşçü artıq. O, kölgə saldırdığımız bir iblisə sahib idi," she responds to the scarred unicorn. "Mantarini tərk etdikdən sonra çox şey baş verdi. Biz İskifarın xarabalıqlarını əldən verən Wendigo'yu məğlub etdik, Vikkavakların bir ordusunun nəzarətini aldıq və sonra Arastraxın qüvvələrinə qarşı döyüşməyə getdik və onları buraxdıq və burada buraxdıq. Qaçış hər kəsin yəqin ki, qəbul edəcəyindən çox daha yaxındı, amma biz bunu etdik."
"Much has happened since we left Mantarin. We vanquished the Wendigo who was haunting the ruins of Icerift, took control of an army of Wikkawaks and then led them to battle against Arastrax's forces before leaving them broken and returning here. The escape was much closer than anyone will probably admit, but we made it."
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Het mind put at rest by Ehren’s answer, Hinagiku watches as the druid runs his fingers on the crown. Her gaze remains on him a little longer than usual, clearly lost in thoughts for a moment. It seemed to her that in the short time she had known the druid, he had grown in assurance in such a way that only maturity could provide. Realizing that she has been staring at Ehren for a slightly awkward amount of time, she moves out her companions’ ways to follow them towards the camp.
After a moment, she resumes her questions, addressing, again, Ehren.
”And so, I am guessing you haven’t found the oni Arastrax or any of its servants… ” she begins lamely before making a second attempts at a conversation. ”Mr. Ehren, how have you felt like ever since we communicated with the menhir? I know you have had a similar experience in the past, but was this one different? The … ley… I guess you would call it, is still with you, but at the same time slowly seeping away?“ as she finishes her question, Hinagiku candidly looks straight into the druids eyes. Her gaze finally abates as she continues speaking ”I know her thoughts have stayed with me ever since we spoke through the menhir… but I do not fully understand our connection… it is almost as if some she gave me some of her feelings and thoughts.” she finishes cryptically.
Val eats slowly, considering the question. She rolls her eyes as Xan joins them, but nods in his direction anyway. "Very long and troublesome," she agrees. "And I don't really blame you for wanting to leave Variska. You've been through quite the ordeal and I'd think that you want to get as far away from all of this as possible. I don't know the area all that well, but you could head east toward one of the Kellid villages and then south from there. You may want to stay well away from the border for now though. Things are bad and you haven't full recovered."
"A bit long, yes." Ary nods to Xanderghul. "But worthwhile. How much do you feel is a fair amount for the services you've provided thus far? It may be terribly unsafe to travel alone here and in the hinterlands. You're free to stay with us and choose not to fight as well, and work alongside the more civilian members, but we won't force you to stay." Ary says as she focuses on the cheese for now, to give Variska someone to focus on that wasn't partaking in meat.
"But we're pretty far along, all things considered... and we've done outstandingly well, I believe." she adds, inclining her head towards the tower.
Jorsal nods at Variska when he is introduced. "A pleasure, Ms..?"
"Slovrini. Varsika Slovrini." Variska shrugs, handing over her plate to Xanderghul with no resistance. "If you can get me some warm furs, some rations and that money, I can figure out the rest. South and east, seems easy enough."
She looks up at Ary. "Pretty sure you said equal shares of the stash we found at Icerift. I figure you guys aren't hauling around scales, so fair way is to count it out."
---
"Bütün qalanlar Vilaretdə Exoriusdur. Ordunuzun üçün çətin olduğunu sübut edə bilən Brimoraks kiçik bir komandası var. Əgər mənə sahib olsanız, mən sizinlə döyüşəcəyəm," says Külə.
"Növbəti hərəkətiniz nədir?"
"Then all that remains is Exorius at Vilareth. He has a small squadron of Brimoraks.... that could prove troublesome for your armies. But I will fight with you, if you will have me."
"What is your next move?"
Ehren discreetly glances at Hinagiku every now and then, acutely aware of her gaze. He says nothing of the topic, for fear of making things any more awkward than they should be.
The druid looks in the direction of Icerift Castle, giving Hinagiku's questions some thought. He was not entirely certain that he understood what she was getting at, or if he was capable of giving her a satisfactory answer. "This was the third live menhir I've communed with in my lifetime. Three similar, yet wholly unique experiences. Each and every time, I walked away with knowledge left behind by my predecessors. All of them have been outside the norm. As far as Icerift goes, it was the most direct call to action that I've received from a menhir. But asides from that..."
When their eyes meet, he practically has to force himself not to look away.
"Her feelings and thoughts. You mean those of your 'mother'?" he asks, remembering that she had likened what she felt to a sibling or parent. "I am not sure what to make of it. Your bond with the land might well be stronger than my own. It is certainly more... intimate."
-----
Ehren leaves the tower in one of his contemplative moods, his mind filled with questions and troublesome thoughts. Fortunately, with the battle for Icerift having finally reached a conclusion, he had time to stop to properly reflect on everything that had happened. The menhir, Ugmitok, Hinagiku, Mother Heartwood, Vorian, and the crown... All connected to the Green in one way or the other.
He knew that there were those who would recognize the crown for what it is. What would they think if they saw it sitting on his head? He could only imagine that all sorts of assumptions and expectations would come of it. His thoughts turn to what the Inheritor had told him weeks ago - that he would become a symbol to his people.
Finding a nice quiet place to relax, Ehren quietly murmurs to Mother Heartwood in Druidic. She might not have all the answers he sought, but she was the only one he could ask.
After making himself sparce for a time, Ehren seeks out Lann and the other underfolk, wanting to see how they fared in the battle. He could not help but to hope that by now, some kind of rapport had formed between them and the other soldiers. But he knew not to count on it.
"The archdruids were chosen in the past at the Circle of Hierophants, child, in a great ceremony. Once the last archdruid passes, the most powerful druids would attempt to prove themselves the most worthy. Feats of magic, wisdom, combat... But in the end, the crown would decide. They say the crown would give the Archdruid gifts... different gifts for different archdruids, powers they'd need for the tasks the Green had for them."
"Occasionally an archdruid would be challenged by another to prove their worthiness... they'd duel, or sometimes, merely debate. But this was rare. It is said the crown is an agent of Green itself, and to doubt its decision is to doubt the will of nature itself..."
"But this was back in the old days, where there were so many druid clans of Sarkoris. Now, there are so few left."
---
Afterwards, Ehren leaves to join the crusaders celebrating in the main square of town. He finds the Underfolk well integrated with the others - drinking and smiling and swapping stories of bravery in their recent battles at Mantarin and today.
"But really! I thought I was done for when I was lost in that stink-cloud with those damned goat-men, then this man right here," a crusader claps a broad hand between Lann's shoulder blades. He is slurring somewhat from his drink. "This good man I say, he rushed in there and helped save my life."
Lann smiles crookedly, modestly pleased at the attention he's getting. He notices Ehren approaching, and waves with one scaled hand. "Ehren! It is good to see you. I've been looking for you. How have you been?"
He glances up and down at his new attire. "Those robes look nice on you, friend."
Isilme grins when Külə mentions Exorius and the garrison at Keeper's Canyon. "Bəli, bir məsələdir. Brimoraks yalnız ordu üçün təhlükə deyil, ehtimal ki, biz onları qırırıqsa, Drezendə qüvvələri kanyon vasitəsilə xəbərdar edəcək," she says oddly unconcerned despite her words. "Bəlkə də ideal həll heç bir şəkildə mübarizə etməyəcək," she says with a wink to the unicorn, though she knows he cannot really see it. "Daha çox deyərdim, amma inanıram ki, sürpriz ona layiqdir."
