Mother Bartha gulps and starts to calm down, although she still clings to Leo.
"Kelemvor has surely sent you to aid us. That thing, those devils took the relics. They must be re-buried with Margant. They must be ..." her voice starts to rise again, but she is cut off by the child.
Still gazing into the sky her words cut through the hysteria like a cold knife.
"They call to the flame with the heart of the hero. They will bleed the world to bring the Dreamer home.""Dreamer, that means anything? Mirth? Perigia? Uh Erik wasn't it?" Leo adds a little confused as he continues to help calm down Mother Bartha.
"Perhaps she is referring to an entity that is asleep and is threatening to wake up. An old god or a demon lord is my best bet."
Caine looks at the other incredulous looks
"What? My nanny told me a lot of tales."
Cherra has been silently moving among the pilgrims, helping them to gather dropped belongings, but at the child's words, she rejoins the group.
Without ceremony, she goes to Mother Bartha and slaps the woman hard.
"Sorry Leo. Sometimes the quick way is best."
There seems to be considerable truth in her theory as Mother Bartha sits down abruptly and starts to pull herself together.
Cherra smiles a bit grimly. "What Dreamer is this child talking about? Is Commander Caine right?"
Mother Bartha slumps and strokes her face where Cherra slapped her. A red mark is already rising.
"I don't know," she says sullenly. "The child is our Sightless One. The old women are our augers and they had a vision of where to find her. Last winter they went into the Wodewood and she was waiting for them. They never leave her side and they never speak. I don't understand half of what her voices tell her. It's not my place to do so." She looks at the historian with acute dislike.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance Caine," Erik says with warmth. "You fight with great strength as well as great cunning."
--------------------------------
Erik joins the growing circle around Mother Bartha and listens intently to the conversation. He strokes his beard for a moment and tries to reflect on any familiar poems or passages that made references to these terms.
To Erik, "Aye and so do you."
Mirth has neither the inclination nor the time to respond to the fat ecclesiast's apology before the woman is gone, to fling herself on Leo.
Sister Cherra's slap elicits a brief smirk from the tiefling. Perhaps this is one churchling who yet owns some sense, she thinks.
Rising slowly, she shoulders her way to the gathering, offering a curt nod to the newcomer with the intriguing mish-mash of a cosmopolitan accent, before offering her interpretation of Mother Bartha's babblings in a terse, spare few sentences.
Erik
A fragment of verse slides into Erik's mind. Part of a half-remembered child's story, it tells of a sleeping Dreamer who waits for the call of a voice beyond the stars to wake it. While it sleeps it calls on its followers to feed it with dreams and blood while they seek the heart of a hero fit to rouse it. When the Dreamer wakens, it will warm the world with its blue flame.
Caine searches his memory, but recalls little beyond the known power of some relics to work miracles.
Mirth
The old man talked about the Spellplague and wondered (as you do yourself) if it can be channeled. It seems fairly clear to you that the stolen relic will be used as a focus to produce a patch of living Spellplague with the intention of deliberately infecting members of some cult. Volkanth is clearly spellscarred and the hippogriff was spellchanged. Brujo will be well aware of that as well.
Cherra has been silently moving among the pilgrims, helping them to gather dropped belongings, but at the child's words, she rejoins the group.
Without ceremony, she goes to Mother Bartha and slaps the woman hard.
"Sorry Leo. Sometimes the quick way is best."
There seems to be considerable truth in her theory as Mother Bartha sits down abruptly and starts to pull herself together.
Cherra smiles a bit grimly. "What Dreamer is this child talking about? Is Commander Caine right?"
Mother Bartha slumps and strokes her face where Cherra slapped her. A red mark is already rising.
"I don't know," she says sullenly. "The child is our Sightless One. The old women are our augers and they had a vision of where to find her. Last winter they went into the Wodewood and she was waiting for them. They never leave her side and they never speak. I don't understand half of what her voices tell her. It's not my place to do so." She looks at the historian with acute dislike.
Perigia searches her memory for any useful information.
