Ehren peers into the mirror, frowning at his impeccable timing. He had expected to catch Auraelia in transit or hiding somewhere, not at the start of (another) daring rescue. Unfortunately, he can do nothing for the lyrakien, who, as he suspects, has no intention of ignoring the screams. When he hears the cry in Hallit, he leans even closer to the mirror, wondering who it might be and what horrors are being inflicted on them.
Approaching the cave, Auraelia begins to approach quietly, trying to avoid being spotted. As she does she scans the cave and surrounding area for any signs of foes. Listening to the cries of pain, she tries to determine whether they're authentic, wanting to make sure she's not being lured into a trap, or at least that there was someone actually in danger within the cave.
Auraelia moves slowly, silently creeping towards the source of the tortured cries, her form cloaked by Pulura's protection. As she approaches the mouth of the open cave, an oppressive miasma gathers—thickens—until the very air feels heavy. She hears a low, menacing growl from within and figures it must be some unseen creature within the shadows. Pausing again, she steels her mind and carefully peers into the cave with enhanced sight from her magic. Inside, the 40 ft long cave expands into a larger chamber crudely expanded and reinforced with dark, gnarled timbers that seem to pulse with a sickly energy. The darkness of the chamber is illuminated by torches, scarcely in sconces along the walls, throwing off long, wavy shadows.
What is revealed in the center is disturbing: a hideous, monstrous altar of sacrifice. On top of it is a three-eyed jackal skull, among various abyssal artifacts. A male Kellid, his muscular form strained against thick, thorned vines that bind him to a stone table before the altar, appears more beast than man at this moment. His skin is marred with fresh, bleeding gashes and strange, dark runes etched into his flesh, pulsing with a vile magic.
His head is thrown back in a scream of stark pain, as a veiled figure, hands glowing with dark energy, presses them against his chest.
Two other figures, deep in preparation work with an alarming array of alchemical tools and potions. Before them are tables filled with cruel surgical instruments, lines of vials filled with bubbling liquids, and scrolls describing dark rites. They are clearly adept in their horrific craft. One of the figures—a tall figure cloaked in shadow—seems to notice a faint disturbance in the air. Suspicion draws her eyes to the cave entrance. Auraelia holds her breath, her heart pounding.
The woman's gaze passes over her hidden form, and she resumes her grim work. Aurelia suddenly realizes how very urgent her need to act has become. This man's transformation, whatever it is, is almost completed. She must act—now, with decisiveness.
Those are clerics of Lamashtu, a demon goddess. They're known for their cruel rituals. They transform innocents into monsters to serve their dark goddess. Known as the Mother of Monsters, Lamashtu is an ancient goddess who personifies the darker aspects of chaos, fertility, and the wild. She delights in the corruption and creation of grotesque beings and aberrations, seeing them as her children. Her domain extends over monsters, nightmares, and madness.
Lamashtu was once a powerful demon lord who ascended to godhood by killing and usurping the divine areas of concern from a previous god associated with beasts and nightmares. This brutal ascension is a proud myth among her followers, symbolizing the goddess's ruthless nature and her emphasis on survival of the fittest.
Lamashtu's followers include a wide array of creatures, from deranged cultists and outcast witches to goblinoids and other monstrous races who see her as a divine patron. Her clerics are often involved in dark rituals involving breeding or creating new types of monsters, performing twisted experiments that blend different life forms into aberrant creatures.
The primary aim of Lamashtu's followers is to spread her influence and the population of her monstrous progeny across the world, believing that by increasing chaos and fear, they can expand the dark goddess's power. They often operate at the fringes of civilization and are known for raiding settlements to kidnap inhabitants for cruel experiments or sacrifices.
Lamashtu is represented by symbols such as the three-eyed jackal head, red crescents, and images depicting monstrous births. Her sacraments often involve blood rituals, breeding of monsters, and desecration of holy sites of other deities, particularly those representing civilization and beauty.
Lamashtu is at odds with most other deities, especially those who protect humans and promote order. She has particular enmity with Desna, goddess of dreams and stars, because of their contrasting views on freedom and chaos.
It's immediately obvious that the cultists within the cave are servants of Lamashtu. The situation is dire, with their ritual nearly complete she had only moments to interrupt them. If she could disrupt their ritual for long enough to put their victim into stasis, she might be able to escape with him intact.
Drawing on her innate illusion magic, she conjures an image of two crusaders with holy weapons shimmering with a golden light approaching the entrance. She then flutters up as close to the top of the cave entrance as possible and begins working her way quietly towards the ritual table.
"Lamashtu..." Hinagiku whispers while looking over Ehren's shoulder.
"There is no way we could join her, is there?" she asks, already knowing the answer.
As Auraelia conjures the illusion of two crusaders at the entrance of the cave, the flickering torchlight catches on their shimmering, holy weapons, creating an impressive and intimidating display. The illusion is convincing, causing a moment of confusion among the cultists. The worshippers of Lamashtu, engrossed in their dark ritual, are momentarily distracted, turning their attention towards the entrance with expressions of alarm.
