Quince smiles in Angeus direction happy for the time together.
Quince adds a thanks to Erastil for blessing their efforts with success. He chuckles at Kevros' sanctimony Clearly Kevros is used to 'high church' traditions. "Erastil is more interested in your actions than ritual. We will thank the Lord of the hunt and He will be pleased because this serves our fledgling . . . Community. Strange I thought that community would thrive after we brought justice to these lands and people could travel freely and make an honest living. I had no idea that we would become a community . . . A family." As he speaks of family his eyes wander over to Angeus. He catches himself. "Oh I found some onions and herbs as well."
Once they return to the Temple Quince looks over at Kevros' work, "Looks good, though watch this dark sac here you don't want to hit that will spoil some of the meat."
"We haven't freed these lands yet my friend. We still have plenty of work to do. I think it is we are more getting noticed and there is change in the air but not to what I would call tame." Kev shakes his head, "Ok, I am not going to hit the bladder, kidneys, nor the oysters." Kev points to the Boar's family jewels after stating oysters.
Quince chuckles. "No but the community I sought to see is here and working. . it will grow.
"Yes, we are most certainly growing and bonding. As you said, becoming a family."
Nearly all the meat is collected with a close cut next to the fat, and the hide was well prepared for use, a very good hide and a nice piece for Kevros to boot.
The group wakes up to another good smelling morning breakfast at the Stag Temple. Stalker eats with the group but still seems not completely well. Katrina hums to herself through her cooking and serving.
Kevros stretches and takes in the smell of breakfast, "Nothing better than a Katrina breakfast in the morning!" Kev gets fully dressed for the day and packs up his immediate area. He sees Stalker not fully energized, "My friend, it shouldn't be too much longer before Jhod arrives and hopefully he can heal you to full health. If not, maybe we can the next time we meet? We just don't have enough experience to restore you and I feel bad we can not."
"Do not worry, you have lifted the curse and now once I have my strength back it will be yours fully. Be happy that you were able to help me and not about the effects of it, I am alive and free!" He says with enthusiasm and gets up to shake Kevros' hand. He will shake anyone else's before they leave.
Before leaving, Kev helps Katrina pack, then himself, then anyone else who needs help. In addition, he prays at the shrine to bless the Wardens on their continuing mission to tame the Stolen Lands, and for success. He then climbs on Hala's back, "Everyone ready to go visit Tiressia?"
Quince spends much of his time at the temple in prayer and tending the location. He makes a list of things that might be needed for any repairs.
When he sees Kevros' produce the hide he acknowledges that it looks to be a good start. "You did well a fine hide."
At dinner Quince says a prayer and spends time encouraging the others. He seems to be more comfortable and gregarious. "Katrina this is splendid. Thank you."
Quince finds a moment before turning in makes his way over to Angelus, "It was good to have you on the hunt today. Our focus has been purely on mission of late. A day in the forest with friends . . . with you." He puts an arm around Angeus. Sitting quietly enjoying the rest of the evening.
In the morning he rises early and prays and checks on the horses. He joins the others for breakfast "This is great Katrina. Thank you again."
Quince finishes breaking camp and readying the horses,"I doubt I am ready but the time has come either way."
"Thank you Kevros, Quince, and everyone for your compliments. I take joy in it, you know." Katrina says graciously.
"Good we are finally ready to go talk to this dryad. I only hope she has information on my prey. Let us ride."
Kevros takes the rear of the formation to guard the rear of the group and his tracking skills are subpar compared to Tristan's. Along with his expertise with a range weapon, he can cover both the rear and the front of the group of Wardens.
\
Quince finds a moment before turning in makes his way over to Angelus, "It was good to have you on the hunt today. Our focus has been purely on mission of late. A day in the forest with friends . . . with you." He puts an arm around Angeus. Sitting quietly enjoying the rest of the evening.
Angeus smiles at Quince, and allows him to pull her closer, letting her head rest on his shoulder.
However, her new restlessness doesn't allow her to enjoy the moment for long. Smiling an apology, she gives the back of Quince's hand a quick kiss, then nimbly rises to her feet, grabbing a stick and using it to poke at the fire.
Quickly bored with that, she stalks away from the campfire to check on her mount, scratching his nose and whispering nonsense to the horse.
Finally, after watching the moon for what seemed like an eternity, she took to her bedroll. As she did so she looked speculatively at Quince's form, snug in his own bedroll.
She shook her head, realizing that whatever mood she was feeling right now was new, and she'd want to sort that out first before.... anything else happened with Quince.
-----
She rises bright and cheerful, helping Katrina with her preparations.
