”I feel much better now. I am sure the rest will be healed with a bit of rest.” She says rather assuradly. Standing and stretching nodding toKrazok as she limbers up. As she does the fur sheds off and her beastial forms return to her elven features.
Soon she goes for a quick jog around the camp, visible and nearby. Then she goes and rests with Axebeak.
He thanks Kevros and Katrina each with a pat on each of their backs. Then collecting the dropped axe he walks back to the loot, watching Selena and the area. The axe starts dripping blood as he helps put some coins in Saren’s sack.
Saren asks a quiet question and Krazok responds loudly enough for most in camp can hear, ”Yes, I know... it bleeds as if I just hit someone... it is an omen, telling that it is a weapon of great power.”
Interested in the state of all wardens he follow Kevros away from camp to find Quince and Stalker.
His eyes gain a glowing blue hue as he says a few arcane words and moves his hands just right. Gravely he offers in a low foreboding tone, ”Stalker is likely cursed... taking on a negative aspect of Katrina’s new... powers. He is affected by a calming spell... he will need an opposite spell with break enchantment to kick him out of it.”
He was asleep when it all started and slept through it all... looking at him you might notice he is sleeping very soundly.
Quince would likely look for Angeus once back from checking on Stalker. You would find her talking with Katrina.
She smiles at Kevros and begins to follow him but gets stopped by Angeus.
The group eats well on smoked tazelwyrm meat that night prepared by Kayrina’s hands and techniques. The loot is collected into bags and prepared for departure in the morning. The books are given to Stalker and Jorne as the magical weapon is presented to The group eats, rests, has look outs and wakes to the next morning thankfully uneventful. Heading back to the capital with the rest of the loot and new allies.
Once back Bearik and Krazok work on getting the scepter adjusted. The Wardens likely check in with their stations and underlings. After several days they strike out again.
"Stalker lets rejoin the others in camp." Trying to lead the elf back toward camp.
"Thank you Bearik. Do any of us have access to a spell that un-calms emotions." If Sulvani is still out of the lamp Quince will look his way. Otherwise he will give the others opportunity to help before turning to the Djinn again.
When a moment of calm hits Quince finds Angeus and gives her a deep kiss, [b]"I have missed you my queen." Quince chuckles. "Being refered to as Baron or King has been strange on me. It must feel strange to you. Honestly I had not expected the reverence and deffrence the others are showing. I attempted along with the others to empower a council with a head of state. Somewhere in there they went FULL potentate." Quince in his happiness that she is awake and trying to mull the events of the say misses her whistful looks to the horizon.
With Quince leading Stalker by pushing him or pulling him, Stalker is led back to camp.
With him looking at Sulvanii, he comes over floating upon his column of smoke, he chuckles at Quince's question and states, "A bloodrager asks me to uncalm a person? Do it yourself."
Sota flies up to Stalker. "I can get him uncalmed!"
He buzzes up to Stalker, lands on his shoulder, and grins mischievously."Forgive me friend!" He whispers, before darting a tiny arm into his nose and yanking out a fistfull of nosehairs, and buzzing away as fast as he can.
With Quince leading Stalker by pushing him or pulling him, Stalker is led back to camp.
With him looking at Sulvanii, he comes over floating upon his column of smoke, he chuckles at Quince's question and states, "A bloodrager asks me to uncalm a person? Do it yourself."
Quince looks to Sulvanii, "That is not a spell I know. If anyone has the power to do so I would not have troubled you."
Tristan walks around following the new pet making sure it doesn't decide to attack the group more so than paying attention to other things going on.
"Anyone know what this thing is?"
"Interesting perhaps that previous bloodrager was unique in passing on the rage to his allies. Oh... well... not much I can do more today. Perhaps I will be more help tomorrow." He relays to Quince.
It sniffs the air leading it to Kevros, sniffing at him from a distance and then getting closer. It lets out a loud playful bark at him and its tail slowly begins to wag from side to side.
He barely even winces as the sprite takes some hair out of his nose. More reactions come from others in sympathy pain at the sight.