More seriously she continues, " Drezen'e seyahatimizde bize eşlik etmeye davam edersek onur duyarım. Gəlin nə edə biləcəyimizi görür və etdikləri ziyana görə iblisləri ödəməyə kömək edir."
"Perhaps the ideal solution would be not to fight them at all,"
"I would tell you more, but I believe the surprise will be worth it."
"I would be honored if you would continue to accompany us on our travel to Drezen. Come see what we can do and help repay the demons for the damage they have done."
"I will return later," she says to her gloomy companion, patting him on the side of his neck. Scarfing down the remainder of her food, she goes to join the others for a while.
Wandering through the encampment, she watches as all the soldiers unwind for the first time since they set off. Seeing them all in good spirits was a relief, and perhaps she could further improve their mood by spending some time later recounting their feats to them.
Spotting Valaria, Ayavah and Variska talking, she goes to sit with them, grabbing a drink before she does. It wasn't exactly the wine she'd shared in Defender's Heart with Aravashnial, but a good ale now and again was still a delight. Taking a sip she addresses Val first. "Val, I was wondering if you would be interested in entertaining the troops in a while. I was thinking we could both take turns telling tales. They have accomplished some amazing feats so far, and I feel it would be good to remind them of that."
She then turns her attention to Variska and Ayavah. Ayavah had fared poorly in the previous battle, having been knocked out by the shadow demons' magic. "How are you feeling Ayavah? Were you able to get healed up completely after the battle?"
"And you Variska? I overheard Val saying you were thinking of leaving? Perhaps I could talk you into staying around to help? We will be in need of as many good hands in the coming days as possible, and you are clearly capable of handling yourself."
"Counting is going to take a lot of time that I could be using doing something else. How's this: We'll separate it into roughly equal piles and you can pick the one you want? That should make it significantly less time consuming and you come out slightly ahead in the exchange." Ary counter-offers. "And as Isilme says: If you're going to be a mercenary, you might as well join the Crusades and not have to worry about looking for work. We've always got work. The pay may not be as good, though." she says with a smaller, knowing smile. "If you're not staying, I'll definitely be needing that bow back. It belongs to the church."
The unicorn keeps his eyes fixed on the plate of food, though he tilts his head quizzically at Isilme's cryptic comments.
"Güman ki, hamısı qısa müddətdə ortaya çıxacaq."
---
"Oh, right, yes," Variska says, handing over her bow. "Sounds fair to me, boss."
She looks up at Isilme and Ary. "Hmmmmm. I'm not really the 'heroic' type, y'know. And swearing life-oaths to fight demons or die trying isn't really my cup of tea... there is plenty of coin to be had out there that doesn't involve marching into the Worldwound."
Ayavah smiles at Isilme, nodding. "Y-yes. The crusaders have been very kind to me. ...Mostly. I am glad that you all got out alive."
"I suggest we find somewhere with some privacy and some space before I start emptying treasure out of my bag then. It will probably be less of a hassle that way." Val just shrugs at the mercenary's desire not to get more involved. "I can't really blame you. I'm mostly here because I don't trust anyone else to keep my friends alive. So I'm walking into hell to keep an eye on them."
The tiefling smiles as the celestial joins them. "I suppose I could dig up a few stories to keep moral up. Maybe a Varisian traveling story or a bawdy adventure from the River Kingdoms or something. I'm sure everyone gets tired of heroic ballads and stories of self-sacrifice eventually. I can't stay too late though. I do have things to do tonight." She winks and nudges Ayavah's shoulder. Then she puts a comforting arm around her shoulders when the other tiefling stammers. "Don't worry about the assh*les. And don't worry about us. We've walked away from far worse things before."
Isilme ignores Val working to pay out Variska and continues speaking to her. It was better if the mercenary accompanied them from here on in,
she was still suffering from the effects of the wendigo's curse,
which would need to be healed at some point before she set out on her own again. "Have you considered the notoriety you would achieve were you to accompany us?" Isilme asks Variska. "There are few in this world who could claim to have ventured in and back out again. Money can be had anywhere, true, but the currency mercenaries trade upon is reputation. You would be able to form your own mercenary company and would likely have to turn down work."
"Fair enough, I do not wish to keep you two from what comfort you can find here. Those opportunities will be few and far between going forward." She smiles at the two of them. Though she'd had doubts about Ayavah to begin with, for the moment she seemed harmless enough, and things were hard enough as it was. Honestly, the quasit worried her far more than Ayavah ever did. Val did not speak much about it anymore, and it was no doubt still around. That she no longer complained of his presence to the rest of the group troubled her.
"No... you're right," Ayavah says. "Really, after spending so much time here, I think I was wrong about the crusaders. Most of them are really kind and just want to protect their homes and families. I still think that they are a little close-minded about other things... but... I think my fellow cul-I mean-co-workers, were wrong about this place."
Variska shrugs. "Yeah, when you have homes and families that makes sense. I have neither so.." She listens to Isilme's argument, chewing her food thoughtfully. "Hum. I suppose you're right. Hows about this - you're some sort of bard - right? I'll tag along if you sing about me exploits." She winks. "Oh. And pay me. I don't swing a sword for free."
Ehren pauses for a moment to appreciate the scene before him. Conflict had its way of bringing people together, in spite of their differences. I suppose that is one good thing about this war. When Lann calls out to him, he smiles broadly and moves closer.
"Much better now that this business with Jorsal and Icerift is over," Ehren replies, finding a spot to sit next to Lann. His smile falters as he thinks back to the battle in the tower. "It was a hard fight. A very hard fight. For a moment I thought I was going to lose friends again. I'm never going to get used to that feeling."
Flustered by the underfolk's compliment, he looks down at his gilded robe. "Do they? I suppose they're certainly a far cry from what I was wearing when we first met."
Grease slips down Xanderghul's chin as he shoves goose into his mouth and listens to the exchange between Valaria, Variska, and Isilme. He hums in affirmation to some of the things said, but finally swallows his mouthful of meat to speak up. "How much are we talking here? We're not exactly constantly swimming in gold, you know - we're much more likely to be able to pay you in favors, spellcasting services, land and honors. Things like healing the damage that the wendigo did to your psyche."
”Yes…. Maybe more intimate, but I doubt that it is stronger. When I heard her voice, it was you that she was calling for and wanted most of all. She knew you were the one who could restore things to the way they are supposed to be. And it is you she was thankful to. And, to be honest, I have never felt my bond to my mother to be this strong. It was always faint pain in the world, in everyone of its being that I sensed. But now, having heard the very voice of my mother, it’s different. It is almost as if her very thoughts have finally had a chance to enter my mind.” she says, following Ehren’s gaze in the direction of the menhir. ”It has been a really strange experience… ” she seems about to go on for a moment but stops herself. ”I am sorry to bother you so. Meditation should help me recenter myself.”
Hinagiku gently returns Annabelle’s hug. It was good to see the woman back, her cheerfulness was always welcomed. And even if she knew that growing attached or dependent on it would be unwise, she still enjoyed for it could lighten most circumstances. The monk gently smiles at Annabelle’s comment regarding her fur, she tussles some of her singed and frayed clothing.
