"It seems it is time. Do you think they expect us to dress in any particular manner? This is about all I own, other than changes that look exactly the same." Beorn ponders.
"Let us see what this is about." he finally says and heads off for the meeting place.
You don't see Zod, you don't think he came back to Koldur's room the night before.
Loarin likely does not know about the ritual.
Flouncy will ask around about the Sisters, in a casual way, taking days, if needed.
"It seems it is time. Do you think they expect us to dress in any particular manner? This is about all I own, other than changes that look exactly the same." Beorn ponders.
"Let us see what this is about." he finally says and heads off for the meeting place.
I think they know how we dress, and if they don't, they don't care. You look like you. Good enough.
You don't see Zod, you don't think he came back to Koldur's room the night before.
Loarin likely does not know about the ritual.
It takes the better part of the first day but eventually he collects the whispers and rumors of the Sister's of the Sightless Eye. They are an organization of rogues. The Sisterhood of the Sightless Eye (a.k.a. Sisters of the Sightless Eye) are a loosely organized guild shrouded in mystery. These highly skilled archers employ ancient Eastern philosophies that develop an "Inner Sight" that they use both in combat and to circumvent dangerous traps that they may encounter. Known only as wandering Rogues in the West, the Sisters conceal their secret affiliation by posing as simple travelers. Many pompous fools have made the mistake of underestimating these steel nerved women in combat and paid a terrible price for their vanity.
The members of the Sisterhood are unmatched in their use of the bow, rivaled only by the Amazons. Sisters often also carried Eun-Jang-Do daggers. The Sisterhood recruits women from all walks of life who seek refuge at Eastgate Keep and a means to forge a new destiny for themselves.
There is rumor that there is a fort or bunker created by the sisterhood and are working with the spymaster of the Council.
The second day Flouncy takes his time to learn of the location of the elk heart pool. Apparently it is in a restored temple to Erastil a four or five day walk from the capital. On pegasus back you might get there in a day's flight.
Flouncy will look for any priests, clerics, etc., who might know more about the temple and give us good directions.
Flouncy tracks down the healers of the common folk. The priests of Erastil focus more on community when within a town. They give you vague notions of where the secret temple of Erastil hides though none of them have been to that cursed place. Going to the ranger station you find a ranger who can guide you there for a small fee, he does give you similiar directions that you already had: "Stay out of the forest and swamps, travel with them in sight for about five days on foot, then head in due North look for hills. The temple is on higher ground, it really is the one higher ground there is in the area."
Satisfied that we can find it with our pegasi, Flouncy thanks the man and hands him a gold piece for his help.
He goes and shares what he learned with Beorn and Koldur.
"Thanks for checking on it. Nothing for it but to get there at this point." Beorn says.
"Pity about Zod." Koldur remarks.
"He was a friend when the going got tough. Now We need to decide, ritual first or to the temple? Soar wings will have some of his best flyers to pick up but we need to decide."
The Elk Heart Pool is supposedly at the temple. Let's scope it out.
The three of you head out to the Western pastures of where the pegasus have made their territory. Once you approach they come flying over your heads and then banks in to land near you. Each of them walks up and nuzzles you looking for a tasty snack.
Flouncy recognizes the strategic value of being friends with pegasi. They're beautiful, magical creatures. They help us do what we do.
Still, he will never like riding on one.
He did think to bring a bunch of carrots.
Too late for apples, guys, he says to them. I've got some fresh carrots, though.
The winged horses come and eat their fill of the offered carrots. About a dozen of them come through as with a carrot in mouth the Pegasus moves on letting another through.
Beorn shares a handful of oats with each, having known they were headed out this way. "Amazing animals. You'll need to share how you befriended them Koldur."
You each pick out a pegasus or one of them picks you... soon enough you are off with the wind in your hair once more. You fly North East along the Thorn River, once it enters into the forest/swamp you head North towards the rising hills. It takes about 5 hours to get to the area and another hour to find a good landing site. You then get to work those toes traveling for another hour before you find the temple of the elk.