Kev helps smiles back and for a second looks at both her and Angeus. Then he moves away to start setting up Katrina's mobile kitchen.
The group eats well on smoked tazelwyrm meat that night prepared by Kayrina’s hands and techniques.
Kev sees if Krazok eats any tazelwyrm before taking a bite and then complementing Katrina on her fine cooking making good food and etiquette sounds with a random bite but not over doing it.
Later, Kev watches Sota's method of uncalming Stalker and laughs, "Warden Sota, be careful, he's good with a bow and not himself."
Kev looks at Quince then looks at Sota, "I can not think of any Divine Spell. Warden Sota, isn't there any Sorcerer-Wizard spell that can make someone rage?"
Kev looks at the hound and speaks in common since it does not look like a hound that would come from the heavens and doesn't want to be flamed today, "HEY BOY, DO YOU KNOW HOW TO FETCH?!"
Kev picks up a branch and throws it as far as he can in a safe direction for both the hound and everyone else.
Sota darts back over to Kevros and lands on his shoulder.
"Well, there's rage, which, ya know...makes you rage. I don't know it. Gimme a scroll or wand and I'll try....or he can drink a potion and be less likely to resist. But I can probably make him laugh. Maybe that'll help."
He waggles his fingers and mumbles a bit, then puts the crook of his elbow up to his mouth and lets loose a loud fake fart, then completes the spell and pops Stalker with a Hideous Laughter spell
The hound which is larger than a horse shakes its head and moves on sniffing others...
The fire breathing hound gorges itself on wyrm flesh that is still around. Once done eating and cleaning itself with its foot long tongue, it begins sniffing again walking around with no fear and searching for something still.
It finds the magical weapon that no one has claimed yet and begins to gnaw on it as if it was merely a femur bone...
I guess not. No resist.
The elf begins to laugh and soon is rolling on the ground with tears coming out of his eyes. Once the spell wears off... ... Stalker slowly sighs and looks around like is normal focused self, a bit confused he asks, "Ummm... What did I miss? I feel like it is almost night and it was just afternoon a while ago?"
-----
After Katrina says her peace of the new transformation Stalker takes a knee and bows before her. Very serious he says, "Erastil, father of the hunt, must have wanted this. His blessing was upon the magics and now you might even be a herald of his... or more. I devote my bow and life to your cause. That I might better serve the land and the Wardens, take me as your disciple that my arrow will fly straighter and my vengeance be tempered."
-----
Later he keeps his wits about him for the night at least. He is playing dice with the group and at the end he wins! He takes the tome of brown leather binding and a lock with a strange start design, not your standard lock. "Anyone have an idea of how to open it, a key with five sides to it?"
She does indeed take the wyrm meat from Krazok. She asks with diplomacy and he graciously offers, then she begins to cook. She smiles and thanks Kevros for the help. Her magical hands working their wonders...
The stew and steaks prepared are wonderful. The steaks are juicy and melt in your mouth. The stew has a renewing effect as well. Everyone heals , gains false life , and a +1 luck bonus on all d20s for the coming day.
As everyone begins to eat she relays some of what they have discovered. Cautiously at first and then with more confidence as she speaks, "So it seems I have new powers. This is due to my magical items being draconically aligned. With the conflux of engergies from Bearik a lesser diety and Krazok with a two legendary magical items, I gained powers in spades. You may have noticed that I did not use the symbol of Erastil when using my powers. To put it generically, I am a lesser diety like Bearik. Nothing we want to advertise but basically I can channel energy directly from the celestial planes, likely the ones from Erastil. I will have to look into which ones exactly. As I gain followers just as Bearik has done I will get stronger. Life and community are my domains. So as of now I know my channels will be much more potent versus undead, my cooking when made with family has magical bonuses and Erastil is guiding me in my fledging state with whispers of truth. Bearik has been a great help this day in understanding these new powers. I am sorry for disappearing earlier, somehow I was able to whisk them away into a pocket dimension but created or summoned or something... that is the undead happened."