The leader of the group, a particularly vicious woman with eyes like burning coals, shouts orders to the others, her voice echoing menacingly through the cavern. "Vakzhenar ka mazgak! Karzul nol grakzul torluktar zar kazvok vash!" The other two move towards the entrance, their hands glowing with dark energy, ready to confront the illusory intruders.
Taking advantage of their distraction, Auraelia uses her small size and the shadows of the cave to her benefit. She flutters quietly, keeping close to the jagged walls of the cave, her movements nearly silent. As she approaches the ritual table where the victim is bound, she can see the poor man's form writhing under the corruptive power of the ritual. His body is marked with unsettling runes that pulse with a sickly light.
"Even if I brought us back to the Stonewilds, we would never find her in time," Ehren replies without taking his eye off the vision in the mirror. The druid suppresses a shudder. There is no telling what cost walking the lines back to that accursed place would exact on him, and whether the siabrae are still there, eternally vigilant.
Auraelia releases her illusion and closes the rest of the distance with the poor victim reaching out and touching him as she begins to incant her spell. Her intent was to pull him into the same extradimensional space that Gaiwan was currently held in stasis within which would hopefully end the ritual as well. "Ymlacio a derbyn fy hud, gallaf fynd â chi i ffwrdd ac at yr Archdderwydd!" she calls as the magic begins to flow into the man.
As Auraelia reaches the victim, her spell begins to weave the intricate magic needed to transport him into the extradimensional space where Gaiwan is held in stasis. The golden light envelops the man. When the light fades, the transformed man has vanished from the cave. Safe in the extradimensional space, the man lies in stasis beside Gaiwan, suspended in time and away from immediate harm.
One of the cultists, bewildered by the vanished illusions, spots Auraelia, and with a shout of rage, she points her out. "Drekha! Ka vorgak!"
The cultists of Lamashtu rally together, channeling their dark energies in unison towards a singular, ominous purpose, waving their falchions in the air. They stand in a triangle, their weapons raised and voices merging into an eerie chant that reverberates off the cave walls.
The flickering torches around the cavern seem to dim, as if the darkness itself is drawing in closer, enhancing the potency of their ritual. Shadows dance wildly around their feet, and the ground beneath them begins to tremble subtly, a physical manifestation of the growing abyssal energy. Their faces are set in expressions of fervent, twisted devotion. As their chanting intensifies, a low hum begins to fill the cavern, growing steadily into a deep, pulsating drone.
With the cultists blocking her way out and working on casting some sort of spell, Auraelia needed get them out of her way long enough for her to exit the cave safely. As she'd done in the cultist tree hideout, she summons the extradimensional space beneath the cultists , creating a 10x10x50' deep pit.
After opening the pit she flie towards the exit of the cave as quickly as possible.
The ground beneath the cultists collapses, and they plummet downwards with cries of surprise and anger.
"Drekha! Vorgak syl!" one of them shouts in Abyssal, as they fall into the darkness of the pit. Their incantations are abruptly cut off, their concentration shattered by the sudden descent.
With the cultists momentarily out of her way, Auraelia doesn’t waste a second. She spreads her wings wide, catching the air currents in the cavern, and flies towards the cave exit. Behind her, the sounds of the cultists scrambling to recover from their fall echo through the cave.
As she flies over the pit, she blows a raspberry down at the cultists and then continues quickly out of the cave and upwards, finding a tree to hide behind before she continues up into the canopy stealthily.
Their frustrated roars and curses float up from the darkness below. Once outside, she doesn't pause to relish her victory. Knowing the cultists will soon extricate themselves and possibly pursue, she quickly finds a large, pinecone laden tree near the cave entrance. Darting behind it, she uses its broad trunk to shield herself from any immediate observers exiting the cave. Her heart still racing, she catches her breath, her ears attuned to any sounds of pursuit. Confident she has a momentary respite, Auraelia then begins to ascend into the dense canopy. The foliage thickens around her, enveloping her in a protective embrace of branches and pine needles.
Once above the canopy, she attempts once again to gain her bearings. She would eventually need to find a place to rest, though she hoped to at least leave the Stonewilds before attempting to do so again.
She scans the horizon first for any obvious landmarks or threats, then attempts to determine the quickest way out of the Stonewilds.
Back in Drezen, Ehren and Hinagiku stare at the now-blank mirror.
When the vision finally fades from the mirror, Auraelia having accomplished her daring rescue, Ehren lets out an incredulous laugh. To his knowledge, it was the third close call she had in the past few days, yet she again managed to escape with her life, as well as that of an innocent, at that. None of them were out of the woods yet, but if the little azata's luck holds, they might just make it to Drezen alive.
"I suppose all there is left to do now is wait and hope," Ehren says to Hinagiku as he carefully stows the scrying mirror. Though his mood has improved dramatically since their return, it is apparent that the day's events still weighed heavily on him. He gently touches his bandaged eye socket and adds, "I think I'd like to go home now. A good night's rest should take care of my remaining wounds... no need to have Markus fuss over me."