”Of course Annabelle… you are not to far from guessing the truth, one of our enemies used magical fire to enshroud itself. I first believed to be an illusion and struck through it… and then it menaced to kill Ary, and so I had to strike once more through its fiery defence. Luckily, the clerics here were able to heal me. But, I still need to find someone to mend my clothes… perhaps Mr. Xanderghul.” she pauses and looks around for a moment before nodding in the direction of Isilme and Valaria. ”Miss Valaria and miss Isilme’s account of the battle are probably going to be much more interesting to listen to though. You should probably stay to listen to it. But what about you? Are you well?”
When she is done talking with Annabelle, Hinagiku leaves the bonfire’s heat in search of Chaleb and the other condemned. They were those who would most likely benefit from the teachings of the Master of masters, and though it might be long before they trusted her enough to listen to his teachings, she knew that with time, once they trusted her, they might open to the idea.
Ehren closes his eyes, reaching deep into the memories the menhir have given him. Hundreds of clan names - their histories, their children... after some effort, he dredges up a few names.
Clan Nosonoer - a small, nomadic group of arctic druids still present in the Rimethirst Mountains.
Clan Corsefyll - a clan formerly comprised of swamp druids, their remaining members now live in Gundrun.
Clan Fithyn - Vorian's clan - it's sole surviving member the elderly Petra, his daughter, whose womb bore no children. The name will die with her.
Clan Golau-Lleuad - a forgotten clan - its last descendants live in Kenabres. City folk. They've long forgotten the old ways.
Clan Llwynogod - known for their fearsome animal shifters - whose members now travel the northlands of Numeria.
And so on and so forth. No more than twenty remain.
'I cannot speak for the Green, little druid, but... ultimately, titles are meaningless without actions behind them. Know that if you choose to wear that crown, you make a statement, to those who see and know what that means. What that statement is... I think that is up to you, little druid. Vorian wore that crown with the intent to inspire, to teach, and ultimately, to fight for not just the Green, but his people. What intentions do you have?'
---
Lann nods. "I know the feeling. Ever since Hosilla came to us, though, and so many of us died... I realized then that this war, it isn't something anyone can avoid, or run from. It is coming for us, for all of us. And better to stand and fight, and maybe, just maybe, make things better by trying."
"Hear hear," says the other crusader, raising his mug.
"But you're right, it never gets easier. Some of the Eagle's Watch died today. Some of them... my first new friends, since coming to the surface. But they died fighting for something they believe in."
-----
Variska tilts her head. "Hmmm... land... fame... medical attention. Sounds good to me. But for now, food, drink, and a tent s'all I need." She grins. "Oh, and write me a good epitaph when this all goes horribly wrong. Deal?"
Sosiel and Nurah suddenly join the group. Nurah's beaming, carrying a plate of food. Sosiel isn't carrying anything.
"Hello, hello, hello!" says the cheerful halfling. "I'm so happy to see all of you! Now.... here's hoping I can get some accounts of what happened at Icerift, hmmm? Remember, you promised me!"
----
Annabelle smiles. "That sounds incredible! Yes, those two are amazing storytellers... I'm eager to see what they come up with for tonight."
She thinks for a moment. "I'm doing fine! Last thing I remember is charging into that encampment then... waking up in Mantarin, with Markus standing over me. I don't remember anything between that. I'm itching to do something useful, though, Sosiel's had me stuck in a wagon for ages now..."
"Oh! Speaking of, have you seen Aron? He's only visited me once since I woke up, and that's not like him at all..."
-----
Hinagiku finds Chaleb and the other Condemned present at the celebrations. Chaleb chews on a hunk of elk leg, while his other companions are singing drunken tavern songs in a loud, off-key voice:
'I knew meself a maiden fair with emerald eyes and fire red hair
She owned a tavern by the sea and served warm drinks of mellow honey
Drink ye merry, drink ye thirsty, bring thy crew ‘n revel freely
For on one thing we’re all agreed, that Mogo made the finest mead!
Mogo’s mead, Mogo’s mead, the only drink we’d e’er need
Take a flask and take a seat, and drink thyself a sweety-treat!'
Chaleb laughs uproariously before noticing Hinagiku approaching. "Oh! Hey there, Priestess!" he calls out, clearly in good spirits.
”I am glad you are feeling fine. “ Hinagiku first answers, trying to read Annabelle’s face. She knew the young woman well enough by know to believe she would try to avoid discussing her worries with others.
”Well, I did see him earlier when he was manning the catapults… the others seemed to be concerned about him. Though I don’t know why exactly. I think he seemed particularly disturbed by the presence of the shadow onis… those they call invidiaks. Do you know if their presence could have shaken him?”
Hinagiku smile in response to Chaleb’s greeting and comes to sit with the condemned.
”Well, I was coming to check on your morale… but it seems you are all doing quite well. You know, you don't have to call me priestess, Daisy is okay... Do you mind if I sit?” she says, pointing at a small space on the bench, between Chaleb and Olen.
After squeezing to the best of her ability between the two condemned, Hinagiku politely waits a while before starting a new conversation topic.
”Sooo, I guess there won’t be any card playing tonight? No?”
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Ehren smiles and shakes his head. "You don’t need to apologize. I'm your friend, Hinagiku. If there's something you want to talk about, then I am always willing to listen. That is the very least I can do for you."
He turns back to Hinagiku with a thoughtful look.
"I don't think this will be the last time that you hear your mother's voice. She called out to us here because there was a wrong that needed to be righted. But where we're going, her suffering will only be greater." With another smile, he adds, "I think she is very fortunate that she has a daughter to act as her guardian."
-----
"Shadow demons...? I... I don't know, to be honest, why that would bother him more so than any other demon."
-----
"Yessh! Daisy. To Daisy, my good friend," Chaleb says wrapping one arm around her shoulders. He raises his other arm in a toast - and the other Condemned all raise their tankards as well. "To Daisy! And another day lived." "Aye! To Daisy! And demon slaying!"
"Hmmm, to hell with card games - Olen, Olen, y'got some dice in that pack o' yours, yeah? Up for a game of Liar's Dice?"
Olen wrinkles his nose. "Ehhhh, what's the point when we ain't got nothin' to gamble with?"
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"I am indeed some sort of bard," she responds coquettishly. "An exceedingly long-lived one at that. Fight with fierceness and valor and I assure you your name will be known centuries from now."
Deciding now was as good a time as any, Isilme gets up. "I guess I will go first Val, lets see if you can top this," she says with a grin.
She heads to find a place from which to address as many soldiers as possible, and once she chooses a spot, summons a horn. Blowing upon the horn, she draws the camp's attention and the calls out loudly to the soldiers, making use of her bardic training to let her voice carry far across the camp. She waits a bit until the majority of the camp is focused on her and then begins.
"Men and women of the crusades, hear me! Seventy-five years ago, Lord-Commander Pernigrais was tasked with building Icerift as a stronghold for the Crusaders. A curse fell over them and Icerift was lost. For all that time, a Wendigo has haunted the ruins, worshipped by a cult of cannibalistic bugbears. Today that curse is broken and Icerift passes again into the hands of the Crusaders."
"Though your Commander and the rest of our small group were responsible for tackling the curse of the Wendigo, we would not be here today were it not for you all. Today marked the culmination of a campaign whereby we freed the north of Mendev from demonic threats.
