In an effort to steer clear of the fey Jhod takes the group on a lazy arc heading more west than south for the better part of the day skirting the woodlands. Once he is comfortable declaring that you are out of the fey's area of interest the group heads south and into the thicker woods which cuts significantly into the pace and hampers much of your ability to see more than a few yards in any given direction at a time.
Despite this Aleria swears at one point that she has caught sight of a unicorn and Duska and Ra'hl both, all be it at different times, are sure they catch flashes of equine white amongst the trees.
Little time is available to investigate such discoveries as the forest travel proves to be far more problematic than anticipated as Jhod's path takes the part into a section of the forest that features steep terrain changes and a series of gulleys that feed into the major rivers that pass through the woods further south. Duska and Natasha are able to see the group through the worst of it though not without some circuitous travel using switchbacks and tight game trails to navigate the terrain.
The group ends the day setting camp much farther from the temple than they originally anticipated and a somewhat sheepish Jhod apologizes for the delay. the air is cooler in the wood but the air still stirs with the sounds of various creatures. Aleria knows from previous experience that though there are some predators in the area most of them find humanoids of little passing interest as the season has been flush and nothing is lacking for "regular food".
Duška assists the others in making camp and once settled takes her turn at the watch as she muses the spectral equine hint she caught sight of earlier.
She spins a harrow card deftly in her hands and looks at it with a half-smile of recognition;
Ay Maminka. A Egyszarvú?! A sacred beast of The Wild... It tells us of one who generouly offers up that which is sought... A good omen for us all yes?
The group camps and makes motions to move in the morning, packing gear and preparing to continue. Aleria is able to recall that the way to the temple was difficult to find at first, more accident than plan, and leads the group for the next few hours as they work through the woods.
After a particularly rough spots of foliage and brambles the cleric leads the group to a large clearing, its borders partially defined by ruined stone pillars. The The western face of the clearing is dominated by a looming, upthrust ridge of rock, nearly 300 feet across and rising to a moss-topped height of 100 feet at the center. The side of this towering boulder facing the clearing has been carved in the likeness of an immense elk, its antlers drooping down from its weathered face to frame a 50-footwide cave entrance. A flight of stone steps leads up to this cave entrance from the forest clearing—both the steps and elk face feel quite old and are thickly encrusted with layers of moss. A 50-foot-long oval pool sits in the middle of the clearing, its waters thick with algae.
Aleria reminds everyone that she, Anton and Cuddles got this far and no further, a fact that Jhod nods solemnly at. He gestures to himself in awe and dismounts from his horse, tying it to a tree at the edge of the clearing. Can you imagine this place when it was new?
Ra'hl will not volunteer for any shift, but he takes whatever duty is assigned to him without protest. He enjoys staying up listening to the sounds of nature. Like a boy on his first camping trip, he wishes to ask questions of every sight and smell, every star in the sky, and every sound the various creatures of the forest make. Yet, Ra'hl can not bring himself to ask, letting the girls he has been trusted to watch over sleep instead.
Duška takes in the majesty of what faces her and what it once was.
She nods quietly and looks to the ruins before them with curious and watchful eyes;
:
Ra'hl is likely the least impressed of the group. "The cave?" Ra'hl questions confused. "Is Erastil known to trap his temples? I thought he was welcoming and helpful?"
Jhod runs a hand through his beard and looks at the inquisitive noble, I wouldn't think the place is trapped though who knows what the last keepers of this place were thinking? If they were forced to abandon the area due to some threat they may have left warnings and traps to keep the unfaithful form gaining access to what the temple may hold...
Ra'hl listens to Jhod's explanation nodding. "I see, that does give weight to our approach. This is your temple so I will submit to your authority in how we proceed."
Aleria carefully surveys the area, trying to get a feeling and layout of the temple area.
After giving the area a once over, she ponders for a moment. It takes a few moments, but her curious nature finally takes hold, and she starts to move in closer to the structure. "Normally, I would think that temples would be in an area where communities normally were housed. I've never come across a completely isolated temple before. I wonder what the purpose for this place used to be?"
She dismounts, tying off her mount and starting to look about. She makes certain her mace is close at her side, before drawing and limbering her bow, setting the string and checking her arrows. She then starts to look at the structure of the temple that she can find, trying to see if she can perhaps find any runes, symbols, or other writings, or perhaps places where things might have been kept.