After an hour of traveling through the Stonewilds under the shroud of night, Auraelia begins to feel the weight of disorientation settling in. She is lost. The twisted branches of the blighted forest weave together into a confusing maze of shadows in black and white, making every direction look eerily similar.
She halts her flight for a moment, hovering above the canopy as she scans the darkened horizon once more, but she cannot see too far in the darkness. The corrupted forest stretches endlessly around her, and the oppressive atmosphere seems to tighten its grip on her senses.
Taking a deep breath, she tries to calm herself and focus on her surroundings. Her celestial essence flares briefly, illuminating the twisted canopy below, but all she can see are warped tree trunks and petrified vines winding through the forest floor like dark serpents.
Auraelia takes off higher into the sky, attempting to make use of the altitude to try to gain a better view of the surrounding terrain.
High above the twisted canopy of the Stonewilds, Auraelia pushes her wings to the limit, ascending ever higher to gain a better vantage point. The cold air of the night rushes past her, and it is hard to see very far in the darkness. From her elevated position, she tries to discern any recognizable landmarks that might guide her back to safety.
She rises higher, scanning for familiar outline of the plateau that Drezen laid on, or the faint glimmer of Pulura's Falls. The corrupted forest stretches out below like an endless sea of shadows. Mists swirl thickly, forming ghostly shapes that confuse the eye.
For three hours, she searches the terrain tirelessly, but each direction seems to lead only deeper into the labyrinth. With every minute that passes, her wings grow heavier, and her celestial glow dims under the strain. Exhaustion starts to set in, and Auraelia realizes she's even more lost than before.
With no choice but to rest, Auraelia descends quietly into the canopy, seeking a place to place the entrance to her extradimensional space.
Auraelia's sharp eyes scan the dense canopy beneath her, seeking a suitable hiding place amidst the twisting branches. The thick foliage offers ample cover, and she identifies a sturdy tree whose thick branches could easily obscure her presence. She descends quietly, her wings barely making a sound as she glides through the mist-laden air.
With careful precision, she tucks herself into the foliage of the tree, folding her wings tightly around her and crouching low against the stony trunk. The needles rustle softly, but her descent is otherwise undetectable, leaving her hidden from prying eyes. The tree's branches form a natural cradle around her, providing a protective cocoon that shields her from any wandering gaze.
She moves silently along the branches, placing each step with practiced care until she finds a suitable nook between two thick branches. Here, she places her hand against the bark and murmurs an incantation, opening the entrance to her extradimensional space.
The entrance shimmers briefly, revealing a small but bare sanctuary within. She gently steps inside and seals the entrance behind her.
Once inside with the door barred, she reconfigures the space to make it difficult for anything that breaks down the entry to reach them immediately as happened with the Shemhazian. Instead she creates the space with the door 15' down the wall of a 40' pit, and then makes a nook at the top out of line of sight of the door to rest in. That way if anything broke in it would need to be able to fly up before it was able to see them.
Once in the nook, she retrieves Gaiwan and their new companion from the space, looking to heal the kellid's wounds and to check on Gaiwan. After healing their wounds, she sets about attempting to summon food and water again.
"Are you alright?" she asks the man she'd rescued from the cave.
Once in the nook, Auraelia retrieves both Gaiwan and their new companion, from stasis. Gaiwan lies motionless, his skin pale and dry, and his lips cracked from thirst. The other man, still unconscious, bears the marks of his transformation ritual, his breathing steady but shallow. Auraelia kneels beside them.
First, she channels her divine magic to heal their wounds. Her hands glow with celestial energy as she places them over Gaiwan and Joren. The light pulses softly, restoring vitality to their bodies and washing away wounds.
Satisfied with their initial recovery, Auraelia then attempts to summon food and water. She concentrates deeply, focusing on Pulura’s blessings and praying for sustenance. A shimmering light appears before her, forming into loaves of bread and a pitcher of water.
But as the food materializes, the corruption of the Worldwound twists her magic. The bread turns black, and the water becomes brackish and foul-smelling, unfit for consumption.
Gaiwan, awakening from his state of near-unconsciousness, watches in dismay as the corrupted food and water appear before him. His throat is dry, and he speaks with difficulty. "A-Auraelia... what has happened?"
The other Kellid takes a moment to gather his senses, his eyes darting around the extradimensional space, unfamiliar with his surroundings. His breathing steadies as he meets Auraelia's gaze, and the recognition of her celestial nature seems to calm him. "Ie... ie, dw i'n iawn."
His voice is hoarse and gravelly, a side effect of his recent transformation. He looks down at his arms, where twisted runes have faded but remain as dark scars on his mottled skin. Two curved horns curl backward from his forehead, and his teeth have sharpened into beastly fangs.
