"You could easily call me a follower of the Green Faith, though with such strong convictions in each of you leading to Erastil, I may have to venerate him once more. You see until I am given an adequate bow by an empowered follower of Erastil, I won't be able to gain any powers from him. Part curse from when I lost my husband." She states with a bit of emotion and nervousness, she looks away not wanting to relive the memories again.
Quince looks at Kevros, he smirks, "He is Lord of the Hunt anywhere." He winks. "His temple is a place of honor shown to him as worship. But Erastil needs no pomp or cathedrals . . . He is not Abadar." Quince chuckles. "A hunt and our community and providing for them is a fine reason and where we gather together suitable."
Quince attempts to console though he looks about not realizing he would evoke such emotion, "I am sorry to hear your loss Katrina. We will look for a suitable bow. Do you think it needs to be enchanted. As for a follower who is 'empowered' it is from Erastil I have been blessed with magic. Perhaps that will end your 'part' curse."
Kev looks up at Katrina, "I will make you a bow Katrina."
"That should work Quince. Thank you Kevros. Only time shall tell now." She says happily turning away from Kevros.
Kevros smiles, stands up, and looks for a suitable branch to make a bow before checking the horses, then going to sleep.
The group wakes up to another great smelling breakfast and prepares to continue to move South.
Quince wakes and checks the horses. He prays and enjoys breakfast with everyone. "This is great thank you again Katrina."
Quince pulls Tristan aside, "I think I rushed the idea of the hunt. Kevros has something planned but we do not need to take the time as of yet. . . of course if we are blessed with game no reason not to load up on supplies."
As she serves out more plates for breakfast she responds with happiness to Quince, "You are welcome Quince. Always my pleasure!"
Kevros is a little slow getting up from last night's crafting. He stretches and takes in the smells, "I smell something good!" Then he walks over to the horses but stops because they seem quite content, so he changes directions towards where breakfast is being served. "What tasty treat or treats do we have today?" Kevros gets some grub and sits down to begin eating. "I made some progress on the buckler and the bow last night." He smiles at Katrina and continues, "Hopefully, we can find us a nice boar today so we can fill up our stores, eat well, and I can get to work on what will be Old Deadeye's Holy Symbol for me."
When he finishes eating before moving on to pack his gear, "Katrina, Do you need any help with dishes or packing Katrina?"
Tristan sets a moment and eats as usual.
"Thanks as always Katrina. I will see to your horse as usual. We are on the road soon. Finish up."
Tristan goes about making sure his and Katrina's horses are ready for travel.
After helping Katrina pack up, Kevros runs to his stuff and packs up incredibly fast. Kev's time in the Brevoy military has taught him how to hustle faster than those who have not served in a state military or has spent a lot of time adventuring. And in no time, he is either ahead of the others or on time and mounts his horse, "I am ready when you all are. Tristan, at our next camp, let us go hunting if we can so we can eat well, fill our stores, and I need a Boar pelt to make an offering to Old Deadeye?"
"Very well. A hunt may help take my mind off the Stag Lord for a bit. Sounds good to me. Well if all are ready let us head out."
While the other talk hunts and Erastil, Angeus helps Katrina sort out the camp , all the while watching the Fey gambole about.
Something's different , this time, she feels a connection , undefined as yet, with these fractious, irrational creatures. She's delighted when any of them deign to approach her, especially when a Grig decides to be adventurous and hops onto her shoulder.
Leaning her head towards the little creature, she whispers with a bemused smile "What's happening to me?"
-----
The next morning she wakes alert and refreshed, and famished as the smells from Katrina's cook-pot reaches her nostrils.
Standing and stretching, she rolls her head and leans down to pack up her things.
Tying her gear to her horse, she says, "A hunt will be exciting! Especially one so important to you Kevros! " she says, not noticing that her mannerisms seem to have taken on the nature of the Fey creatures, if only for the moment.
Quince as everyone has noticed after the last weeks has been looking off in Angeus' direction, but his smirks and wistful looks have taken a puzzled look. He makes his way over to her, "Ready for a hunt Kevros wants a boar . . very dangerous. Though that will not shake you." He smiles in admiration, "You seem . . . more . . . alive." He seems self-conscious a moment and continues tines quieter, "You are like the flowers beautiful even when closed, yet now you open straining for the sun."
