Gnawl sighs and sits down as he catches his breath. "...yeah, I don't think those were illusions that time." he said, before perking his fringes up. "Manduzi is gone? ...oh great. I hope he's alright. Wait... erm, I think we may need him. He is the most naturally inclined of us, I think. I mean... I could navigate, if needed, but... I'm not particularly good at it."
"Zzzzzz."
Turning to his scaly companion, "We'll figure something out. But for now, let's get back to sleep."
"...right, right. We'll just have to hope he comes back..." Gnawl replied. Returning to his tent, his mind returned to his vision before waking. Did... had he been spoken to? By no less than Apsu himself? It couldn't be... could it?
And... his wards... Gnawl really hoped Manduzi was alright. Else, he was failing his deity quite drastically already.
After you go back to sleep, the rest of the night passes by uneventfully. The sun rises peacefully and the forest sounds become more prominent and active.
When you awake, you find that all of the wolves are gone.
Havarus awoke to the sounds of the early birds singing. Despite the disruption during the night, he felt well rested.
After getting dressed and armored, the Tiefling exited his tent and headed towards the fire pit. "Good morning Daniel, how are you feeling this morning."
"Me? Mostly worried, in all honesty. At one point, those two wolves dragged their dead companion away, but they didn't do much more than growl in my direction. How are you doing this morning?" Uriel stands and stretches his arms, looking towards the empty tent. "Still no trace of Manduzi, hmm? I had hoped we'd see something of him this morning..."
"I find it strange that he seems to have just disappeared." Reaching into his pack, Havarus pulled out his section of map. "Any thought of where we are on these maps?"
"I'm afraid I'm not much one for maps," Uriel shrugged. "I can't make heads or tails of it, beyond the fact that I'm fairly certain we're headed in the right direction."
Gnawl emerges from his tent armed and armored as he roused himself into action. "Master Manduzi has not returned? Worrying... but as for where we are... well..."
"...I THINK we're here, and we want to be going in that direction. Sadly, navigation is not my strong suit. Had we someone who could read this more coherently, I'd feel better, but as it stands..." Gnawl grimaced, scratching at his fringes as he twisted the map a little. Troublesome... I wonder if this is a test Apsu has put before me... well... he said he made me with all I would need to complete my tasks.
Quietly, the woman listened. So, they are in need of a guide. She weighed her options. Her personal quest to find her lost relative was important to her. But after looking over these three and the evidence of three wolves nearly killing them, she couldn't in good conscience just leave them. The woman finally made up their minds.
Dropping down from tree, she said, "Perhaps I could be of assistance?"
Havarus wheeled around with his hand on his shortsword, "Who in the hells are you?"
As the Tiefling spun about, the woman drew her bow and notched an arrow. "Ho there stranger, stand down. Unless you want this through your eye."
After a peaceful nights sleep Fiila awoke well rested. She sat and stared at Alain for about an hour before she got dressed and left her tent. She smiled brightly at everyone and said with a big stretch that caused her blouse to pull tight against her chest and hug the shape of her body. "Morn..." It was then she suddenly realized the tension in the camp sight and looked at the new arrival, "what's going on? It's too early to be all worked up, I haven't even had breakfast yet." Ignoring the tension Fiila went to the fire and put a plate of food together which she sat down and started eating. She occasionally held a piece of food up which Alain promptly took from her hand and swallowed.
Slowly releasing tension on the bow string, the newcomer returned the arrow to her quiver. "She's right, it's too early for this sort of stupidity."
Havarus glanced at Fiila then back to mysterious woman. What was that? He wondered. Not removing his hand from his weapon hilt, "You'll forgive me if I don't comply right away. We've had a rough time lately."
The woman shrugged, "Suit yourself."
You notice that the pieces make up four parts of a map that leads directly to the tomb.
Gnawl blinked as weapons were immediately a go-to resort. He quickly jumped in between Havarus and the new woman, holding up his claws to stop them. "Wait, wait!" he shouted in exasperation. "Let's not jump to killing each other before we've even introduced names!"
He looked up at Havarus pleadingly, hoping he'd relax before turning to the new woman. "Apologies... you startled us, and having lost our friend, we are not sure of anything at the moment... my name is Gnawl Rapwood, of the Rapwood tribe. This is Master Havarus, Lady Fiila and Sir Uriel. We've been tasked with reaching the Tomb of Kassen and retrieving the Everflame from within. As we've lost track of our friend Manduzi, we're somewhat lost without his wilderness knowledge. But... you seem quite at home in the wilds. Perhaps... you'd be willing to guide us on our way?"
The woman looked at the Kobold, "Did you say Tomb of Kassen? That wouldn't have any relation to a town of the same name?"
Havarus loosened the grip on his weapon, only because of the amount of respect he had gained for the Kobold over the past couple of days. "Yes it would. Why do you ask?"
The woman replied to the Tiefling, "I'm looking for someone. A Great Aunt who was taken as a slave by a Chelaxian house. My family thought her dead, until a couple years ago when one of them thought he saw her in Kassen. He tried to get to her, but ended up getting kicked out before he could. So I came here to find her."
Havarus' face grew quizzical, this woman's story was remarkably similar to the one his Mother had told when he asked about his father, "What was her name?"
The woman looked at the Tiefling, "Mala. Mala Bonespear, why?"