Patches of coarse, dark fur intermingle with reptilian scales, creating a gruesome patchwork on his chest and arms. His eyes are a piercing yellow with slit pupils that reflect an eerie light, and his ears have elongated into pointed tips. He flexes his hands, ending in thick, claw-like nails, while a long, wiry tail twitches behind him, seemingly with a mind of its own.
His expression darkens momentarily as he recalls the ordeal in the cave, then he looks up at Auraelia with gratitude in his eyes. "Diolch i chi am fy achub. Roeddwn i'n meddwl y byddai Lamashtu yn hawlio fy enaid."
Taking a deep breath, he gathers his composure and introduces himself with a weary voice. "Fi yw Joren Hannerlwg o lwyth y Kellid. Roeddwn yn disgwyl marwolaeth a rhywbeth gwaeth."
After taking a moment to steady himself, Joren notices the tainted food and water that Auraelia attempted to summon. Despite the corruption that mars it, he feels the gnawing hunger and thirst of someone who hasn't eaten or drunk in days. "A gaf i gael hynny? Nid wyf wedi cael bwyd na dŵr ers amser maith."
Auraelia frowns as she looks down at the summoning spell failing again. She was certain she it would hold this time, but the Abyss was simply stronger than her magic in this area of the worldwound.
"We fled from the Shemhazian, it's been many hours since then," she explains to Gaiwan. "The others were unable to find us and I have yet to be able to find a way out of the Stonewilds." She makes sure to repeat herself in Hallit for Joren.
"I am Auraelia, it is a pleasure to meet you Joren. This is Gaiwan. I am glad I was able to save you, Pulura must have guided me to the cave, as I was close enough to hear your cry for help and get there before they completed the ritual. There is plenty of food and water, though I wish I could offer it untainted. This foul water and bread is all my magic can manage here. We may need to hold out here for a day before the others can reach out to us again. I received a sending from Sosiel in Drezen, so Li'an was able to reach Drezen safely with the other troops. I am optimistic she will send another message tomorrow."
Using her simple creation magic, she creates a small wooden bowl and a hempen mesh to put atop it, then pours the foul water through the mesh to attempt to filter it somewhat.
Joren watches as she offers him the bowl, and without hesitation, he grabs it with his clawed hands, his piercing yellow eyes gleaming with hunger. He raises the bowl to his lips and drinks greedily, emptying it in a few deep gulps. Then, without pausing, he reaches for a chunk of the tainted bread and tears into it, chewing noisily. The coarse fur on his arms bristles as he eats, his elongated ears twitching with every bite.
"Diolch i chi, Auraelia. Nid yw fy nghorff yn hollol ddynol, ac mae’n ysu am fwyd a dŵr. Nid yw'n bwysig os yw'n llygredig."
Gaiwan watches the scene with a mix of pity and disgust, his face paling as Joren devours the corrupted provisions. He grimaces and turns away, fighting a wave of nausea. "I will wait a little longer before I eat," he says quietly, his voice hoarse from thirst.
Auraelia nods at Gaiwan, feeling sympathy for his situation. When Joren finishes, she tosses the remaining food and water down to the bottom of the pit.
"Feel free to sleep, I will keep watch. We should be safe within here for a few hours at least, hopefully longer. I can summon more food and water in the morning if needed."
Gaiwan rubs his eyes, his voice weak. "Thank you, Auraelia. We trust in your guidance, and in Pulura's light. Please wake me if you need help."
He rests his head back on the ground and despite his earlier nausea, fatigue quickly takes over, and his breathing becomes steady as he drifts into sleep.
Joren, his belly full for the first time in days, lets out a low sigh of relief. His yellow eyes are still alert, and his tail twitches occasionally as he shifts uncomfortably. "A fyddwch chi'n iawn ar eich pen eich hun, Auraelia?"
Meanwhile, back at Drezen, it is the middle of the night. Myrna and Li'an lie in their beds, their bodies wrapped in bandages and their faces etched with exhaustion. Slowly, they begin to stir, blinking as they adjust to the soft light of the candles.
In a bed nearby lies Valaria, a light sleeper who has honed her senses over years of adventuring in dangerous places. The moment she hears movement, her eyes snap open, and she turns to see them awakening. "Myrna? Li'an? Are you both awake? Are you alright?" she asks, concern evident in her voice.
"Don't worry about me, I don't need to sleep, and we're up above the entry, so it will be hard to break in and get to us if something finds the entryway. Get some rest, you are no longer alone," she says, giving Joren a smile.
Li'an awakes from her exertion to see Val asking if she and Myrna are alright. She nods at Val and gives her a weak smile. "Just tired, I figured out a way to borrow power when we are in danger, but it takes everything I have to control it for even a few moments. I am glad to see you up as well, Val."
Turning to Myrna, "You just waking up as well Myrna?" she asks.
Myrna sits up rapidly from unconsciousness, examining her arms and legs to ensure that everything is still there. Then, slowly, she looks around herself to discover that she is in the infirmary. Having never been here before, she has to assume that the group has made it back to Drezen.