"Warden Quince, for the first time in my life, I feel that I am on the correct path in my life and I feel it is is not going to stop at becoming closer to Erastil. Let's mount up and have Warden Tristan lead us to meet with Tiressia?"
"Warden Quince, for the first time in my life, I feel that I am on the correct path in my life and I feel it is is not going to stop at becoming closer to Erastil."
When Kevros sees everyone packed up, "Let's mount up and have Warden Tristan lead us to meet with Tiressia?"
Quince as everyone has noticed after the last weeks has been looking off in Angeus' direction, but his smirks and wistful looks have taken a puzzled look. He makes his way over to her, "Ready for a hunt Kevros wants a boar . . very dangerous. Though that will not shake you." He smiles in admiration, "You seem . . . more . . . alive." He seems self-conscious a moment and continues tines quieter, "You are like the flowers beautiful even when closed, yet now you open straining for the sun."
Angeus smiles at Quince's poetic words, lifting her face up to the warmth of the morning sun. Once again, as the light passes through Angeus' blond locks, he swears that he sees hues of purple and green.
After closing her eyes for a few moments, she lowers her head and meets Quince's gaze, "Alive...perhaps, maybe just more aware. This place, the wilderness, it calls to me in some way. I think it's always been there , just beneath the surface....perhaps that's why I took on this task." she shrugs, smiling "Now , thought, I can feel it...something...powerful."
She lowers her eyes, as if afraid of Quince's reaction.
Quince has a strange intense look of understanding, he leans in as if to steal a kiss but is distracted. "Huh your hair its changing color . . . must be the light . . . or one if the fey playing with us."
The group moves out with high hopes and good interactions. In a few hours Tristan leads the group to the Stag Temple. Stalker is not in his normal gear or wear. Stripped down to just a pair of simple elven cloth breeches he walks up to the group bare footed and a grin on his face.
He bows before the group and does a hand sign, one that Kevros has done many times in the past, one of friendship. He then proudly states, "Thank you all for saving me. Now my purpose is clear before me and I can freely join you if you will have me. I still should stay here several more days to regain my strength."
"Hail Stalker. Glad to see you up and moving around. You are one of us and may join us when you have your strength back."
He then dismounts and ties up his horse before feeding and watering it.
Kevros happier than usual returns the elven signal of friendship, "Hail Stalker! Kev nods, "I agree, you look great and you are welcome to join us during this joyous time. There are good changes in motion besides what we have done so far in the Stolen Lands. Look at us and you will see. Tonight, we are also hunting, to eat well, add food to our stores, and I can make a holy symbol dedicated to Erastil."
He seems to brighten up even more at the sound of a hunt. "Perhaps with a bit of magical healing I would be able to help with the hunt, though I don't know the extent of my loss."
"You seem well to but Katrina has been our real medic of late."
Kevros walks up to Quince and Stalker, "Let me take a look? Hmm...?"
He looks at Katrina then Quince, "It appears his abilities are sapped by the vine curse he had that was not lifted when placed in the blessed waters of Erastil."
Quince has a strange intense look of understanding, he leans in as if to steal a kiss but is distracted. "Huh your hair its changing color . . . must be the light . . . or one if the fey playing with us."
Angeus blinks, a little surprised by Quinces statement, then shyly reaches up and pulls some of her hair in front of her own eyes, smiling when she sees nothing but blonde, "It must be a trick of the light....mustn't it?" she asks.
---------
Seeing Stalker up and moving about, Angeus jumps off her mount and almost tackles the elf in a big hug. Suddenly, she realizes what she was doing and releases him, "Ah....um... you look good, Stalker."
She makes her way back to her horse, shaking her head, knowing that she'd never had done such a thing....before.
Kev sees Angeus coming and nicely grabs Katrina to move her out of the way of the bounding Angeus. He smiles to see Angeus less serious and more fey like including her changes. Kev whispers to Katrina, ::"I think Angeus has been around the fey too long?":: He snickers.
Quince watches Angeus' as she hops from the saddle his face tightening into a scowl. "Humf."