They came prepared for us, for you. They brought nearly a thousand demons with them, thinking they would easily crush the north with them. After all, with Nerosyan under siege, it was unlikely the crusaders would be able to muster more than a couple hundred troops. But like the demons in the First Crusade, they underestimated your resilience and resourcefulness. They did not count on your tenacity, bravery and your devotion to seeing them driven from this land for the good of all.
At the battle of Ahari Bridge you crushed their force with such terrifying speed and power that they were felled to a man before they even knew what had happened. The few who survived were so shaken and awed that they gave us the location of all the demon armies in the north!
As we rode to aid Silvershore, you again fought bravely to prevent the demons from summoning terrifying Abyssal Drakes. Despite all their preparations, despite their encampment's fortifications, you were victorious again!
In the battle for Mantarin you held the line against their forces, including their fearsome howler cavalry and with superior coordination wore them down to the nub. Without your teamwork we would not have prevailed there. In that blizzard it was the bonds you have made and the trust you have for each other that allowed our victory!
And here again you marched into battle, against the head of all their forces in the north. A demon who thought himself smarter and more powerful than you all. You saw and fought his abominations. That was their ace, the trump card that was to guarantee their victory. They were no match for you all! Their Babaus and shadow demons attempted to attack our artillery directly, and the Eagle Knights showed them that such cowardice comes with a cost.
I do not wish to sound glib. The battles ahead of us will be harder still, but in all my years--and I have seen many of those, I assure you--I have never seen an army that was more capable of the task that lay before them.
As you look around tonight, remember those who are not here to join us, and know that they died valiantly defending the land... no the world that they love. Know that every drop of blood spilled and life lost has bought us time and space. You made them pay a hundred-fold for each crusader life lost. Even the Knights of Ozem under Iomedae during the Shining Crusade would have stood in awe of your achievements. So I say to you here tonight: Stand up and let the world hear you this evening. You are everything the Crusades stand for, everything crusaders aspire to be. Your names will be the names that are on the lips of storytellers in Mendev and around the Inner Sea for generations to come!"
"Together we will show the demons that they were right to cower in the shadows trying to defeat us through machinations, because they are no match for crusaders on the field of battle!"
As she finishes she waits for Val to come over and address the troops as well. While she had not told a story per se, the point was to hearten the troops. Stories were better saved for a day in which she had some magic left over to illustrate them anyway.
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Val waves as their group grows yet again. She's slightly surprised that they haven't run out of seats by now. "It's good to see you too! We've had so much trouble the last few days, I'm just glad that everyone is still kicking." She strokes her chin thoughtfully at Nurah's question. "Well, Icerift was a bit of a mess, but Ehren may be the real hero of that little adventure. He did single-handedly banish an ancient, god-like evil entity with his might druidic magic." She chuckles and falls silent as Isilme elects to tell her own tale first. "Allow me to share with everyone. I hope you don't mind me being less dramatic today, but I'm a bit tired."
She clears her throat and takes a few moments to put her thoughts in order before she starts recounting her tale. "We came to Icerift to find battle already joined. As demons most foul laid siege to the ancient fortress now inhabited by wikkawaks, arctic goblins of near equal foulness who consume the flesh of men for their supper." She shoots Variska an apologetic look, but keeps going regardless. "And seeing the demons locked in even battle with the wikkawaks, we realized that we could not allow them to capture the castle before us. So our mighty illusionists did weave their magic and call down projections of dragons and sorcerers to terrify the demons into retreat. Before the new onslaught, the demon's moral broke and the wikkawaks began to inevitably beat them back. Knowing our time would be short, we ascended the back walls of the castle to infiltrate the goblin's fortifications. Within we discovered prisoners, held captive to serve as larder for the castle's cruel denizens. However, not all were helpless as one brave soul..." She stopped and gestured to Variska. "Had escaped their clutches and hidden herself away in the shadowed corners of the ruins. Even under a curse from the darkest of the goblin's allies, she stood strong enough to find us and help us through the wikkawak hordes still guarding the fortress. And in turn, fate brought us to her so that our healers could break the enchantment that threatened her mind and free her to fight beside us. We carved our way through hordes of wikkawaks and their bestial companies until we finally reached the menhir stone, once prepared to extend the wardstone barrier further north and now a conduit to the powers of the world."
Val stops for a moment to clear her throat. "There noble Ehren and kind Hinagiku were granted a vision of some calamity by the menhir, guiding us all deeper into the castle's depths. There we would find a relic of great power, now corrupted by the wikkawak's dark magics. This horn could call forth a wendigo with power and hunger far beyond any of its kin, a god before the flesh hungry wikkawaks. Further we battled, through blood and fatigue to defeat their terrible guardians and mad shamans until we at last reached their chieftain. We faced her in pitched battle, her icy magic and furious allies again our holy spells and silver blades. And when she finally fell, Ehren channeled all the power of the menhir through his body and shattered the horn once and for all to ensure that the wendigo would be dispelled and trouble this land no more."
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Xanderghul kicks back and smiles as Valaria and Isilme jump up to rouse the troops. He listens well, enjoying the tales of their crushing victories over demons. There had been a time when there was no victory against demons, at least for him. When he had been alone.
Not anymore.
Xanderghul prods Variska. "She's right, you know." he says. "Isilme's the only one I've ever met who might be older than I am. You may have stumbled onto a group with greater notoriety and power than any you've met before. It can only be good for a warrior to tie herself to us. Our lifestyle is deadly, and so not for everybody... but if you want your legend to be told for generations, this is the place to be."
"Nine Hells, I swear, every member of Ary's family must be famous throughout this whole country."
He gestures towards Jorsal, then. "Or you can go the route of this fellow and go for humble, self-sacrificing service for others. Your choice. Either way, I'm sure we can find you a spare plot of land and some willing warriors to serve you after we take Drezen. And there are few fiercer enemies to temper your steel than demons."
"There are worse ways to go than dying for a cause," Ehren agrees halfheartedly. Regrettably, asides from Anevia and Irabeth, he did not know anyone in the Eagle's Watch terribly well. He could say the same for most of the soldiers in the army, really. Perhaps I should take a page from Ary's book. "Especially a cause as great as this one. It falls to us to make sure that their sacrifices are all worth it." A wan smile spreads across his face. "Still, I think we could all stand for the cost of victory being smaller."
Before long, the druid finds himself a drink. Something a little stronger than water. He thinks back to Nerosyan, when Ary had asked him what his plans for the future were. "War comes for all of us... but what happens when it is over? Have you given any thought to what you and your people will do in the future, Lann?"
Lann looks thoughtful. He stares out for a moment, his eyes falling on Wenduag in the distance. She appears to be the object of the affections of a rather drunk cavalier - despite the fact that her arms and her insectoid limbs are all crossed across her chest he continues to try and woo her. Lann chuckles at the sight.
Finally, he says, "Truly? I would like to travel the world. I lived my whole life in the same tunnels and caves, and now... now it seems like the world is limitless. And the tales some of the other crusaders tell... Xoshak, he comes from a place called Katapesh, where there are enormous stone pyramids - inside the greatest one is a temple to Nethys. Its ceiling is filled with this prismatic mist - there is lightning and fire, and the walls are lined with glowing symbols. Julania comes from someplace farther still - Vudra, where both men and women alike wear beautiful dresses made of silk and gold, and veiled dancers perform in the streets. I want to see it all."
---
When Isilme and Valaria stand up to tell their story, the crusaders are quick to stand to attention - by now their skills at storytelling were legendary among the crusaders. Nurah climbs up onto a bit of wooden fencing and pulls out her journal and quill, hastily taking notes. "A wendigo? Hmmmm," she murmurs.