She looks down to see Valaria, their erstwhile charge, recovering in a bed, and Li'an waking up as well. Myrna sits up and begins to pull the bandages from herself. No wounds remained below the bandages, and she felt humiliated lying in bed bandaged up while perfectly capable of getting up and walking around. "I'm fine," she sighs, "Not even bruised, after all that rest, but my pride is a little wounded to be so easily defeated."
She lets out another heaving sigh and stands up. Checking to see if her equipment is nearby, she starts strapping things on. "Thank you for saving us from that disaster," she tells to Li'an. "We would have died there if you had not transported us home."
"I think I'm going to go home, until morning. I still need to rest. I'd like to meet in the morning, though. Perhaps at the Archdruid's house, first thing in the morning? We can discuss what we should do next. I'll keep Irabeth appraised of our plans."
Header
Percept +23 low-light vision, blindsight 50', detect evil creatures within 200' emanation | Init +9 | AC 34, Touch 31, FF 26 +4 dodge when moving | DR1/- | CMD 35 | Fort + 16 Ref +18 Will +20, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 4 dex, 6 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 4 dodge, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: not FF in surprise round | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..04........18........7........3........16....00
Max.|..04........18........7........4........19....11
113/154 hp
Martial focus: 1/1
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift:
Move:
Move (e. pat.):
Free:
Standard:
Full round action:
Surprise round action:
_______________________________
An imperceptible sigh escapes Hinagiku when Auraelia makes it out of the cultists’ cave with her new ward. Truly, the lyrakien was quite amazing. Right now, she simply needed to survive until Li’an awoke.
”Yes, let us go home. ” Hinagiku says after deciding against recommending Ehren to pay a visit to Markus. ”Tomorrow we can reach out to Mrs. Arueshalae and Mrs. Auraelia. Hmmm, do you believe traveling to the menhirs in the Stonewilds will always be this dangerous? There was something wrong about them, but some ley nodes do have that wrongness too, while not being dangerous.”
On their way home, Hinagiku remains mostly silent and, when they reach their roundhouse in Drezen’s Kellid neighbourhood, she does her best to make their return easy for Ehren; making sure they get food, letting Yulin know that his guardian had had a harsh day and encouraging her to do a little something extra for him.
When everything seems to be in order, Hinagiku accompanies Ehren to bed. Laying next to him, she looks at his face, where an eye once was, and finally says: ”Ehren-kun, do you want to talk about today?”
Later that night, after her short sleep, Hinagiku meditates on the day, allowing to free herself from the concerns, doubts, and misgiving still clinging to her mind. There was still the matter of Arueshalae, but that would likely take days to fully understand and accept.
Then, as per usual, she leaves home. However, this time it is not to walk the streets in search of good deeds, but heading to the multi denominational church; while stashing away some of the witch’s belongings, she had realized the goblin body still in her bag.
At the church, Hinagiku finds a priest who can speak with the departed and has them ask the body about their name, whether they would like to be revived, what burial rite they would like to undergo, and whether anyone should be informed of their fate (and how to best contact them).
After entrusting the body to the church for safekeeping while decisions about their fate is being made, Hinagiku returns home and readies herself for the following day.
Header
Percept +23 low-light vision, blindsight 50', detect evil creatures within 200' emanation | Init +6 | AC 32, Touch 29, FF 26 +4 dodge when moving | DR1/- | CMD 35 | Fort + 16 Ref +18 Will +20, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 4 dex, 6 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 2 dodge, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..04........18........7........3........10....00
Max.|..04........18........7........4........19....11
113/154 hp
Martial focus: 1/1
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift:
Move:
Move (e. pat.):
Free:
Standard:
Full round action:
Surprise round action:
_______________________________
Joren nods, his gratitude evident in his gaze. He shifts closer to the wall, curling up with his furred arms wrapped around himself. His horns brush scratch against the wall as he finds a more comfortable position. "Diolch, Auraelia. Byddaf yn barod i'w ymladd, pan ddaw'r amser."
Valaria looks surprised. "Myrna, you're awake! You're already recovering so quickly?" She pauses. "You were in such bad shape when you arrived here. It’s remarkable."
When Myrna turns to leave, she says, "Rest well, Myrna. We'll see you in the morning. Take care."
Yulin's red eyes widen with concern. "The Archdruid's hurt? Is he going to be okay?"
The half-demon thinks for a moment. Her wings twitch, and she finally nods resolutely. "I'll bring him some fresh water and warm his blanket. He always likes that."
She quickly sets to work, conjuring a pitcher of water and warming Ehren's blanket over the hearth. She brings the pitcher to the bedside, then waits anxiously for Hinagiku's approval.
Auraelia settles in near the edge, remaining hidden and remaining on guard for any intruders.
"You should rest up some more Val," Li'an says. "I am going to head back to my place and rest until morning."
Valaria shifts in her bed, propping herself up on her elbows with a grimace. "I will, but it's frustrating being stuck here while you all go off on an adventure without me."