Ra'hl happily dismounts from the beast plead-fully turning it over to Jhod to tie off. He then falls in behind Aleria, keeping guard of her as she proceeds forward.
As the others chatter and deliberate, Duška 's eyes narrow and she utters a quiet hiss toward her companions, emphasising with a finger to her lips for silence.
The lithe ranger then extends said finger toward the cave, before whispering;
"Hush! The cave, I think, homes a medve... a bear... yes? We wake it..."
Ra'hl hears Duska's warning and hand instictively draws to his blade. In a hushed voice he speaks to Aleria, "Take position behind me." Ra'hl's eyes are focused and fierce as the crimson pools scan for signs of the bear Duska has spotted.
Duška looks to Ra'hl with a hard stare;
"Medve may wake... We may be the trespassers here. Yes? Stay your blade until no other choice remains yes?"
Ra'hl meets Duska's stare for a moment, "Aye, I know no other way." Ra'hl's blade remains in its sheath, his hand still ready to draw it, but his posture is clearly defensive.
Johd whispers to Aleria as the group pauses, Of course you are right but the history of this land is complicated. It may be that some item of His interest lies entombed and this site was meant for pilgrimage and monastic contemplation or many years ago there may have been villages and more passers by? These lands have seen much war and transition so who knows what once was when the temple was new... It is plain the the older cleric is pinning some hope that there is "meaning" here in this place, perhaps more tied to his sense of redemption than facts on the ground...
Aleria looks around for a moment, thinking. "It may be possible Jhod. But then my question is what is this bear doing here? We will probably have to risk its presence in order to delve and restore this place. Not to mention that Deadeye himself is the great hunter. There might even be a purpose in the presence of this creature that we cannot yet see."
She ponders for a moment, peering around corners and checking about the area. "Pity, I don't have what I need for rope snares and such, or it might be easier to lure the creature out." After looking about for a few moments, she draws and knocks an arrow in her bow, kneeling and lowering her head.
Duška nods at Aleria's words;
"If Medve is angered... I may be able to calm yes? The fey in my soul... my blood... it can touch creatures of The Wild sometimes..."
"So, are we to proceed then?" Ra'hl asks in a hushed voice.
Aleria shrugs at Ra'hl. "I don't see why we don't. We came to cleanse and purify this place. There may very well be a reason for the bear to be here, but I do not know it. If it makes itself into a threat, then we defend ourselves."
She shrugs looking at Jhod. "Unless you have another way brother, I do not see how else to proceed. Cautious, careful, and prepared for a fight."
Impassive at the prospect of facing a bear on its own territory, Duška quietly slides from her saddle;
"Let me see if I can feel Medve... let him understand our intent yes?"
The lithe ranger steps toward the cave, open handed yet cautious;
:
Jhod can only offer a shrug at Aleria, clearly have no better sense of what to do. Duska moves forward with cautious steps and is soon indeed greeted by a lumbering but huge specimen of a bear that ambles out of the temple cave.
A large black furred body appears to have what might best be described as tumors or corruption that mark it face and torso, almost like scars but somehow less clean and more indicative of rot. The bear smells the air and with milky eyes rises to its back legs in the mouth of the cave and roars in a clear threat to the ranger...
Clearly ready for something the group is not surprised at the arrival of such an overt show of hostility. Each person ready to act as needed...
"That does not look like any picture of a bear I've ever seen."
Ra'hl draws his bastard sword and charges the beast intending to make himself as large a target as possible. His hesitation to strike the beast is evident in the weak swing he arc's at the creature.
Aleria moves in a bit closer, bow in hand as she tries to take up a position to Ra'hl's right. The terrain is slow going, so she can't quite make it into her best range.
She finds a spot for now, to set herself. She draws back her bowstring, taking aim and waiting. As Ra'hl swings, she sees the creature rear up, and it's head and neck are exposed and looses her arrow as soon as she sees the opening.
Realising that is bear has been tainted and must be put down, Duška steadily moves backward giving her space between the brute and herself.
The ranger then draws bow and arrow, and with a heavy heart draws a bead on the once proud Medve...
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Ra'hl surges forward while Duska falls back and Aleria closes a pace or two and lets out a shot from her bow. Ra'hls strike comes at an akward angle and the bears seems unfazed by the blade while Aleria's aim is true and the arrow offers a satisfying thunk in the bear's torso which is then followed by an enraged scream by the bear.
Jhod takes the opportunity to call down the blessing of Erastil upon everyone to enahnce their fighting prowess.