At the end of it all, the crusaders cheer and toast themselves, the army, and Commander Bishop at the head of it all. When they come back to sit down Variska grins. "Haha, okay - you're both pretty good, I'll give you that." She swirls her cup, a goofy grin on her face. "My own mercenary company..."
Jorsal is uncharacteristically quiet during all of this, simply sitting and drinking quietly, watching the festivities. Sosiel jolts him out of his reverie.
"So... Xanderghul... Ser Jorsal. You seem to be old friends. How did you two meet?"
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Like Jorsal, Ary had been uncharacteristically quiet, happy to see her friends and allies milling about and having a good time, riding high on the morale of their victories. Her eyes mostly lingered on empty chairs - paradoxically so, as Crusaders slipped freely into empty seats to join other groups and chat, forcing her to practically look for empty seats to stare at.
They could say that the men had chosen to give their lives for the cause, and that was true. But they hadn't chosen to give their lives for her screw-up. She had sent them into a situation blindly that she knew the results of. She had let her morale cost real people their lives. There would be people at home - and she knew which - that would be lost or heartbroken without them.
The stories snapped her from her reverie, but then only highlighted what remained. They still had a demonic lieutenant somewhere in the wilds. They still had to try to free the prisoners from the Wikkawak army - something that seemed impossible. Not only were they likely to have already been eaten or dragged off, at least one of them had been afflicted with an illness that would drive them to devour their saviors.
Then there was the traitor, and the concept of carefully distilling information to find them. It wasn't worthwhile to attempt such a thing, as the information they would gather would only be gleaned as an additional victory condition - and at what cost?
So there were two things Ary still had to do in the short term - she needed to set up some of her allies for digging into the mountain side, and she needed to request another scout out the keep. The latter would be easily accomplished by Xanderghul if he were willing. The former could go either way, really. She could set up a smaller crew and risk a random demon with teleportation noticing, or she could utilize all of her men and work with the knowledge the enemy would be informed. Likely, it was best to simply move all of her men across the ford with Ehrens help and do the digging quickly while the army recovered. That would leave them ready to make camp, and have time to mend wounds. They'd lose a day digging, but they'd gain several by not moving through the chasm. And they would gain a supply line.
In fact, she could likely use the digging as an excuse to set people into pairs to work together. If she had a buddy system, it would limit the capabilities of a cultist to get free long enough to warn their allies. And it only made sense to use a buddy system with mining; without one things could very easily go wrong. That solved many of her problems, and limited the enemy to only having a few hours to travel - leaving any that couldn't teleport exhausted. A win-win situation.
But that all needed to wait until morning.
Ayavah nudges Valaria. "Hey, it's getting late," she whispers. "You wanted me to talk to your friend?"
Val nods. "Let's find someplace private. Preferably someplace that the rest of the army isn't going to overhear. Let's find one of the buildings or somewhere in the tower or something." She gets to her feet and nods to her friends. "We're heading off to get some private time. Don't wait up for us."
Once they're able to find somewhere that she feels comfortable that they won't be overheard, she sits down cross-legged. "Alright. If you're ready, you can come out now."
Hinagiku’s seems temporarily phased when Ehren’s mentions their friends. Though, it does not take her long to gently smile back at the druid.
”Thank you mr. Ehren. If I still find myself in search of answers after my meditations, I will come to you.” in reconnaissance, she gently pats the man’s forearm in appreciation. ”I wonder where that will lead though… will more contact with my mother be a challenge to overcome, or a boon to accept… right now, I am still unsure.”
”Strange… let’s go find him, he must not be far.” says Hinagiku, inviting Annabelle to follow her.
Hinagiku is about to suggest a currency to use when she ears Isilme’s voice rise and silence descend upon the troops.
”This should be quite a tale.” she whispers to the condemned, motioning for them to keep quiet.
Once both Isilme and Valaria are done, Hinagiku stays silent for a moment before turning back to the soldiers around her.
”So, lying dices? So… the one who’s best at lying wins I am guessing. Okay. So, why not winning the right to brag that we have outwitted the others?” she suggests, herself close to being out of ideas.
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"Oh, us?" says Xanderghul, grinning and clapping Jorsal on the shoulder. "We were roomies! Poor human Jorsie was practically a larva back then, but we entered the Pathfinders together. Well, when you become a Pathfinder you have to go through this Academy business, training underneath various masters. Then, you have to get initiated by going on your first mission and succeeding on it."
"Well, we stayed pretty apace the whole time, and we shared a lot of what got us through the Academy, and then we went on our initiation mission together. It was to sunken Lirgen and Koboto that we went, to recover a goz mask and to investigate the ruins of those dead civilizations. We got chased out by cannibal Koboto savages, and afterward he convinced me to come here! Played right into my weak spot - told me: 'Xanderghul, nobody can offer the Crusades the kind of knowledge and power that you can.'"
Isilme overhears Ayavah asking Val about her 'friend', wondering who she might be referring to. There was no person in the encampment whom Val would need privacy to talk to, which really left only one candidate. The only thing in the camp that would be a serious issue were it to be discovered, the Bound Horror.
If her assumption was correct, it was extremely concerning that Valaria would be considering the demon her friend or ally. Bound to her service or not, it was an evil and corrupting influence, and there was no doubt it harbored nothing but ill intentions, despite, or perhaps especially because the thing was bound to protect her. Furthermore, the fact she was leaning on her grandmother's tool, even in the absence of its ill-intent was precisely what Nocticula wanted. The only question now was how to act. Val would likely react poorly to direct confrontation, and handled poorly the demon would use it as a wedge to attempt to sow discord within their ranks.
As a raelis, if this had been merely a mortal and merely a quasit, she would likely have dispatched the creature before it could do permanent damage. It was one thing to allow bad things to befall people to create inspiration. It was another to allow a demon's influence to taint someone. Such things tended to snowball, compounding pain upon pain and suffering upon suffering. Within the chaos of demons there lived no inspiration, no freedom, no choice. This was no mere quasit, however, and Valaria was no random mortal. Isilme considered a companion and friend, and the demon was older and more powerful than any of them. Perhaps than all of them combined.
She waits a short while before getting up to follow them, clearly putting some space but doing her best not to be noticed. As they sit and Val begins to call out for the Bound Horror to reveal itself, Isilme steps forward and speaks. "Wait Valaria. Before you go any further, please listen."
The aasimar takes her time picking her words, clearly concerned both for Valaria, and working hard to avoid offending her. "I have been worried for some time now that you have ceased to complain or even mention that thing as you did back in Ghalcor's tower or afterwards. Thinking back, I believe you ceased discussing its presence after the incident with the Hezrous in Nerosyan."
"Remember that your grandmother sent that thing to ensure you wound up going down her path instead of the one our Lady Starsong revealed to you. Every word he whispers, be it true or false, serves one purpose: To taint and corrupt you. Every favor he grants, no matter what greater good it may achieve, serves the same purpose."
"Consider that this is not even taking into account that he was bound against his will by your grandmother. A devil might keep to the letter of the deal that he was bound by, but that thing will not even do that if it can figure a way around the magic that constrains it."
"As a friend I feel I must warn you, continuing on in this fashion will only end in tragedy. Please turn your back on that creature and listen to its sanguine promises no more. Look to the stars, close your eyes and let the Song of the Spheres guide you."