Perigia
Leo
It's no surprise to you that the ambushers were so fanatical. You have some experience of how cults work and in this case you are sure that there is some very compelling reason for them to be prepared to lay down their lives. The appearance of the Spellchanged hippogriff tells its own grim story. Somehow the Spellplague has found a focus. Very likely the long dead Dreamer. Kelemvor's purpose is defiled by such an act.
Leo ** spoiler omitted **
"It appears someone has found a way to turn this debacle to their advantage," Leo muses aloud.
"Exactly what part did they take from the remains may I ask?" Leo asks whoever is nearest to the wagon the teifling ransacked.
Erik stares off for a moment as the old childhood rhyme springs to mind.
"The Dreamer beyond the stars,
Waiting for the hero's heart, born afar,
Blood and dreams, its disciples light,
The bluest flame, to warm the night."
"At least, I believe that's how it goes. It's rather obscure as I recall and the rest of the story was a bit graphic for a children's tale."
Mother Bartha looks horrified at Erik's song and Leo's question and staggers to the destroyed reliquary.
"His heart. They took his heart."
Snaggletooth, having noticed that no one has approached him, (probably due to his monsterous hertitage), quickly starts searching the bodies of the fallen attackers. He will whistle an up-beat tune while he does this.
He will, after examining the corpses and stripping them of valuables, drag them back to H3 to pile them up for a funeral pyre. Anything of value will be placed on his cloak as spoils and carried back to the others.
Mother Bartha looks horrified at Erik's song and Leo's question and staggers to the destroyed reliquary.
"His heart. They took his heart."
"Well that does it, we're going to have to retrieve it if only to prevent whatever shenanigans might happen if the reburial doesn't happen, to me this smells of a Thayan plot and I suspect we need to thwart it before they give the spellplague an even worse reputation," Leo nods.
"Well that does it, we're going to have to retrieve it if only to prevent whatever shenanigans might happen if the reburial doesn't happen, to me this smells of a Thayan plot and I suspect we need to thwart it before they give the spellplague an even worse reputation," Leo nods.
Erik is grinning ear to ear, seemingly oblivious of the severity of the situation.
"Yes, that is what I've been waiting for. We shall seek out this charlatan once more and spoil said sinister scheme!"
Erik then looks around a bit sheepishly, but still smiling, and clears his throat.
"That is, of course, if you'll have me along. It feels like I've been waiting to find you all my entire life, so I apologize if I have jumped to conclusions. It seems to me, however, that every available blade will be needed. I also feel inclined to help as these kind, though somber pilgrims," Erik adds with a glance to Mother Bartha, "have allowed me to travel with them for some time."
Snaggletooth:
Snaggletooth looks up from his task. "If Pretty Man wants to come with, I no object. He good fighter." Then he goes right back to work.
Mother Bartha looks horrified at Erik's song and Leo's question and staggers to the destroyed reliquary.
"His heart. They took his heart."
"Well that does it, we're going to have to retrieve it if only to prevent whatever shenanigans might happen if the reburial doesn't happen, to me this smells of a Thayan plot and I suspect we need to thwart it before they give the spellplague an even worse reputation," Leo nods.
"Well I guess we were headed that way any way," Perigia says with a smile. "Something tells me that this has something to do with Fia being worshiped like a god in Thay."
The little girl points into the Wodewood. "They seek the Dreamer's face within the wood."
Mother Bartha clutches at Leo once more.
"You're a good man. May I offer you a blessing before you depart? It may help you."
"I think the whole group need the blessing Mother," comments Cherra, acidly. "Leo is an astonishing servant of your god, but everyone helped defeat the ambush and everyone seems to be going to get your relic back. Some kind of reward would be nice too, I think."
Mother Bartha purses her lips with annoyance and glares at Cherra who just grins cheerfully back at her. Finally the Abbess nods. "You are correct. In this rare instance, I may offer you all a blessing if you choose to take it. As for reward," her expression tightens again, "I can offer you nothing until we reach the monastery."
Snaggletooth
Your search, while thorough, but turns up little of interest. The suicidal ambush party were carrying nothing apart from their weapons. They were all wearing a flame shaped symbol on chains around their necks. Worthless as treaure, but of interest as trophies.
Erik gives Bartha a snarky grin.
"Please, Mother, honor me with your blessing," Erik says and then bows before her, keeping eye contact the entire time and smiling the whole way. "Think of it as a departing gift for my all my services during the trip."