Stalker laughs at the big hug from Angeus and returns it gingerly. He calmly states with a bit of emotion, "Thank you, Angeus. You don't know..." He trails off as a tear slowly falls down his left cheek and emotion makes him stagger with his words.
Katrina smiles and says, "Thank you Kevros for your quick action, I might have been trampled." She lets him hold her longer and gives him a quick kiss on his cheek. She whispers, "could be."
Once free and Angeus has left Stalker. She quietly walks up to Stalker and then analyzes him. She takes a minute to analyze what she is seeing then states in a matter of fact voice, "He appears to be bruised and drained of stamina. Cure spells might help some but I think something more potent might be needed. Such as a couple lesser restoration spells. It is not disease or poison, that is the cause of his troubles, it could be a lingering effect of the curse. A break enchantment or remove curse spell might remove the effects easier. Anyone have those?"
"Sadly no. That is beyond my abilities."
Kev smiles, turns a little red with the kiss, then steadily releases Katrina so she can look over Stalker. After her prognosis and Quince's report of not have the ability to heal Stalker. "Stalker, my friend, Jhod from Oleg's is on a mission to Restov and hire Erastil followers that will act as troops and deacons, then they are supposed come here and return this Elk Temple to its glory. Perhaps he can heal you if we can not?"
Quince nods, "If not we will see that you are restored. It may take time but it can be done."
"When in doubt time shall mend his body." She says before casting a spell on him, green glowing magic to apparently help mend his bruises as they slowly disappear.
"Well you go have a good hunt and I will join the next time." Stalker says knowing not much can be helped. "It is good to hear you are recruiting."
Kev looks at Katrina, "Can you heal Stalker up or does it drain you too much?"
Katrina shakes her head, "As Quince said, neither of us have the power or the right spell to heal him fully at this point. You go on your hunt and the rest of us will stay here."
After spending time securing the horses Tristan heads back to the group.
"Lets get this hunt started. I have been thinking about the meat all day."
He says holding his bow ready to head out.
Kevros checks his crossbow and nods, "How should we do this since I am not as stealthy as you or we will figure that out as we hunt?"
"Stealth is not as important as knowing were to look and track. Let us go see what we can find."
+2 if in plains.
Kev smiles, "Sounds good to me, I have to work on my stealth one of these days. I will at least do my best to help you Warden Tristan and thank you for your help." Kev follows Tristan and whispers to him, "Isn't that fresh Boar sh??? right there?"
Quince starts the morning with a short blessing over the hunt. "Ole Deadeye guide our aim, watch our flanks and bless our efforts to provide for our own."
Tristan leads the group out on the hunt, eventually you track down a boar. With a well placed longbow shot and a followup bolt, the boar should have dropped but as boars can keep fighting until fully dead it charges. Though with a few more missiles the boar drops before it can get to any of our heroes. Now to lug it back to the group and the temple. On the way back you do find some wild onions and some herbs to go with the boar.
Angeus doesn't notice Quince's scowl after she greeted Stalker, so caught up in her own mind was she.
She tagged along on the hunt, letting the boy's do their Erastil-thing. By habit, as they check the trail, she scans the area, her crossbow ready.
Occasionally, as they ride, she lets her mount sidle up to Quince's, her and his legs bumping up against each other.
She continues to look straight ahead, as if nothing had happened, but the little smile at the corner of her mouth betrays her.
----
When the boys bring down the boar, she cheers loudly, "Well done! He was a fighter, I think Erastil will be pleased with you."
Kev nods, "Thank you Angeus! Yes, he was a fighter like the last boar we fought no too long ago!"
Kevros places his hand on the boar and begins to say a prayer, "Thank you brother for your unwilling sacrifice to nourish us and provide us with your gifts so we can make these lands a better place for all of us." Kev asks Quince, as a follower of Erastil, to help him ritually place the boar on the back of Kev's horse. They strap the boar down to make sure no damage is done to the boar on the ride back. As soon as everyone gets back to the temple, Kev helps Tristan prepare the boar for food for tonight's feast, curing of the remainder of the meat, and stretches out the hide so it will try into leather with the fur still on it.
The group brings back their prize in one good piece.
Kev begins to help butcher the boar.
+2 if in plains.