Havarus knew that name, but it wasn't who he thought it was. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but the woman your family member saw in Kassen wasn't her. But I know of whom you speak. My Mother, a woman named Aza, told me of how her and her friend Mala were taken by a Chelaxian house. I'm sorry to say, that Mala was sacrificed to bring forth and Incubus from the Abyss. He was then given Aza, who in turn had me."
The woman took a step back, stunned, "People always said they looked similar, I didn't even think that it couldn't have been her." Looking at Havarus, "So, you're Aza's child? I don't suppose you'd be willing to introduce me to her?"
The Rogue choked back tears, "I'm sorry, but she passed a few days ago."
Between them Fiila and Alain are to busy wolfing down breakfast to notice anything in Senya's expression as she looked over at Fiila. As she ate she listened to teh discussion and butted in when she had a chance, "I'm Fiila, and this is Alain," She gestured to the raven who looked up, an obvious glint of intelligence in his eyes as she continued, "So we've all introduced ourselves but you haven't told us your name yet." When Havarus was suddenly choked up on tears Fiila sat her food aside and stood, she moved to give the tiefling a hug and pat his back before returning to her food once again.
The woman shook her head before replying, "Sorry, I forgot my manners. My name is Senya Silverblade of the Clan Wolfbane."
"I... I don't understand. How did you... you just stumbled across us? Out here in the woods? I'm not so sure I trust you either. Stay where you are for now, if you would." Uriel keeps his sword tip down, but his stance is clearly ready for battle. After reciting a small blessing, his eyes glow a faint blue as he casts Detect Evil.
The young Paladin does not detect any evil within her. "Well, I'll admit I didn't just come across you. I heard the sounds of battle, but by the time I got here, it was already resolved. So I climbed up in a tree and waited until this morning to talk to you. Figured you might be less inclined to attack on sight. Guess I was partially right."
With her arms around Havarus still Fiila turned her head to look at Senya and say, "Sounds of battle? What battle? Didi I miss something?"
"Yeah, we had some trouble with some wolves last night, but we dealt with them." Havarus answered.
Fiila's look became panicked and she said, "Is everyone alright? Do I need to treat anyone?"
"No, we're fine." Havarus responded.
"Oh good," she buried her face in Havarus chest a moment more and then went back to devouring her breakfast.
"Yes, wolves attacked the camp last night. We managed to repel them though. I'm... assuming you slept through it?" Gnawl asked Fiila, before spying the lack of breakfast being eaten.
Turning back to Senya and Havarus, the kobold nodded. "It seems fortuitous that you two should be drawn together like this. Perhaps... it would be wise to stick together? Normally, I would call such a meeting coincidence, but... you'll forgive me, but after last night, I am starting to question what is happenstance and what is meant to be. I, for one, welcome all newcomers. A larger tribe is a stronger tribe." Slinking towards the fire, Gnawl hopes to procure some food for himself... provided he can snag any away from the hungry crow.
Harvarus couldn't help but feel a slight quickening of his pulse and a slight tingling below his belt. His thoughts returned back to his dream and the vision that popped into his head after the battle. Shaking the thoughts loose, the Tiefling moved to get himself some breakfast.
Turning to Senya, "Care for some?"
The young Ranger sat down where she stood and pulled out some preserved foods from a belt pouch. "I'll just have some of this and wait for the lot of you to decide whether to allow me with you or not."
With the pot of food empty, and everyone full. The anticipation of the coincidental stranger and the decision to add one more to the party looms awkwardly around you all.
The campsite is packed up and the party stares among one another and then toward Senya.
While slightly reluctant at first, it was hard for Havarus to deny the certain details in her story that coincided perfectly with details of what his mother had told him. Details that one else could have known. And after discussion with the others, voted to take her along.
With everything packed and otherwise ready to go Fiila looked around for the direction they were traveling in yesterday, chose the wrong one, and started walking. She was only a few feet away when she said, "Everyone coming? How about you Senya?"
Gnawl packs up his things and readies himself for travel as he looks at the others. Was the question of whether Senya should accompany them still unanswered? Grimacing a little, Gnawl turns back to the new arrival ad bows his head.
"Lady Silverblade, I would be honored to have you join us in our task. We will be returning to Kassen after our retrieval of the Everflame, so if it conveniences you, please count yourself in our numbers." That, and without her, he was pretty confident he would not be able to read the map properly.
After the decision to have this ranger trek along with you, you all proceed according to the map. According to it, and after some time, the trees begin to thin, revealing a field of short, green grass that leads to the shores of a wide, calm lake reflecting the overcast sky above. a dense fog hangs over the center of the lake, obscuring the far side. Near the shore of the lake, a dark form lies next to the water.
As the lake came into view and the form spotted, Senya held up her hand to halt the others. "Wait here for a moment." With an arrow notched, she slowly approached the form.
Once she knew the area was clear, the Ranger returned her arrow to her quiver and signaled the others it was safe. As they approached, she examined the body.
She didn't notice anything.
The Tiefling had been wondering about this strange woman that seemed tied up in her family's past, and the mysterious look she had given Fiila back at the camp. This woman certainly seems odd to say the least. He thought to himself.
After Senya indicated it was safe to proceed, the Rogue approached and looked at the form.
Hmm, certainly not from around here, that's for sure. Havarus thought.