"Where we are going, we can use all the blessings we can get," Perigia says.
Mirth stares the woman briefly in the eyes before speaking through a smirk.
"Perhaps thee did not misjudge me after all, Bartha." The lack of title is deliberate and obvious. "I shall depend on mine own blessings, methinks."
The tiefling turns away, gathering up her staff in haughty silence and preparing to ride.
Mother Bartha matches Mirth look for look. "As you wish."
One at a time, she places her hand on Perigia and Erik, chanting words that Leo at least recognises as an ancient invocation to Kelemvor to guard the recipient in their hour of greatest need.
Cherra touches Mirth's shoulder. "I don't like her much, but she does seem to have the real deal with that blessing," she whispers to the tiefling.
Swinging his blade in a sharp arc Brujo cleans the berserkers blood away. He can't help but to smile and chucle a bit as Bartha presses up against the paladin.
He sits by himself, his mind a jumble after meeting two of his own, but listens with sharp elf ears to the others conversation of the Dreamer.
The little girl points into the Wodewood. "They seek the Dreamer's face within the wood."
Mother Bartha clutches at Leo once more.
"You're a good man. May I offer you a blessing before you depart? It may help you."
"I think the whole group need the blessing Mother," comments Cherra, acidly. "Leo is an astonishing servant of your god, but everyone helped defeat the ambush and everyone seems to be going to get your relic back. Some kind of reward would be nice too, I think."
Mother Bartha purses her lips with annoyance and glares at Cherra who just grins cheerfully back at her. Finally the Abbess nods. "You are correct. In this rare instance, I may offer you all a blessing if you choose to take it. As for reward," her expression tightens again, "I can offer you nothing until we reach the monastery."
"Your blessing would be most welcome, Mother Bartha," Leo nods.
"Alright, children, let's pool what we know about this beautiful Dreamer."
"Alright, children, let's pool what we know about this beautiful Dreamer."
"Next to nothing, really. Many here have guessed that the blue flame has something to do with the spellplague. Little seems to be known about the Dreamer itself. 'Beyond the stars' would seem to indicate something from the Far Realm, but I know little of that place."
"Far realm, hmmm. I think we need to consult a sage."
Snaggletooth, tired from his carrying and looting the bodies, not to mention the fight itself, yawns and almost stumbles over to the group.
"Bad men not only stupid, but poor too. No loot."
He walks right up to the blind girl and examines her closely. "It true you not see?" He waves his hand in front of her face. "How you survive this long? Blind kobolds not useful, get left behind. You not left behind. You protected. You special, maybe? Do magic? I just curious. Not see people like you before."
"I am Snaggletooth, mighty hero and ad-vent-ur-er. I not fit in with my people no more. I kobold, but not follow kobold way. So I leave and join my friends on BIG quest. That me. Who you? What you name?"
Rev
Mother Bartha lingers rather pointedly over Leo's blessing, taking the opportunity to push some of the tousled blonde hair back off the paladin's face. Cherra openly snorts at these antics.
"You're supposed to be blessing him Mother, not hairdressing him. I believe there's a difference."
"The voice of Kelemvor speaks strongly between his faithful," snaps the Abbess, but she releases Leo's hair.
The child ignores all this and focuses her sightless eyes on Snaggletooth, squatting on the edge of the wagon to gaze at him. For the first time, she seems more child-like and less like an oracular figurine.
"May I touch you? I really can't see and you're the first kobold I've ever met. Your people and mine aren't so different. Mine left me behind too. I heard voices and they told me where to wait so the augers could find me. My name's Sybil. It means "seer" which is funny. I'm not a seer. I'm a listener. I like it better than "Sightless One", which is what she calls me."
"Alright, children, let's pool what we know about this beautiful Dreamer.""Next to nothing, really. Many here have guessed that the blue flame has something to do with the spellplague. Little seems to be known about the Dreamer itself. 'Beyond the stars' would seem to indicate something from the Far Realm, but I know little of that place."
"They may be trying to create something like living spellplague, or open a dimensional rift," Perigia says. "It would take a lot of power to generate, but then who ever these guys are could empower lots of followers without having to search out patches of spellplague."