She pauses and takes a deep breath, her expression softening. "Arueshalae visited me in my dreams. She wanted me to pass along that she's sorry she got separated from us in the storm. She said she's heading for the Ivory Sanctum to scout it out and will wait for you all to catch up."
"Ehren-kun will be alright, whatever we do will help soothe him and make his recovery quicker." Hinagiku responds with a gentle smile.
"Perfect ideas." she then replies to Yulin's suggestions.
After Ehren is more relaxed but before he goes to bed, Hinagiku invites the girl to accompany her while she does some chores around the house.
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"Thank you, Yulin," Ehren says to his young cousin with a soft smile, appreciative of her efforts to comfort him. "I am sorry we left you alone again. Our good friend was in trouble, but she is safe now."
Before settling down for the night, Ehren tenderly removes his bandages and inspects his gruesome wound. The druid peers into a mirror and grimaces, confirming his suspicion that his eye was not so much torn out as it was stricken from existence. Having treated similar injuries in the past, he carefully cleans out and around the empty socket and applies an herbal poultice, disinfecting the wound and dulling the pain. He then wraps a fresh set of bandages over it, a temporary solution until he thinks of something more permanent.
Laying beside Hinagiku, his crown and vestments removed and set aside, Ehren considers her question. He closes his eye and sighs heavily, knowing better than to leave his burdens unspoken.
“I have always dreamed of visiting the Circle of Hierophants one day. To tread on that sacred ground and witness for myself the birthplace of my faith,” he whispers, remembering his conversation with the Inheritor all those years ago. “But I dread what it must look like now and what awaits me there. Especially after today.”
"It is difficult to accept that so many druids were led astray. I thought all the druid circles remaining in Sarkoris died alongside Vorian at Storasta. But Auzmezar was not there. He was in the Forest of Stones, content to embrace its corruption. And now his followers view me, the archdruid, as a corrupting influence.” Ehren pauses, his mouth twisting into a frown. He takes a deep breath before continuing, not wanting to get too worked up. “It is maddening. He wore the crown for over two hundred years before passing it to Vorian. Was it not enough that the Green blessed him with long life? Why did he have to pervert the cycle of life and death that we hold so sacred?”
Myrna shrugs and nods at Val's observations. "I wasn't hurt all that bad, just surface stuff. I won't do anyone any good lying in one of these infirmary beds except to distract people from others who need more."
She finishes pulling on her gear, tightening the last straps down and shouldering her pack. "Well, see you in the morning, Li'an." With a polite nod, she then heads out the door, walking home to her cabin set up in the Kellid area of town.
It being midnight, and Myrna being exhausted and a little frustrated, she doesn't hail anyone on her way back home. When she gets there she starts a pot of hot water over the fire, changes her clothes, briefly bathes herself, and puts herself to bed with a hot cup of tea. While she didn't necessarily need to sleep, neither did she want to push it by staying up all night. Myrna nods off to sleep, resting before heading over to the Archdruid's residence at first light.
At the church, Hinagiku finds an Shelynite priest who can speak with the departed. A middle-aged woman with a calming presence and gentle smile, she introduces herself as Sister Tilde. "Hinagiku, what brings you here so late at night?"
Hinagiku gently places the bag on the altar and reveals the desiccated body of the goblin.
Sister Tilde nods solemnly and places her hands on the goblin's forehead. "Let us find peace and answers together."
She begins a soft incantation, her voice low and rhythmic. The air around the goblin shimmers slightly, and its eyelids flutter open.
"Spirit, tell us your name."
The goblin's head stirs, its jaw drops open, and it responds in a faint voice, "我的名字是田村."
Sister Tilde turns to Hinagiku with a puzzled expression. I'm sorry, Hinagiku, but I do not speak this language. Can you translate?"
But, Hinagiku does not recognize that language, either.
This is a dialect of hobgoblins who live in Kaoling. Conquered by armies of vicious hobgoblins in the aftermath of the fall of Imperial Lung Wa, Kaoling is a two-tiered society ruled by ruthless hobgoblins with all other ancestries serving as effectively a slave-caste.
Pharast 3, 4718
Gaiwan of the Hellfire Squadron, despite the dryness that scratches at his throat from over a day without water, sits cross-legged, murmuring prayers to Pulura in Hallit with a fervent intensity. His voice echoes slightly off the walls that confine them.
Joren Halfscar shifts beside of him with restless energy. There is not enough room for him to walk around, in the nook Auraelia had made. His fur bristles, and his tail flicks irritably as he sniffs the air. Joren's patience, worn thin, finally snaps. In a guttural tone, he turns to the others, "Ydym ni'n mynd i adael, nawr?"
After a restful night in her own roundhouse within the Demetae village, Unafe rises with the dawn. The morning air is crisp and cold. She dresses quickly, her mithral breastplate clinking softly as she adjusts it, then heads towards Drezen.
Upon reaching the infirmary on Paradise Hill, Unafe inquires about Li'an, hoping to bring her along for a discussion with Valais. However, Valaria informs her that Li'an had departed at first light for Ehren and Hinagiku's home.