Isilme locks eyes with Valaria, waiting for the tiefling's response. It was a risk to directly confront her like this, but she felt she owed it to Val. She had no doubt that if Li'an were here--given what she know of their relationship--she would have exhorted her to do the same. Though she would never invoke her name, she could speak in Li'an's stead as well as for herself.
Even Ehren cannot help but to laugh, seeing the stoic Wenduag being serenaded so.
"That's quite the world tour you have ahead of you," he says with an earnest smile, trying to visualize the wondrous places that Lann was describing. Their names were only vaguely familiar, but he knew that they had to be very far away. He closes his eyes for a moment, trying to imagine himself going on such a journey. "The thought of traveling so far from home has never really occurred to me. Have you ever heard of Numeria? It is just south of Mendev. I have heard it called Tir Sêr Syrthio in our tongue - The Land of Fallen Stars. When Sarkoris fell, many of my kinsmen fled there. I'd like to see it for myself, one day, to meet the people there. When our homeland is free again, will the clans there return to help rebuild? Or will their roots have dug too deep by then?"
Realizing that he is going on a tangent, Ehren grins wryly and leans back some.
"Needless to say, it is much closer than the places you're describing. Still, I think you will get your chance."
The Condemned, along with the others, falls silent when Isilme and Valaria give their performance. They applaud and cheer perhaps a little too loudly at the end of it.
"That's a fine idea, Daisy. And anyone who thinks otherwise is a damned coward. Olen! Dice! Drink up, mates... we need yer mugs."
Liar's dice is a classic game that involves rolling dice in a cup and keeping them hidden from the others. The players then go around in a circle making escalating bids on what dice have been rolled, until someone becomes too daring - the other players may then call his bluff. If the bid is matched by the hidden dice, then the bidder wins, if it is not, then the bidder loses.
"You in, Daisy?"
---
"No, I haven't! What a curious name - do stars truly fall there?" Lann asks in amazement.
"Perhaps someday you and I will go there, together."
---
Annabelle nods. "Yeah... Sosiel will know where he is. Come on, he's over there with the rest." She walks with Annabelle across the square towards the other heroes. When they arrive, Xanderghul is telling the story of how he met Ser Jorsal. The young vampire hangs back, not wanting to interrupt.
Ser Jorsal chuckles. "Yes. Well, as an Iomedaean I felt the call of the Crusades rather strongly as a young man... but I did not want to forsake my vows as a Pathfinder to do so. The Crusades and the Pathfinders previously had a ... nebulous relationship... and after enlisting with the Crusades and proving my worth, Xanderghul and I worked together to help establish ties between the two groups. When our former Venture-Captain left to investigate the ruins of Jormundun, I was offered to found a Pathfinder Lodge in Nerosyan as a reward for my efforts. But I know that none of that would have been possible without Xanderghul here."
"Indeed... your exploits during the Fourth Crusade were astonishing," agrees Nurah.
"That's a great story," Sosiel says, smiling. "I know what you mean... about feeling compelled to be here, Ser Jorsal. I grew up in Andoran, in Carpenden. My parents were vintners... I came to my faith in Shelyn after becoming involved in the local art community as a sculptor and painter. I joined the clergy as a teen... then my brother, Trever, decided to join the Mendevian Crusade after a recruiter came to give a speech to the Eagle Knights. I just... had to follow him."
"Where is your brother now?" asks Variska.
A shadow passes over Sosiel's face. "He went missing in the northeastern Worldwound."
"Oh... I am sorry to hear that," says Variska.
Sosiel shakes his head. "It was then I knew I would never be able to leave here before the war was won. I decided my place was amongst the church of Shelyn, to comfort and heal those bodies and minds that are fractured and damaged by the war. That is how I met Aron..."
Annabelle finally interjects: "Yes - speaking of my brother... Where is he?"
"Oh, Aron said he isn't feeling well. He's in our tent, resting," Sosiel says.
-----
Ayavah is oblivious to Isilme following them. Valaria leads the two away from the festivities and into the stone tower. They move up the stairs and into the former quarters of Arastrax. A marble desk lays on the floor, fractured in two from Xanderghul's spell.
Ayavah takes a seat on the ground when Isilme finally reveals herself.
"I... what? What is she talking about, Val?" Ayavah asks.
"She's talking about me," drawls the Bound Horror. With a soft -pop!- the little quasit appears in the air. He flies in a small circle, pointedly keeping away from Isilme's immediate vicinity, but never far from Valaria's. The ugly little thing is covered in what appear to be scars and burns, and he wears a golden monocle.
Ayavah's eyes widen. "Is that - is that a demon?"
"That 'thing'? Really, Isilme? That, thing? And here I thought we could be friends," sneers the little demon.
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Val jerks to her feet, one of her knives in hand before her mind actually processes who's speaking to her. She slumps slightly as she recognizes her friend. "Please don't sneak up on me like that," she says, sliding her starknife back into its sheath. "The last thing I need right now is to accidentally stab someone I like."
She sighs as Isilme starts talking. She didn't know what she was expecting. "I stopped talking about him when we left Nerosyan because we were surrounded by an army of crusaders who would kill me for consorting with the enemy if they knew he existed. It's not safe to start speaking about him when someone could overhear and decide I'm a spy that needs to be burned at the stake like all the other people they unilaterally decided needed to die." She spits into the corner. "Most of the time, I try to pretend he's not even there because I don't want to start getting used to having a demonic babysitter. One slip up and I'll be lynched, Commander Bishop's friend or not."
"But if you think that I don't know exactly how dangerous he is, then you don't know me very well at all. Because you have no idea what it's like to live with what I am. Your very nature, the entire essence of your being is to be good. I'm the exact opposite. I spent years of my life listen to my own nature telling me that I was wrong. That every time I helped people, every day I stood up for the poor and the innocent and the helpless, that I was wrong. Do you have any idea what it feels like when your own soul is telling you that you're supposed to be evil? To spend every night tossing and turning in bed because your dreams are nothing but orgies of hedonism and suffering?! Lady Desna saved me from that! I will never turn my back on everything she's done for me. NEVER!" Val stops short, not having realized that she'd been shouting.
She takes a deep, rattling breath. "But for everything that she's saved me from, it's not going to keep my alive now. I can't expect a goddess to come down and hold my hand in battle. And I can't afford to pass up any advantage. Because my own skills aren't enough any more. I can't actually survive a fight with the average demons we're fighting anymore without someone else having to help me. Every battle now I'm relying on your music and Ayavah and Xan's spells and Sosiel and Ehren and Daisy's healing to keep me alive. I can fight and bleed for the rest of my life, but I can't do this with just knives and panache. I'm not even good enough to sneak into a building without magical aid anymore."
"I don't like the Horror. I don't trust the Horror. But if my options are down to trying to find a way to be civil with my tagalong so his abilities are actually useful and continuing to ignore him and pretend that I don't have a demon literally on my shoulder who will not go away. Then I will trust my gut and try to find a way to live with it. Because I spent years having my entire existence trying to corrupt me and I will be damned before I let one quasit get to me after all that."
She sighs and rolls her eyes when the horror finally appears from thin air. "Ayavah, meet the Bound Horror, my grandmother's agent. She apparently decided that since I'm going to be walking into a war, I should have a babysitter to keep me alive until she's decided she doesn't want me anymore. So now we're stuck with each other, no matter what either of us actually think of the situation."