"I hear dryads are pretty beautiful, so you lads had better be on your best behaviour." Angeus laughs, then spurs her mount to a canter, taking a short head start up front.
The group moves on in the warm sunshine that is filtering in through the trees. The group comes along seeing many trees and vegetation, until they find something not. It is a small stone pyramid type of structure. About 12 feet tall and each side is about 10 feet wide. One of the sides is flat, not tapering up to the top pyramid point. The flat side appears to have an oval on it and many strange writings on it. The symbols and letters appear to be blocky.
B.
Quince lets out a whistle and dismounts. He makes some notes in the map. "Anyone read block letters?" Quince looks to the fey traveling with them and asks, :Greb Toro agent gar Jul henri."
Kev looks at the stone structure then at Quince, "What does it say and what is it Quince?"
"I don't know what it says . . . its not a language I know. I am hoping our fey friends have a clue."
Quince continues to look at the structure and makes a quick sketch and writes the strange letters down.
"Nope, never seen that before. The frog pond should be near though." The grig says pleasantly.
Quince lets out a sigh, "Definitely not a language I speak. I have heard stories of structures like this. Gods or great powers create such buildings. I think if you put your hand on the oval the patron will allow you access. The tales speak of greater strength or insight."
Angeus hops down from her mount, and approaches the writing.
Frowning she mutters, "There was that Oread that hooked up with my gang for a while, taught me afew phrases in his language...let's see...To those who... think they are... worth their... mettle in settling these... Stolenlands. A present... from a possible.. benefactor. B."
She stands up , visibly pleased she was able to figure out the message, then frowns again, [b]"B? Bearnik?"
Quince looks in Angeus direction, "Full of surprises." Quince looks up at the building. "You translated the script. Care to text your mettle."
"It could be Angeus. What reason would he have to back us. We are already being supported by the sword lords. I know there is more to him then we know. How would one test their mettle here Quince? Does it summon a creature to be slayed?"
"The stories I heard the building opened allowing entrance and a boon."
"So how does one open the building?"
Kev looks on then looks to Angeus, "Warden Angeus, can you please check for traps and see how this structure opens? As for this being Bearik's handy work, I do not see it him unless there are currently two Beariks? The true Bearik and the other is special?"
"Try your hand in the oval.
"If it is a boon I will use it to hunt and kill the man that plagues these lands. I will use it to end the Stag Lord. Stand aside while I try Quince's suggestion."
Tristan moves forward placing his hand in the oval.
"If it is a boon, what kind and who can get it?" Katrina asks with interest. Getting off her horse and walking forward watching Tristan.
Once Tristan puts his hand on the oval nothing seems to happen at first. Then the air seems to shudder around the pyramid. The oval becomes translucent and permeable. Tristan you can easily move through the oval now.
Once you sit down a voice speaks to you telepathically, 'You will be blessed with power. Though if you don't trust or are not sure of the source of this blessing call upon a god or higher being that you do trust.'
Angeus nods at Kevros's suggestion, looking at the pyramid, guaging its construction...when Tristan brushes past her, laying his hand on the oval.
"Wha?!...But I was....It was..." Angeus sputters, as Tristan enters the pyramid.
She glares at the structure, hand on her hips, a picture of pissed off femininity. Her furious gaze swings from the structure to Quince, then to Kevros, as if asking, Why didn't you stop him?
She visibly tries to calm herself, her emotions roiling, angry one moment at Tristan for taking away her prize for figuring out the inscription, to worry the next, that she didn't have time to check the structure out. Was Tristan in danger? Good, he deserved it!
Alarmed at the quality of her thoughts, Angeus shakes her head to clear it, stepping away to gaze out over the fields, blowing air out of her nose, slowly calming herself.
Quince looks uncomfortable, What did I do? "Umm put your hand in the oval may be you can get in too. Perhaps all of us can."
Tristan's eyes close as he sets on the throne.
Ragathiel it is I. Tristan. You have sent visions of your herald in my dreams. My heart is full of vengeance. I have failed to stop the man responsible for the death of my family and the death of countless others. I ask now. If the words of your herald are true. Give me the power. Give me the strength not to fail again. Twice now I have seen this man on the field of combat and twice now I have been to weak to end this. Bless me oh lord and let vengeance be done.
Kev looks at Angeus, "I am not sure if the structure was for you Angeus but it could be? I agree with Quince, try it out as well." He then turns his attention to Quince and Katrina, "I definitely do not get the feeling it is for me Quince, the structure is not simple nor natural enough to be a connection to Erastil. I believe my connection to him will be a ceremony through you and Katrina while I pledge my crossbow and homemade buckler with the hide holy symbol of Erastil to him somewhere in the forest or back at the temple."