----
She is apprehensive to Stalker's submissiveness. She looks over at Bearik seeing the look of admiration. With a deep sigh she closes her eyes and takes a moment to center herself. Opening her eyes you can see a golden glow that quickly disperses from her lashes. Solemnly she replies, "Yes you do need temperance. You do need a cause to keep your will stable. If everyone is fine with it I will take you as a disciple, though I want everyone to agree before any action is taken." She looks around looking for any signs of apprehension, if there is any she waits and discusses any thought before any action is taken.
At Stalker's mention of a five sided object she returns to the bags of look and empties one out searching through the golden items until she finds the box. Then she shouts out, "Stalker, CATCH!" She tosses the golden five sided chest.
---
At Katrina's confession she just sits back even more floored at the ability the group continues to grow at, so far more than herself. She offers no apprehension, thinking to herself, 'then again I am not a Warden. Merely a captain for their army.'
Woken up by Krazok he is very sluggish in getting up and slow at eating the wonderful food. Once a few bites in he shakes and fully wakes up with a wide grin on his face, "Wow, this is amazing! Katrina you are one of the best cooks I know, far out shining my own mother's food." He eats several helpings.
At the mention of Katrina's new powers his eyes go wide. Then blinking and looking at Bearik, Krazok, and the others assembled. Thinking to himself, "I thought my story of something special, this is legendary!!!' At the mention of apprehension his smile grows bigger speaking a bit sheepishly, "I know I am new to all of this but... WOW! I have heard of this stuff of legends and mythic stories and this is that kind of a story! Don't let me stop you, I just had to say it and I am glad to be apart of your company!"
Later at the game of dice, he shakes his head again with that big goofy smile. Proudly he states, "I won?! I WON!!! At least I got luck when it comes to playing with gods and such. Ha hahaha! So this book, anyone got a leaf key for it or something?"
"I am not one of your wardens but I am glad to bring a new god into the world, one with such beauty and wisdom. Perhaps once this scepter is tempered and adjusted you might find a place for me to stand amongst or besides you." He says with humble words knowing full well words that were said hours ago in general looking at each of the wardens. "Please forgive my harsh words from before and may we all push forward with harmony in mind."
---
At the game of dice and with a bit of jealous anger he shouts, "No... NO! Ah Jorne you have all the luck, well to each his own way of life. I knew I should never pit dice against you!" His attitude quickly changes to getting along with those around him, gaining new friends and companions. "At least we have new friends!"
After Quince's last request he quickly fully turns into smoke and returns to the lamp.
Feasting on the wonderful food she compliments the cook and eats her fill, "Wow, now you must cook for the wardens every night. There is mistaking it your position of cook is solid!"
She much like Svetlanna sits in stunned silence at the mention of god like powers and such. She thinks about her place in all of this and looks to Tristan and smiles. If he looks her way you know what is on her mind... you. Turning from those thoughts after Tristan looks into her wanting eyes she ponders on what all this means to her place among the others.
He sees the amount of food prepared and nods his head ready to consume to his full delight. He pulls out his mug and prepares his belly for the large meal slicking his gullet with ale. His orgasmic food sounds continue even after he has filled himself so full he can't move.
Nearly out from gorging himself too much he looks up at the mention of these powers and waves at her but does not get it fully out as he tries to support himself from falling over and fails. He just lies on his side not worrying as he drifts off to blissful sleep with the wonderful taste of Katrina's food on his tongue.
His mount waits until the gambling begins to sneak into camp and take a few steaks for itself then curling around its master.
Taking delicate bites of the masterfully made food, she nods her appreciation. She does eat a full steak slowly but surely savoring every bite.
She just winks at Selena knowingly after the confession. When Katrina looks at her she shrugs and offers, "I am sure each of us have true power at our hands, now it up to us how we use it. Use it wisely Katrina."