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Xanderghul nods at Jorsal's addition. "When we got here, I was frankly shocked by the dearth of Pathfinders here. It's a constantly-shifting landscape, a unique geological and magical situation, and its full of old, abandoned ruins for a dead culture. More of us are cowards than I must have thought, I guess. I figure our presence here is nothing but good. Brings a bit of intelligentsia to what would otherwise be mostly a close-minded religious experience."
He holds a hand up, "Not that I don't like y'all Iomedaens and Sarenrites and Shelynites and all. Although the Shelynites and Desnans are my favorites. It's just a different sort of experience to only have holy temples and plated warriors, and the Riftwardens are a little too... nosy... for me."
When Jorsal mentions that he was instrumental in Jorsal's successes, he waves some of it away. "While you're right, it's okay. You're a human, and you won't even learn magic. You need all the glory that you can scrape." he laughs, jabbing his friend in the shoulder.
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Isilme gives the horror a look that would likely function as an effective component for a death spell, but otherwise ignores its comment.
She stands there and listens to Val's response, carefully measuring the words. She winces a little when the tiefling gets riled up to the point of yelling, clearly having been interested in avoiding upsetting her.
When she finishes speaking, Isilme replies, not wishing to leave things as they stand. She walks up to Val and places a hand on each shoulder, holding her.
"It is true, I spent the majority of my life as a literal force of good. I have never known what it is to have such a voice within pushing me to be something I am not. The closest I came when I was trapped within my blade. The perpetual anger that burned inside me, the feeling that I had been betrayed by my goddess. I did turn my back on my Lady Starsong. If someone such as me can be twisted into forsaking her creator, anyone can." She gives Val a hug, adding "Please remember that."
Stepping back, she glares at the demon once more, wishing she were capable of banishing it outright. Sadly, even in her own body that had never been something she was capable of.
"When we rely upon each other, we are stronger for it Val. If you ever have doubts about anything or need to talk, please seek me out and I promise I will listen."
Turning to Val's companion, she speaks. "Ayavah, I know you and I do not necessarily see eye to eye, but I believe you have a good heart like Val. Please take great care in dealing with that quasit. It is much more than it seems to be; much older and significantly more malevolent."
Val takes a few deep breaths to calm herself down. "I know. Believe me, I do. I'm not so blind as to think that I'm incorruptible. It would have been so easy to give up. I learned a long time ago how hard it is to stay on the straight and narrow. But that's why I'm all the more determined to make sure that I don't break."
"I know that we rely on each other, but I can't let myself become a burden on everyone. The journey ahead of us is only going to get more and more dangerous and I can't bring everyone down by forcing everyone else to prop me up. I'll be as careful as I can be, but I can't sit around and pretend that he's not there anymore."
She looks up at the demon. "For the time being, he needs me alive and in decent shape, otherwise I'm sure dear old grandma has something creative in store for him. It's not exactly a starting point for a lifelong friendship, but right now, I'll settle for tolerance and being able to be somewhat capable of working together. He was actually very cooperative while we were infiltrating the tower earlier today."
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"I haven't the faintest clue," Ehren admits, realizing that he didn't know why it was called that himself. Most of the stories he'd heard concerned men made of metal and glowing rocks that could kill a man in seconds. The kinds of things that until relatively recently, he might have dismissed as flights of fancy. The name did sound lovely, though. "I suppose we'll just have to ask the people there ourselves." His smile widens. "Afterwards we can go to the Realm of the Mammoth Lords. I hear that it is even colder there than it is here."
After passing a few more moments with talk and drink, the druid stands and stretches out his back. "Well, I had best check up on the commander and the others before they turn in for the night. If things are going to proceed the way I think they are, then we are in for a very busy day tomorrow. Good night, Lann."
Hinagiku bows her head respectfully when Sosiel mentions his brother’s disappearance. And, just like Annabelle, she waits for a moment to join in the conversation. While she listens, her gaze is drawn to Xanderghul and Jorsal, noting the shabti’s behavior toward his long-time friend. It was adorable to see the wizard act in such a friendly, yet self-boasting way.
When Annabelle finally interjects into Sosiel’s conversation, Hinagiku steps closer toward her and the cleric, hoping to better hear his answer over the sound of the festive soldiers.
”Thank you mr. Sosiel.” she says before turning toward Annabelle. ”We could go and fetch water and some bread for him. It might make him feel better.” she suggests.
”Of course I am in. Though, I’ll need to learn the game.” she answers, as eagerly as her usually calmness allows.
However, unlike the others, Hinagiku is not prone to lying. So, she keeps her bets conservative… when she can. Simply learning the game is already quite a challenge for her. Still, she does her best to learn, putting as much effort as she can.
Xanderghul hums and nods. "I think it's about bedtime for me as well. I have a bit of work to do. Jorsal, let me know if you need anything, and I can get it for you tomorrow." he chuckles at his little joke and then stands up, taking a last chunk of cheese and sip of ale before he goes, and heads back to his tent.
He has a few hours of work to be done before he goes to sleep, and it's not the sort of work that can be put off. He can socialize later.
"Speaking of not feeling well, Sosiel, would you mind preparing your restoration spell for the next few days? Each of us my allies is a bit worn from the encounters with the demons... and unicorns." Ary says, breaking her reverie as Xanderghul begins to stand. "Oh, and J-, Ser Jorsal? Would you mind sharing a tent with either Xanderghul or myself? I'd rather keep you close for the next few days until we've had a real chance to debrief."
"Also. Nurah, do you have any books on Drezen and the local area? Any Chronicles that you've written personally? With our sights set on assaulting Drezen soon, I'd like to gain whatever Intel I can. We only have one shot, after all."
Ayavah's eyes widen. "So... is your grandmother a powerful cultist?" she asks. "She must be... but really, I understand. I mean, when you met me you met the devils my parents bound to me at my birth... but they were a 1 time thing. This must be a far more powerful contract."
She smiles weakly at Isilme. "But... this is great! A demon, who I can talk to? Maybe answer my questions?"
The Bound Horror flitters around the room before landing on the fractured desk. He sits down on a jagged piece of broken marble and crosses his legs. He takes off his monocle, breathes onto the glass to fog it up, then rubs it off with his hand.
"Oh, I'm so grateful you find me useful, mistress," he says, not sounding sincere in the slightest. He glances up at Isilme, eyes glinting with barely concealed malice. "Come now, so you have no gratitude for the one who saved your life? Valaria's right, you know. Your little band wouldn't have come far without me. And I do it with no expectation of thanks, or anything at all... I'm just oh-so selfless."
"Anyway, mistress, how can I serve?"
----
Hinagiku spends some time playing dice with the Condemned. She is able to grasp the rules of the game, though she isn't half the bluffer Chaleb is - he wins rather handedly. After a few rounds, Annabelle spots in her the crowds and sprints over to her to give her a hug...
--
"Mammoth Lords? That sounds like quite the adventure!" agrees Lann, chuckling.
"Of course. Good night, Ehren," Lann says pleasantly. He waves with a scaled hand as Ehren takes his leave.
----
Ehren approaches just as Hinagiku and Annabelle about to leave. She waves at Ehren and flashes him a fanged smile. "Oh, hello, Ehren! I was wondering where you were. Hinagiku and I are going to go visit my brother, he isn't feeling well. If I don't see the rest of you before we return... 'night night!"
Jorsal grins. "Alright, good night, Xan." He nods to Ary. "Of course. That is what I would want if I were in your position, so I am happy to comply."