You see that two torches have been setup on either side of the gaping opening that likely had doors before.
Flouncy will reconnoiter, using the usual spells.
The halfling turns invisible, .
Beorn conceals himself in the gloom and waits for the halfling to return.
Beorn shares a handful of oats with each, having known they were headed out this way. "Amazing animals. You'll need to share how you befriended them Koldur."
Koldur obviously came prepared as he produces carrots, oats, corn and apples for Soar Wing and his friends. He must have obtained them from the Kitchens.
He also has honeyed water for them as well."I happened upon Soar Wings and his herd here by mere chance. Back in the Iron Peaks, while hunting a tribe of evil giants I came across Soar Wings as a foal stumbling along the mountain pass heavily wounded. Even back then he was highly intelligent and managed to convey not only where his herd had being captured but also the layout and numbers of the ones we hunted." he pauses as holds up a bucket for Soar wing to drink from.
"Needless to say, my party wiped them out and freed the herd who then took up Residence at Iron Peaks as well. Now Soar Wings had brought some of his own herd here to start a extension and also because he had grown to be on of my dear friend as well."
Beorn shares a handful of oats with each, having known they were headed out this way. "Amazing animals. You'll need to share how you befriended them Koldur."Koldur obviously came prepared as he produces carrots, oats, corn and apples for Soar Wing and his friends. He must have obtained them from the Kitchens.
He also has honeyed water for them as well."I happened upon Soar Wings and his herd here by mere chance. Back in the Iron Peaks, while hunting a tribe of evil giants I came across Soar Wings as a foal stumbling along the mountain pass heavily wounded. Even back then he was highly intelligent and managed to convey not only where his herd had being captured but also the layout and numbers of the ones we hunted." he pauses as holds up a bucket for Soar wing to drink from.
"Needless to say, my party wiped them out and freed the herd who then took up Residence at Iron Peaks as well. Now Soar Wings had brought some of his own herd here to start a extension and also because he had grown to be on of my dear friend as well."
What a great tale! You're a fine friend, Koldur. Your fame is well-earned.
The group can barely hear a conversation start.
As you say hello, the armored giant doesn't move but his eyes open and you can see glowing violet eyes. The voice comes out slow and sounding like gravel moving, "Hello."
Then he speaks up, "Visitors!"
Two of the humans walk over and greet Flouncy, "Greetings and salutations, do you have your invite? If not, please give us a name."
Oh, yes! Here it is. Flouncy produces the strange invitation and hands it to the humans.
I'm Flouncy Magoo. I am accompanied by my two friends, who were also invited: Beorn Blackmane and Koldur of the Axe, who I'm sure you know of. The other fellow with us is Loarin Valeguard, a cleric in our employ. Let me tell them to come on it.
Flouncy uses Message to tell the others to come in.
I found them, or should I say, they found me. Come on in. They want to see the invites.
We're all very curious as to why you invited us here.
Beorn comes out of hiding and strides toward the temple to find Flouncy and to introduce himself.
The human priests look at Flouncy a bit confused, one of them asks, "You don't know? Who do you believe in?"
As Beorn walks into the temple, he sees a sitting suit of armor holding a halberd. To the side you see Flouncy with two humans, likely priests as they are in clergy outfits. The others likely follow behind.
Beorn pulls his invite from his belt pouch, "I am Beorn Blackmane. Here is my invitation. Can someone please explain further what we are doing here?"
The priests take the invitations and they scoff to each other. The speaker continues in measured words, "You are here for the Council's Blessing. A ritual of empowerment. Gods' avatars shall be observing this ritual. The Sisters of the Sightless Eye have arranged that we not be distrubed. All Council members and their immediate subordinates have been requested to join as we hope the ritual will bind you that much more. We know a fledgling village needs all the help it can get." The obvious priests of Erastil wonder about your group.