At the gambling game she pulls out flasks of alcohol and shares freely. It is strong dwarven stout and quickly the group is likely drunk and she plays as hard as any of the boys fully letting go of any social walls. Playfully punching shoulders, wrapping an arm around for a side hug to those closest, and her less dignified words slip out. "Come on, come on, NOOOO! Not a six come on, Crap! Go on Krazok get a lead on these smoozes. No not you too, well them's the luck, Caiyden has his own and keeps them. Some we win some we lose, G'night all, have a good un!" With that she grabs Krazok's hand pulling him up, with a knowing look in her eye and supporting each other they slowly walk over to a tent she had erected earlier.
Tristan continues watching over the dog until it starts chewing on the magic weapon.
"No, bad, not a toy. Put that down." He takes notice as the thing seems intent on being around Kevros.
"Kevros you should try and teach this thing, it seems to like you."
He takes all that is said in. He smiles and laughs a bit at Katrina.
"A minor deity huh, fantastic. We have plans in place for a grand cathedral soon. Our people will be happy to see you among the gods."
He later enjoys the dinner and catches the look from Larina. He stands and offers his hand to her.
"You want to go for a walk?"
As they walk a way a bit.
"I know much of this is strange. Even you gaining power today. The world is strange, but we are working to make it better. I wan't you to know you are all I need in all this. I have let go of much of my rage since we have met. You bring peace and calm. I love you Larina. Thank you for being here for me. I will always be here for you."
Quince notes Katrina's words with a whimsical smile. "Incredible." He looks at Kevros, "Your devotion to your love has elevated her to goddess single handedly." He chuckles as he speaks. "Don't get too cocky. You have to keep her pleased."
He returns to Katrina, "It would seem you are indeed a true disciple of Earastil that such a boon be granted, that he bring not only into his favor but into something beyond our understanding."
"I am not one of your wardens but I am glad to bring a new god into the world, one with such beauty and wisdom. Perhaps once this scepter is tempered and adjusted you might find a place for me to stand amongst or besides you." He says with humble words knowing full well words that were said hours ago in general looking at each of the wardens. "Please forgive my harsh words from before and may we all push forward with harmony in mind."
"Harsh words are had between the closest of friends yet a bond remains. In time such a bond may exist her in this place between us all. This must truly be a hard thing to swallow to be in a place but out of place. I cannot understand your loss. But your loss is deep and I hope to stand with you through your grief. I have seen you in battle, it would be fool hardy to not invite an alliance. You have walked in a place my people have asked me to go, again I would invite folly not to seek your council."
He holds out a hand to clasp arms with Krazok.
Kevros has a smile on his face after the great meal that his love made for everyone. As usual, he helps her clean up although moving slow.
Kevros looks at the ground, not knowing how to feel about Katrina's lesser deity status. It's not from jealously because there is no anger or contempt in his face and he does smile when she says that Erastil is still guiding her.
Kevros nods to Jorne and with a huge smile on his face he looks to Katrina no longer showing concern or at least holding it in, "She sure does cook like no other! I'll have to find a way to burn calories when we are too old for adventuring so I don't grow outward." Kev laughs ...
When Jorne asks for the key, Kev responds, "I have it right here." And hands him the key.
He then gives Krazok a warrior handshake, "Glad to have you as a friend and ally Krazok! You are always welcome at our fires and homes."
Kev smiles uneasy, "Sorry Tristan, this man is not a dog person. I am a horseman. As long as it has horse in it, whether it is a Hippogriff, a Kirin, a Dragon Horse or whatever kind of horse it is, I am more inclined to bond with it than this seemingly pleasant canine." At which time, he whistles for Hala and she comes trotting up. He gives her some carrots and tells her to go back to her tree or with the other horses
He then looks at Quince with an uneasy smile, "If that is true Warden Duke Quince, then I am extremely happy but it is the future that concerns me?"
"Good job Warden of the Scroll for finding another spell that would accomplish the task!" He holds out his hand for a high five from Sota.
Then looks at Stalker ...
"Welcome back brother"
After dinner Quince looks over the collection of folk that move about the camp. New friends, old friends, beings in various states of deific exaltation. He begins to call all those present to him waving an arm to bring them closer.