The bear is not particularlry nimble and against a better armored or faster foe its strikes would not be so devastating but for whatever reason the animal seems perfectly matched for Ra'hl. A pair of massive paws rake at the bloodrager and the sharp claws punish every inch of skin that they can find uncovered or unprotected. As if that weren't enough the bear finishes its assault with a snapping of its large jaws in an attempt to bind up the noble and finish the work once and for all but Ra'hl is able to barely maneuver at the last minute so that the teeth hit their mark but the man is not taken into the bears jaws to be held there...
Aleria smiles, the rush of the hunt starting to pump her blood as the shot slams home. That is..., until Ra'hl is veritably mauled. She lets out something akin to a shriek and a battle cry.
Her hand drops to her neck, where her silver holy symbol rests on her chest. Her hand closes as she intones, a nearly ethereal sound. Perhaps a trick of the eye or the evening, but even perhaps a soft green glowing of her hand and eyes as she speaks forth the words that she knows so well by heart, and at the same time has never spoken before.
"As the great hunter safeguards his home, so too does the Elkheart watch over his flock. Hear my fervent call, Great Deadeye. Send forth the regal winged brothers of your forest. I call to you now for your aid, brothers of the feather and claw. Hear my desperate plea, and help us bring back to rest one of the Great Hunter's mighty beasts!"
Aleria begins her intonation as Duska fires a round that easily hits the bear but does not seem to stop its fury. Jhod awkwardly continues his progress forward and seems visibly distraught that time is of the essence and he cannot reach Ra'hl. His face firms as he reaches for his holy symbol and lets out a yell, energy cascading from his person and rippling outward.
Ra'hl stands guard against the bear's gaping maw. As the creature lunges at him, Ra'hl is caught off guard by the beasts speed. His eyes focused on the bears teeth, he doesn't even see the claw until is slashes through him. The sharp stinging pain knocks the wind from him, as the second claw lashes through his shaken defense. The bear then lunges in biting Ra'hl. Little more than a bloody mess, Ra'hl is able to stumble free of the bears jaw. As he stumbles away, Ra'hl's blade drops from his hands falling to the ground.
Gasping for air, Ra'hl feels the wash of positive energy from Jhod. Still dripping in blood, Ra'hl wants to step away, but this damnable terrain, he can't find a safe way to do it. He finally settles to focus forward. His mind focuses in on the bear, as the world fades from view. His mind is fleeting away. His crimson eyes, shift to a focused gold. With little regard to his own safety, Ra'hl rushes the bear swinging wildly with his bare hands.
Those that look on can see the bear being torn open by Ra'hl's bare hands. Almost like he was a bear himself, clawing through the bears hide. Ra'hl's wounds even seem to be healing on their own, and he strikes with strength rivaling Cuddles own strength.
HP 1+9 (jhod) + 6 RAging + 1 (fast healing) = 17
AC 13; T 8; FF 13
Will +4
Rage Rounds 9/10
In a sudden flash of fury Ra'hl collides with the ursine foe and tears at fur and flesh. The animal, wounded by arrows from Duska and Aleria, roars and thrashes, the two beasts caught in conflict. It is unclear at first who lets out what yell or even what blood is from what combatant but after a few intense seconds the bear lets out a low moan and slumps to the ground, unable to rally in the same way as the bloodrager, whose life the bear meant to take.
A few seconds more pass and as Ra'hl simmers in his rage the bear's blood marks the ground. The form shifts to that of a man, wracked with age and ravaged by time and then that form fades to bones then dust. A soft whisper carries on the air, And so I am released, so the white stag has come to guide me home...
Ra'hl roars like an untamed beast howling at the wind Ra'hl's magical healing, suddenly fails and blood begins to pour from his wounds again. He nearly collapses, overwhelmed by the sudden lack of the blood of dragons holding him up.
Ra'hl doubles over, his labored breathing obvious to anyone whose watching. His clothes are shredded and coated in blood. A mix of his own and the beasts. He keeps his back turned from his new allies, a mix of shame and fear at losing himself in front of everyone.
HP 17-6 (ending rage) = 11
Fatigued (2 rounds)
There are a few moments of obvious shock, Aleria having drawn and knocked another arrow. The sight of the bear becoming a man and then crumbling in dust causes her eyes to widen, and the mention of one of Erastil's heralds causes her eyes to open even more so.