"You see with your hands?" Snaggletooth is amazed by the idea of this. "O.K. But be careful. My skin is scaley, like a dragon's. Old shaman used to tell us when we very little that kobolds are related to dragons. I like that. Makes me feel strong." And he moves up to the girl and leads her hands to his face. "Don't poke my eye, o.k.?"
"They may be trying to create something like living spellplague, or open a dimensional rift," Perigia says. "It would take a lot of power to generate, but then who ever these guys are could empower lots of followers without having to search out patches of spellplague."
"Living spellplague?! That's an abomination. No insult intended to the spellscarred, mind you."
"But you have to agree that we must stop this for our own survival."
"Next to nothing, really. Many here have guessed that the blue flame has something to do with the spellplague. Little seems to be known about the Dreamer itself. 'Beyond the stars' would seem to indicate something from the Far Realm, but I know little of that place. They may be trying to create something like living spellplague, or open a dimensional rift," Perigia says. "It would take a lot of power to generate, but then who ever these guys are could empower lots of followers without having to search out patches of spellplague." Perigia theorises.
"You make it sound like they're trying to recreate the original spellplague?" Leo notes.
"Hmm a living spellplague do you mean they're looking to create something that can induce the effects of the spellplague as some kind of magical item or artefact?!" he adds looking a little alarmed at the thought."No wait this reburial and the effect of it not being done in time is a more likely reason, Mother Bartha exactly who did this hero defeat at this battle so long ago?" Leo asks.
Sybil very gently and thoroughly moves her small hands over Snaggletooth's face.
"I'll be very careful. I don't exactly see with my hands, but it's how I learn new shapes. Now I know your shape and I know you. You're nice. I like dragons your size."
She jumps off the wagon and sits on the ground. "Do you want to play a game? I can play knucklebones really well."
The augers shake their heads, but the child ignores them, engrossed in making friends with Snaggletooth.
Mother Bartha looks slightly taken aback by Leo's question.
"Our legend says only that the foe was mighty and evil. Margant was a valiant hero for the just."
Cherra shrugs. "If you don't know, just say so. I can help a bit. Nobody really knows who lead the opposing army, but he wore a horned helm and spoke with the voice of the stars. Not much to go on. My guess is that if Margant was buried with honour by his people, then his opponent would have been as well. I suppose it's possible someone is trying to bring them both together again. I've no idea why, but something tells me it won't be for any good reason."
"Next to nothing, really. Many here have guessed that the blue flame has something to do with the spellplague. Little seems to be known about the Dreamer itself. 'Beyond the stars' would seem to indicate something from the Far Realm, but I know little of that place. They may be trying to create something like living spellplague, or open a dimensional rift," Perigia says. "It would take a lot of power to generate, but then who ever these guys are could empower lots of followers without having to search out patches of spellplague." Perigia theorises."You make it sound like they're trying to recreate the original spellplague?" Leo notes.
"I think that is exactly what they have in mind," Perigia says. "My guess is that this "Dreamer" awoke partially during the original spellplague and that his cult is hoping that recreating the event will awaken him fully."
"I don't think this world could withstand another outbreak of spellplague. Look at what it did the first time. The land is barely recognizable compared to the old tales of 100 years ago. We should leave immediately," adds Erik who then begins to gather his things from the wagons, smiling at the young girl and Snaggletooth.
"I have some power to increase our travel speed. It won't be much compared to the flight of a hippogriff, but it is better than nothing unless we can all get ahold of horses. With horses I daresay we could outrun the hippogriff with my help."
Rev:
Rev:** spoiler omitted **
Erik
Erik pulls a finely crafted flute out of a small box in his pack and walks over to where the horses are saddled.
For the next 10 minutes Erik moves around the horses in a very specific pattern while flawlessly playing a lively, rhythmic tune on the flute. The notes of the song carry obvious magical power and it has a bolstering effect on the horses.
When it is over Eric takes a deep breath and wipes some sweat from his brow.
"There, that should help. We'll be slowed down by the forest, but I think the hippogriff and his rider will still be surprised by how quickly we catch up to them."
The riding horses now have speed 12 for the purpose of overland movement using my Traveler's Chant ritual.