He lifts his head proudly, and calls out to them as he hops where he can see them all. He hold his arms out wide noting that the sentiment is obvious, "The providence of goodly gods has marked our course time and again. Yet today we are also deeply sobered." He holds a finger to his lips reflecting, "We have pulled from stone and worlds beyond new allies. With them is a warning. That our success is not guaranteed."
"The stakes are high and our days perilous. Long have these lands been ungoverned, wild, and what freedom that should breathe fully in such a place was choked out by the violence and greed of those who would raid with impunity and malice. When we return to Elkheart we will begin a time of sober prayer, remembering our hardships that have brought us here, the price we have paid and will pay again when called. We will gather in thanks to the gods that we live and what we been granted. Finally we will end this time in celebration looking toward our future with merry eyes. For among our numbers are second sons of second sons who are Duke, bandits redeemed as defenders, orphans who pulled justice from their grief, and faithfully devoted who have been exalted to divinity."
The gathered crowd of allies and friends around Quince rejoice with arms lifted to the air and other forms of rejoice. Many nodding at the words of their 'king', knowing much more why he is the face of the kingdom.
It pouts at Tristan's chastising, puffing smoke from its nostrils. Leaving the sword behind it moves about some more still sniffing. It gets to the little sprite sniffing it a little,
He laughs at the mental visage of Kevros gaining weight from all the wonderful food.
Jorne puts the metal leaf key into the clasp and it releases with a wave of green energy over the book. Lifting the clasp the book opens easy enough and he smiles at it, then looks up and calls Kevros, "Kef... no Kevros, come here! Check this out!" Once Kevros comes over you can see the book is written in elven script, looking you can see the words move about the page as you read them and make a picture of a tree. It truly is a magical book. Then you realize what you just read, it is a book of teamwork. Focusd on teamwork feats created by elves. Two gain the feat as they learn it together. "So what do you say Kevros, want to learn with me?"
He clasps arms with Quince and Kevros at their urging glad to have such strong allies at his side and back again.
At Quinces speech he raises the axe above his head and yells, "Huzzah!"
He approaches the fire dog and soothingly summons it towards him with his free hand. Once it is close he lets it smell him and he playfully growls at it.
At the end of the night he gladly goes with Selena to her tent for the rest of the night.
Walking with Tristan away from camp so they can talk alone and have some privacy she responds, "Strange, naw this everyday occurance! Ha! I know you will make it better. I don't believe that and you shouldn't say that what about Rog... your god? I know you love me and I love you too. I am glad I can bring you peace and calm." She brushes back some of his hair to touch the side of his head. Sincerely she continues to respond, "You know I am glad to be here and hope to be by your side for as long as I am able."
He uses the elven sign for brother and friend to Kevros with a serene smile on his face. With his discipleship beginning he keeps his eyes focused on any threats that might come from the dark outside of camp.
Opening his book he laughs and brings it to Katrina. Leaving it with her he goes and brings his horse into camp slowly so not to alarm anyone.
With everyones blessings she lays her hand on Stalker and obvious power leaves her hand green and golden with magical notations of nature and goes into Stalker. With power in her voice she commands, "Rise my ranger and protector, first disciple of Katrina the Goddess of Life. Now forsake your previous name that does not fit you anymore and take up your proper elven name once more: Kirren Baelash Koehvain."
He rises renewed and ready to serve.
She looks at Kevros and jokingly says, "You hear that love, you still have to please me! Though I might have new power and responsibilities, my love still belongs to you..."
She nods knowingly at Quinces words and claps at the end of his well spoken speech.
Katrina takes the book from Stalker and looks it over, amazed at what she sees and calls Quince over, "Quince, Quince, come take a look at this! It is a ritual spell in order to apply a magical template of one equine onto a regular horse. Come bring the horses over and we can make them all into Stalker's wonderful ghost horse! Everyone bring your horse over to the camp fires! We will need the fire for the ritual. We will give each of them the power to ghost, if you wish it."