After Tristan entered into the structure the oval becomes opaque and hard.
You feel a presence and the image of the herald appears on the oval. After the blessing is put upon you the door becomes permeable again.
Seeing the oval crystal go dark, Kev looks at Angeus, "Warden Angeus, I don't think that structure was for you or it would have still been energized? I believe, like myself, since you are taking on fey traits, your calling will be more visceral and natural in nature than some Deity materialized structure? I think you should talk to our fey allies regarding your path?"
Tristan rises from the the throne. He looks down upon his hand as he feels the strength surging through him. He opens and closes it slowly as he feels his new found power. Slowly he walks and exits the stone.
"Wardens. I have been blessed. The General of Vengeance, Ragathiel has sent his herald to me. I have dreamed visions of this the past few nights but thought nothing more of it. The herald instilled upon me a blessing. I have been given his divine wrath to continue my hunt of the stag lord and to have my vengeance upon him. I know not how this temple came to be, but I have found renewed purpose. Twice I have met my enemy on the field of battle and twice he has not fallen to my blade. No more. We will find him and my vengeance be done along with all others wronged from this land."
The pyramid's oval stays permeable after Tristan exits the pyramid.
Katrina takes a step closer to Kev, whisper distance, and whispers, "Make sure I don't cross him. Then again Angeus is a woman scorned." Then she speaks up to Angeus, "Angeus do you want to see if it holds any more power?"
Kev nods to Tristan, "Aye my friend, the next time we meet the Stag Lord on the field of battle, you will have your vengeance."
Kev nods his head and smiles back to Katrina. He notices the oval change colors, "I guess I am wrong, Warden Angeus?! It looks like the oval has reset itself?"
Angeus turns her head to regard Kevros at his comment on the Fey possibly being of help, giving him a grateful smile. She turns back to her vigil, having become calmed both by Kevros' words and her own admonishing thoughts.
Any power that Tristan gains would be a boon to thier efforts ...at least that was what she kept telling herself, beating down the more petulant and childish complaints that kept bubbling up
Hearing Tristan's announcement, Angeus turns, grinngin widely, genuinely happy for her friend, walking over to give the Ranger a big hug, "I'm so happy for you! " she enthused, nodding at Kevros' observation of the ovals return to availability.
"I'll try it...." she says, with a bit of trepidation.
Walling over, she confidently places her palm on the oval....
The oval is still permeable since Tristan exited. After you push your way through the barrier it becomes opaque and hard. You feel power welling up within the pyramid, crystals in the walls begin to glow and grow in intensity. The room is like a large oval room with a throne opposite of you and you don't see much else in the small curved room.
Once you sit down a voice speaks to you telepathically, 'You will be blessed with power. Though if you don't trust or are not sure of the source of this blessing call upon a god or higher being that you do trust.'
Quince looks on and smiles at Tristan's report. "A herald of Ragathiel? Your quest has gathered attention." Quince looks at the structure, "Ragathiel is often ally to gods who strive for good and justice. I doubt we have anything to fear in this."
Angeus sits on the throne, starting a bit when the voice begins to speak in her head.
Head cocked to one side, she considers what it says, "I've been alone for most of my life, what I have and can do comes from me, as I belive does this power I feel welling up within. I accept this blessing...I trust it, I trust my feelings....it's mine, as it always has been."
Her statement finished, she sits and waits....
"The power of this place is remarkable. You should all attempt to be blessed. Hurry though as our prey awaits."
The crystals glow brighter and Angeus opens her arms to embrace whatever they were to give her.
She feels warm and tingly all over, eliciting a bout of giggles from the half-elf, the glow from the crystals met my another glow that comes from her!
Green and purple lights swirl about the cave, interacting and dancing, as Angeus watches with delight.
Finally, she watches at the lights slow and descend to alight upon her, slowly sinking into her flesh, where they could be seen beneath her skin.
When the glow of the crystals and withing herself had diminished, Angeus sighed, content that this 'blessing' was complete, she could feel the new power within her reach finally.
Rising, she begins to walk out of the cave and pyramid, whistling a jaunty drovers tune...
At one point , while Angeus was inside the pyramid, the others were sure that they heard faint giggling from inside. Then a few moments after, Angeus emerges, whistling a festive air, a huge smile on her face.
A face that was now framed by her familiar blond tresses, streaked now with green and purple and few other unidentifiable colors.
Kev chuckles and looks at Quince with a mischievous smile.