Sosiel nods. "I will keep that in mind with my morning devotions, Commander. Though, I have never been able to cast magic of that strength more than twice per day... and it requires diamond dust as a component to focus the magic."
Nurah rummages around in her pack. "Yes, certainly! That is, in fact, why I am here!
I do not believe there is another person alive who exceeds my expertise on Worldwound history," She produces a set of leather bound tomes and hands them to Ary. They were all written by Nurah herself. "Also, I can draw maps of the surrounding area, and have blueprints of the original construction. I'll be happy to debrief you whenever you need."
---
Annabelle and Hinagiku make a stop at the mess hall before leaving for Aron's - it is getting late, and there is far less food available, but they grab some bread and cheese and water. Then they head out to the crusader camps. Sosiel and Aron's tent is located on the western edge - it is small and cozy, but with plenty of room for two people. She taps on the outside of the tent before lifting up the flap to allow them to enter.
"Hello? Aron? It's me, 'belle, and senpai... I mean, Hinagiku," she says, then lifts the flap.
"You feeling okay?" she says, cheerfully. She offers him the bread and water. "I brought you some food."
Aron is seated cross-legged in the back of the tent, his back turned to the two women. He turns around as they approach. "Oh! 'belle! Hinagiku. I'm... I'm just a little under the weather, 'sall. Thanks for the food, though..." he says, reaching out for the bread and water.
You notice Aron quickly hiding something just as Annabelle opens the flap to his tent.
"Errr..." Val really has no idea how to even approach that particular point. "Did I not cover that before? I'm almost positive I mentioned it back when we met. My grandmother is a succubus and a powerful one. The Horror is her servant. She apparently has a difference of opinion with the Worldwound forces and decided that she wanted to keep me alive for the time being." She looks up at the Horror on his new perch. "But since he works for a powerful succubus, I thought that you might like to meet him. He's not the most cooperative sort though, and I can't exactly control his tongue, so I apologize for any rudeness from him in advance."
Then she just sighs. "Yes, I know that you don't care how I feel about you. I frankly don't care if you like me or not either. But I asked you to talk because despite how little you care about it, I do appreciate that you've helped keep me and some of my friends alive. I would appreciate it more if you could be civil, but I've had one miracle in my life already, so I'm not banking on two. More importantly, I want to find a way for us to actually be comfortable with our current situation. Because it's not my fault that you're stuck on the Material Plane babysitting. The only person to blame for that is my grandmother. And until she decides she doesn't care anymore, neither of us has any choice in the matter."
"Ayavah: I would not trust any demon--and this one especially--to give sound advice on dying to a person who had just fallen off a thousand foot cliff," she says to tiefling.
Isilme smiles at the demon and addresses him in the lilting, melodic tones of her native Celestial. "Mesamorga يعتقد أنها كانت أكثر ذكاء منا جدا، وقالت انها ذهبت الآن. قد تكون خارج قدراتنا للتعامل مع لحظة، في ذلك اليوم سوف يأتي، وفي ذلك اليوم سوف تأخذ فرحة كبيرة في مشاهدة كنت مختومة بعيدا بشكل دائم."
"Stay out of trouble Val. I will see you both in the morning."
Isilme turns and leaves, heading to join the others. She wasn't exactly pleased with how things turned out. She still felt Val was not taking the demon seriously enough, but Val was right to point out what she'd deal with all her life. For now all she could do was trust in her friend's judgement.
Heading back, she rejoins Külə and Ledsa to keep them company for the night.
"Hi Annabelle. I'm glad to see you're all right," Ehren says with a smile, realizing that it's been a while since he last had a chance to properly speak with the cavalier. He looks about, seeing that Valaria and Isilme were absent, and that Xanderghul is about to take his leave. The druid has to stifle a yawn himself. "Looks like everyone is turning in for the night."
At Annabelle's mention of Aron, Ehren's mouth curves into a frown. A lot happened since then, but he had not forgotten the Kir brother's odd reaction to the demise of the shadow demon that tried to possess Magiggs. At the time he had left the matter alone, but with there no longer being a battle to distract him, it seemed to prudent to at least check up on him.
"Hm. I'll come along. I might something for whatever is ailing him," he says, following after them. With a wry grin, he adds, "It won't do to have our chief engineer feeling ill during the march to Drezen."
Once they've reached his tent, Ehren allows Annabelle and Hinagiku to enter first, given the limited space. Standing close behind them and already tired-eyed, he very nearly misses Aron's subtle movement.
"Sorry, did we interrupt something?" Ehren asks innocently, announcing his presence. He eyes Aron's hiding spot, and then looks back to him. Everyone was entitled to their privacy, clearly... but everyone was worried about him. "If you're not feeling well, I have a few herbal remedies you could try. The clerics are all out of magic, unfortunately, but natural medicine has its uses."
Hinagiku steps in the tent, right behind Annabelle and softly smiles to Aron, hoping to bring some comfort. Her smile slightly accentuates when Ehren suggests to help. The young man was definitely kind heated, she thinks while letting him tend check on Aron.
"You did very well today, remained cool headed during the battle even when the babau's came." she tells the ingineer before turning to Annabelle. "Your brother might be a young man, but he is quite a siege engineer."
"أحب أن أراك تحاول، ليواد أر سر" sneers the Bound Horror, its cruel voice adding jilting dissonance to the normally soothing celestial tongue.
"Hmph. Azatas." grunts the Bound Horror once Isilme is out of the room. He crosses his legs and stares at Ayavah levelly. "So. What is it that you wanted to know?"
"Valaria's grandmother is a succubus... does that mean she is a daughter of Nocticula?"
"In a sense. She was the first succubus, and all succubi feel a certain kinship towards her. Demons do not form families the way you pathetic mortals do."
"Have... have you ever met Nocticula? Have you been to the Midnight Isles?"
"No. She is extremely powerful, and difficult to gain an audience with."
Ayavah's face falls. "Ah."
-----
He is pale and sweaty... he seems visibly ill. His hands are trembling slightly.
Aron blinks. "Oh... oh yes. Sure. I'll try anything you want me to." He smiles, weakly.
Annabelle plops down on the ground next to him. "Hey, bro. You've been acting strange. What's going on? Are you avoiding me?"
Aron frowns. "Oh, no no no, 'belle. I'm not avoiding you. It's just... I don't feel well. And its been a stressful week, you know that." He smiles at Hinagiku. "And thanks for the compliment."
He's really just saying what he thinks you want to hear. He's being dodgy and evasive.
During the battle, Aron did not register as evil.
Val nods to Isilme as she gets up to leave. "Despite how often I end up in one demon filled mess or another, I am actually pretty good at looking out for myself. We'll see you in the morning. And we'll still be sane and not evil. I promise."
She lets Ayavah and the Horror talk for a few minutes without interruption. When he lies in his usual bitter tone, she feels suddenly torn. Ayavah has been a friend, and she does deserve the truth, even if the truth isn't what she wants to hear. But she's not quite sure she wants to reveal that particular relationship quite yet. Once they take Drezen and things have calmed down might be a better time to explain that little secret. "Expecting to get personal information on a demon lord from the first demon who's willing to talk might be reaching a bit. I doubt demon lords share their secrets with everyone they meet. Or anyone at all really," she suggests calmly, trying to keep Ayavah's spirits up. "He's certainly from the Midnight Isles though. Perhaps he could give a brief description. It wouldn't be that taxing and it would give you some place to start." She gives the Horror a small 'go on' gesture and actually manages a genuine smile.