Unafe adjusts her plan and sets off towards the north slope of Paradise Hill. The path is familiar and lined with a thin layer of snow. Reaching the Archdruid's roundhouse, she steps up to the door, raising her hand to knock, her presence announced by the distinct jingle of saurian teeth and feathers adorning her attire.
As the first light of dawn streaks the cloudy skies above Drezen, Myrna and Li'an set out for the Archdruid's home, nestled on the snowy northern slope of Paradise Hill.
Upon their arrival, they find Ehren, Hinagiku and young Yulin already bustling about in the early morning. They are tending to a cauldron full of soup made of simmering herbs and dried mushrooms, the aromatic steam mingling with the fresh air. At the same time, Unafe's silhouette appears at the open door.
Header
Percept +23 low-light vision, blindsight 50', detect evil creatures within 200' emanation | Init +6 | AC 32, Touch 29, FF 26 +4 dodge when moving | DR1/- | CMD 35 | Fort + 16 Ref +18 Will +20, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 4 dex, 6 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 2 dodge, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..04........18........7........4........15....00
Max.|..04........18........7........4........19....11
113/154 hp
Martial focus: 1/1
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Hinagiku nods with a gentle smile when the other congregate at their new house. ”I am glad to see you both up. I am still not used to this ability you have both been showing. It is quite incredible. Truly. Do you know how you draw such power?”
”Who should we contact first and how should we meet them? I believe Mrs. Auraelia is in a more urgent situation. Ehren-kun and I watched her using magic yesterday, and she barely escaped cultists in the Stonewilds.”
Better understanding where her fiance stands, Hinagiku lays a comforting hand on his forearm, staring at his profile in the dark.
”It is truly awful. The wound truly is a blight on all…. Even the great… but we look up to them, and it is easy to forget that they are not perfect and can fail. I understand how discouraging this must be. But, in the end, it seems to me that the reasons pushing us to fight against the wound just keep growing. If we can continue spreading the influence of Mother Heartwood, you can show this circle of druids how their time is past and that the cycle of nature can resume. Or so I believe… at heart they are followers of nature, I would hope their past duty would still hold some weight in their heart.”
”But, you mentioned something else that was looking into using the circle, didn’t you? Do you think we should investigate this soon?”
Header
Percept +23 low-light vision, blindsight 50', detect evil creatures within 200' emanation | Init +6 | AC 32, Touch 29, FF 26 +4 dodge when moving | DR1/- | CMD 35 | Fort + 16 Ref +18 Will +20, +2 vs death effects, +4 insight vs starv., thirst, some diseases and some poisons | Evasion (for all saves)
AC breakdown: 4 dex, 6 wis, 2 sage, 2 enhanc, 2 deflection, 2 dodge, 3 insight, 1 nat ac enhanc
Others: | Treat exposure to hot and cold as 2 steps milder (or 1 when sleeping or unconscious),
____.|.AoO__DgPool_LoH_Medit__Ki__MP
Left..|..04........18........7........4........15....01
Max.|..04........18........7........4........19....11
154/154 hp
Martial focus: 1/1
Rolls
Contingency:
Actions
Swift:
Move:
Move (e. pat.):
Free:
Standard:
Full round action:
Surprise round action:
_______________________________
Hinagiku strains her ears to understand the goblin, but in the end, it is clear that whatever language he speaks, it is not one that Hinagiku knows.
Turning to sister Tilde, the monk says:
”Unfortunately, I don’t know it either. Is there anyone here who would know a translate spell? Or, is it even relevant, can they understand us at all? Hummm…. Maybe something else could work, the Daemon Prayers knew minkaian, maybe they do too, could I ask the questions myself?”
"I think our best bet is to wait. Li'an should be able to teleport to us and get us out. I don't believe I can safely navigate us out of the Stonewilds," Auraelia says apologetically. "She was able to take the entire squad back to Drezen safely when she reached out, we'll be fine once she is rested. I'll let you know when she reaches out to me again."
"I have a better idea now, it involves drawing power from the Plane of Fire, and is tied to the vision I had the first time it happened. I need to do more research to understand it better though."
Li'an listens to Hinagiku's description of Arie saving yet another person. It didn't surprise her that she'd do something like that even while in the Stonewilds barely surviving. She was very lucky, but eventually with all the horrors out there, her luck was bound to run out. They needed to get there before that happened. "I do think we should go after Auraelia first. Rue is far more capable of taking care of herself, and Val mentioned she's going scouting for now. I want to go as soon as I've regained my magic."