Quince nods along with Katrina. "You are right."
Quince calls out to the horses in their language Scram seeming to nudge others along.
Katrina takes her time with the spell with anyone's help and soon one horse after the next gain the ghost travel ability. The smoke condensing into magical runes which take the template from Stalker's mount and infuse into the others. It takes a long time an hour for each horse but it will be worth it after the long night.
"Don't worry. I am still an inquisitor of vengeance. The fire of justice burns and I will be that for others that experience what I have. It is almost easier now that I have been able to let go of my own rage. To us then. May we always find happiness in one another."
It perks its ears up at the summoning and moves towards Krazok. Letting him touch its face and side. It rubs against Krazok so that he scratches its side and moves so that he can get the spots that really itch. At the playful growl it backs up a bit and then wags its tail and growls back, moving side to side doing small jumps ready to be man handled.
As the last of the horses get infused with magic the burning beast comes forward and nods at them...
He carefully touches the hell hound's face and brushes along its neck to its side. There he pats it several times and then begins to scratch as it rubs against him. Krazok spins the axe behind him and it attaches to his back opening his other hand as well as the fiery beast begins to playfully move. Then he goes for the grapple and plays with the hell hound.
Krazok would wake up his Axebeak and bring it up to Katrina and Quince asking, "Would you at least try it on my mount as well?" Also resting a hand on the hell hound's head as it comes up and asks, "It seems this fella wants it tried on him too. He does seem to want to be part of the group, even though he does look like a beast from the hells... by the way do either of you know what he is?"
Katrina nods to Krazok with a slight smile she offers, "It might cost you some gold to infuse it to another creature, are you fine with that? Please bring me some of your loot and we can begin."
Assuming that Krazok brings a bag of gold and the mounts back she begins the ritual and attempts to infuse the smokey runes into the bird mount and the hell hound. Putting a bit more force and using the offered gold she is able to adjust the ritual enough to infuse both with the magic.
When back from their most recent 'walk' she walks around seeing if anything was missed and speaks in her several tongues... Sylvan, Draconic, and Infernal, practicing as she names things in the three other languages she does not normally speak.
Then all of a sudden the giant flaming canine is in front of her... she eyes it a bit warily then gives it a command in Sylvan, then Draconic, and finally the most recent tongue that she had learned Infernal.
She tells it to sit. On the last language it follows the command quickly. She eyes it even more suspiciously then shrugs. Continuing to speak to it in Infernal she asks, "What is your name? What are you doing here? You came from the rock but that doesn't really explain much."
To her surprise it runs off and comes back with a chunk of the black burning stone in its mouth. Dropping it in her hand it goes to lick it then stops then looks at her. If she does not do it then it motions again until she licks the stone. Once she does lick it the hell hound opens it mouth waiting for the stone. Once she drops it into its mouth it swallows it and the link is made.
"You... Finally good now that I have a connection going you can choose to let me speak one of the languages you know or we can communicate telepathically. The choice is yours. I cannot speak most languages very well, Infernal is the best I have done in my past. I am Ash the Firebreather, I was summoned as I have done for the past several hundred of years since my birth. I come to make a bond with one of you. You have about an hour to make the decision, quicker is better. The longer the bond is not solidified it put stress upon me once communication is opened."
Larina pets Ash on his head nicely as she thinks back to him, "Wow, nice to meet you. That does explain a lot. Let me go ask the group before a decision is made."
Running up she yells for the group to gather, "No alarm but everyone come over here! The fire beast, it was summoned here somehow and needs to make a bond with one of us. Since I spoke Infernal it kinda picked me and now we have a connection of some kind. I can choose it to speak a language I know and it says it only speaks Infernal somewhat well, it makes sense since Infernal has a lot of harsh words that are almost barks. But that is getting off topic. I need to choose if it can speak or communicate with me telepathically. Suggestions? Should I even make the connection?"
Tristan nods.
"Two fiery personalities. I think you should form the bond. He will serve you well."