That is..., until Ra'hl makes his outburst. Aleria raises her bow to him a moment, a bit concerned, but lowers it as she ponders exactly what he meant by what he said. It takes a few moments to realize just how badly the man is bleeding and his wounds are, and she rushes, albeit slowly over the terrain, to Ra'hl's side. She tries to ease the man to the ground.
"Sit down and keep still. It is a wonder you are still alive..." Aleria mutters to herself, more just to keep herself focused on what she is doing than actually saying such in heat or chastisement.
She quickly cuts off some bandages, trying to staunch the bleeding, and then her hands start to glow a verdant green, her eyes taking on a golden hue as she speaks softly. "Lord of Hearth and Home, take some of my power, and mend the wounds this one has suffered in giving your servant the ability to find a peaceful rest."
Ra'hl starts to stumble into an apology as he obeys Aleria's instructions. "I swear...I thought he was just a bear. I didn't realize...I mean...he attacked. I didn't know it was a person I swear." Ra'hl is a bit shaken, and doesn't seem to understand what has happened with the body. Aleria's magic washes over him, restoring him to health. What isn't healed is easily bandaged.
Ra'hl meets Aleria's eyes clearly seeking something, but he won't put it to words. "Thank you. I appreciate it greatly." He turns to look to Jhod as well. "My thanks to you as well, I would certainly have fallen without your aid."
HP 11 + 11 = 22/28
Fatigued (2 rounds)
Aleria sighs, shaking her head. Chivalry I suppose isn't dead, but how to teach a noble common sense I wonder...
She kneels at his side, her fingers moving up to his lips, trying to silence him as he seems to be babbling. "Hush..., you need to rest, and let us get this bleeding under control. The worst of it is handled. And don't worry about the bear. I saw it, as well as the others. Something was wrong, he was horribly sick, or cursed. You showed mercy by returning him to his master, and letting him finally sleep peacefully."
She takes her time, whispering a soft word as she fills a small bowl from her pack with water, and starts to wash at the gashes and marks that still are on his body, cleaning them and making sure that they don't have the chance to get infected. She finally sighs, looking at him as if searching for a question that was to be asked, before finally shrugging to herself and going back to work tending to what remained of his wounds.
A weight seems to be lifted off Ra'hl. "Thank the gods, I feared I had killed a druid or some other guardian that I was not suppose to." Ra'hl watches as she works at cleaning his wounds with genuine interest. He remains quiet and compliant with any orders she gives to him.
She giggles softly and keeps cleaning and bandaging his wounds. "My guess, it probably was a druid. But if you really looked at his body, he looked like he was either diseased, sickened or cursed by something. But that is only my guess."
Ra'hl can't help but smile at hearing Aleria "giggle" of all things. He never would have imagined such a cute laugh from the stubborn, firey red head. He tries not to let his thoughts linger on that and continues, "He turned to dust, right when he died. Maybe that's a clue."
Aleria tries to stifle another giggle, but doesn't quite succeed, as she looks down at Ra'hl, shaking her head, breaking out in a somewhat bemused grin. "Perhaps, it seems like that might be important. So, I wonder..., what exactly was it that possessed you to go up and try to wrestle with a bear again?"
Ra'hl sobers at her question and his smile quickly fades. "I don't...entirely...know to be honest. There's stories and rumors and legends aplenty. My family carries dragon's blood in its line. We have ever since Choral. Some say he was a dragon in disguise, others say a half dragon, still others claim he carried dragon's blood. No matter what you believe it still marks our line. Why you hear so many tales of sorcerers in the royal line. Dragon's blood has...unusual effects in a human. Why you also saw so many ruthless dictators in my line. 'With Sword and Flames' I guess Choral couldn't have chosen a more apt motto for the house." Ra'hl has slipped to a disparaging ramble by this point. Lacking focus in his own words. He's almost at a loss on how or where to begin explaining.
"More to the point. I lose myself to...a fire inside me. It's strong and powerful, it can topple beasts and men I could not imagine conquering on my own. It shields my life and burns my enemies to dust. But, I can't bring myself to fall to it. I do not want to be a king like Choral. I do not want to rule by fear and intimidation. Leading armies against those who oppose me. The soil is too wet with blood already." Ra'hl's head drops once more sinking under the burden he's placed on himself.
He lets out a heavy sigh, raising his head once more, speaking in a strong, determined, and reassuring voice. "There is nothing for you to fear from me." His dark, crimson eyes meet with Aleria's. Their unnatural appearance even more striking knowing their cause.