“I hope so, Kiku,” Ehren replies, finding it difficult to be optimistic. “I want to believe their beliefs have not been twisted beyond all recognition, that we can still reason with them. But as they are now, in those hideous forms, the land’s corruption has rooted itself deeply into their souls. Even if we were to close the Worldwound and cleanse the land, would they even recognize the good we have done? Or would they merely become the next enemy I must contend with?” He sighs before continuing,
“I suppose I am looking too far past the horizon. Whether our next meeting comes down to words or violence, I am not ready to face the siabrae again, far from it. The two we encountered were more powerful than me; I cannot fathom how powerful Auzmezar himself must be…”
When Hinagiku mentions the other voice Ehren heard during his vision, he falls silent momentarily. “It would not be the first demon we encountered who desired the power of the druids. I do not know what secrets it seeks to find amid the menhir, but that its memories were imprinted on one does not bode well.” Ehren lets that thought sit briefly before answering his fiancee’s last question. “I think I know how to approach the matter without venturing into the Stonewilds again. Years ago, Xander had some of his Pathfinders collect artifacts from the Petrified Library, an ancient repository of druidic knowledge. If Valais knows what became of them, perhaps she would be willing to permit me access.”
"Scouting, you say?" Ehren asks curiously as he ladles the soup into wooden bowls and hands them out. "I was unable to scry on her last night, but I suppose she is accustomed to warding off such attempts from her enemies. Given what she knows, we must establish contact soon."
He then turns to Li'an and asks, "Do you intend to teleport to Auraelia, somehow?"
"Ah, yes, I remember the vision with the ibis. So mysterious... A fire Ibis... "
Hinagiku simply nods at the information brought by Li'an, assuming Valaria had some kind of mystical link with Arueshalae.
"Scouting the Ivory Sanctum... so we should hurry to regroup with her, if your magic will allow it Li'an."
Sister Tilde shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Hinagiku. While I can cast comprehend languages, it only helps the caster understand spoken or written languages. For us to communicate, the goblin would need to understand one of the languages I can speak. With comprehend languages, I’d understand them, but without knowing one of their languages, they wouldn’t understand us."
Unafe smiles to see her companions up and about...until Ehren turns her way and she realizes that, despite their marvelous healing abilities, some wounds don't go away as easily as others.
"Archdruid, are you in pain?"
Unafe nods at Hinagiku's suggestion. "Agreed, it's impressive Aurelia has lasted this long in that Wound, already. Though if one of you can Send to Rue, it would be great to get back in touch. And if she's amenable, I could pull us all together in a dream council.
"For now though, Li'an, how many people can you take with you, and still be able to return with Aurelia and those she's rescued? I'm happy to come, in case there are difficulties."
"That is unfortunate." Hinagiku replies. "I will try to find someone who can both speak minkaian and cast the spell. Thank you for your help sister Tilde. Would it be too much to ask for the church to tend to their body while I search?"
Sister Tilde nods understandingly. "Of course, Hinagiku. We will ensure that the body is kept in a respectful state here at the church. Take all the time you need to find a translator."
Sister Tilde gestures to a couple of the acolytes nearby, instructing them gently. "Please prepare a place in the crypt where this one can rest undisturbed."
The acolytes bow slightly and carefully move to lift the body, handling it with the utmost respect as they transport it to the church's crypt below.
Li'an, pausing to stir her soup, replies thoughtfully, "I could try, but not until early afternoon when my magic is fully restored. Even with your scrying as a guide, Ehren, teleporting directly to her could be risky. Auraelia's defenses against such magic are formidable, and her extradimensional sanctuary is beyond my reach."
Ehren gives Unafe a wan smile, thankful for her concern. "It is more an absence than a pain at this point, but it is nothing I cannot grow accustomed to in time."
He looks back to Li'an, suddenly realizing that with so much of his peripheral vision gone, group conversations will give his neck quite the workout. "Hm. It is a risk, but I cannot think of another option. She is far from the closest 'safe' ley node, so you are the only one who can get to her quickly. And as for scrying on her, I might have gotten lucky the last time. I do not know Auraelia as well as you do, and I do not have any physical connection to her. Even just a likeness of her would improve my chances of succeeding again."
"We can get around the issue with a sending. That will allow her to know that the scrying is coming. It's an extra cost, but easily worth it to ensure it succeeds. Perhaps Sosiel can provide us with another sending today?" she replies, noticing Ehren's discomfort with his missing eye.
"Do you want us to seek a regeneration spell for your eye? It shouldn't be harder to fix than Aravashnial's eyes were. I'm sure we could procure a scroll in Nerosyan with a bit of time and effort."
Turning to Unafe, she thinks for a moment."I can carry three with me, but apparently Auraelia is able to put others in some form of stasis to carry them with her. I'm not sure how many she can do that with. It would certainly be good for you to come along to buy time in an emergency. We can't act before this afternoon, but we can at least start getting all the pieces in order. I can handle a sending to Rue once we've gotten Auraelia. I think Hinagiku is right that we should regroup with her as quickly as possible and bring her back. For her sake and for Val's. Assuming we can do a second scrying, we could do a similar trick, doing a sending first, scrying, and then teleporting in to pick her up."
"Once we have them saved, I would like a few days to try to work at the purity forge. I'll need your help Ehren, but I think I know how to rework our prize from the visit we paid to the inn a while back. I don't think it'll take me more than four days to accomplish my goal."