Then he continues, "Come you may ease your bodies within the living waters. If you like the hot springs are within the proper temple as the waters out here are more cool. Loarin are you joining the kingdom or merely on retainer. It is a decision you must make before tomorrow night. For this ritual can only be done on the summer or winter solstice."
---
The next day about noon you hear many voices coming from the courtyard of the temple with the large elk pool as its center. Poking out to see who or waiting you soon learn that the other Council members have arrived with their retinue. Johanna "The Cat" Sinclair and Balazar, the figure head rulers, the princess, and a spattering of advisors. Many of the Council members appear to be absent.
High Priest
Magister
Marshal
Royal Enforcer
Spymaster
Treasurer
Flouncy is impressed by the gathering of so many important people. He stays clean with Prestidigitations, but there's nothing like a hot bath to relax in. He'll prep a Mending cantrip to tidy up everyone's gear so we look sharp for the ceremony.
Koldur pulls out his own invitation.
"I am Koldur of the Axe. Here is my invite." He gives both Sable and Olivira a smile. Long time comrades of his. A burden greatly eased from his heart as he sees that Olivra is well and whole.
Beorn enjoys the hot springs and accepts the mending. Not only does it help to look respectable in front of those you work for but, and most importantly, a mending spell beats having to sew patches on by yourself.
Flouncy is glad to have this brief respite. He's happy to see his companions also able to relax a bit, too.
He's mostly just adventured with them and seen them at their most lethal. It's good to see their kindness when they're not so on their guard.
He lucked into a good crew.
The night of the ritual blessing, they clear the main temple courtyard with the large pool. Then request each of you to come into the room. The voice that calls each of you is ethereal and commands great power. As you enter into the room you see the auras before anything else. One of them is multi colored as the other pulses with green and brown colors. The second one slowly unveils to show plants and gives off a good vibe.
Soon enough they drop the power sufficing their auras and you can see humanoid figures within each of the glowing auras. Soon the stag headed figure emerges from the green aura as a two faced man comes from the other. Magic ripples upon the man visibly on his left side.
The stag figure waves his hand and the water ripples then he intones, "Come forward and bathe in the pool, let the power of the ritual infuse into your core!"
Without further ado, Beorn steps into the pool.
Flouncy goes in, too.
The two figures continue a chant. Priests walk forward and offer, "The ritual will take about an hour. Remain as submerged as you are willing for that time. Please do your best in remaining quiet. At the intoned time each of you should name yourself, who you worship or at least wish for sponsorship, and your oath to the Council of Blades."
After ten minutes the light of the moon begins shining upon the pool and you can feel the power in the pool grow.
After another five minutes the figures stop chanting, the avatar of Erastil intones his followers, then the avatar of Neythes speaks Flouncy, and Olivira's names.
"I am Beorn Blackmane, follower of Erastil. I offer my bow to the Council of Blades in defense of those who cannot defend themselves, those who would bring community to the wilderness, and those who wish to live a productive life without fear of attack and death." Beorn says when called upon.
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As he is pointed to he says in his commanding voice, "Silvillinis Sable Soren, Weapon Master, follower of Erastil. I submit my oath once more to assist and serve the people governed by the Council of Blades. As a present member of the Council of Blades, I will continue to serve and protect to the best of my ability."
Flouncy stays in the shallow end (of course).
I am Flouncy Magoo, a follower of Desna, for the most part, though all the good gods have my respect. I've little to offer as a warrior, but through magic and skill, I can and will work to make these lands civil and safe, in harmony with the Council and the land itself.
As she is pointed to she giggles and reaponds in her luxurious voice, "
once more to assist and serve the people governed by the Council of Blades. As a present member of the Council of Blades, I will continue to serve and protect to the best of my ability."
Koldur wades into the pool and being of not so tall a statue, he soon sinks into the waters soon enough. Once inside, he adopts a curious seated position and begins seated, sending himself into a meditative state.
Only Sable with whom he has had started this journey had seen it. The rest who had joined them early may have seen it. A rare posture teh dwarf adopts when he begins to organize his thoughts and calm his spirit.