Seeing that the little paladin is safe Colwyn decides the best course of action is to move back into the light and closer to Laith and her polearm. "Best get closer to the others," he advises Kivyx.
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Restored to full health by Brevon's grace, Liath touches his arm. "Again you prove a light in the dark, brother. Thank you for this. You are..." she shakes her head and doesn't finish the sentence, as if the call of battle overrides her thoughts.
Seeing the thief retreat, she calls out to him. "Eh? What do you play at? The animal is bereft of allies, and options are greatly reduced! Restore thy bow and form firing line! Feather it with shot until it dies or impales itself on my STEEL!"
She marches up, closer to the wolf, closer to the kobold, and still within Brevon's light.
"The enemy still lurks, paladin. Do not let it escape lest others fall to it's sneaky ways! IF you can but land a single bolt, it will attack in desperation, and it's evil heart will beat it's last against this instrument of Righteousness."
She thinks on that last line. She's never named the weapon, such pretensions were never in her. But it has reaped such great honor for the The Noble One this day, it seems to have earned a name. Righteousness seems as good as any.
Brevon feels the last of his energy drain to heal Liath. He sighs heavily as the weight of his weapon suddenly feels too great to bear. He watches with dread as the creature retreats, understanding it has not finished with them yet.
But as Liath cries out in victory, despite his despair, he feels one last surge of adrenaline.
He plods forward through the snow, trying to catch up to Liath and Kivyx. He raises his crossbow and shoots again, aiming for its eyes.
Kivyx snarled under the snow, rising from it... and a look of anger on his face. The cold, the wolves, the wasted mutton, the constant berating by Liath to kill. It was pushing him to a breaking point. He'd never put much consideration into his service to Apsu. He just carried it like a moniker. But one thing he did know was that Apsu was a god of creation, who opposed his destructive son, Dahak.
How could he honor his deity by killing everything he met?
"THAT DOES IT!" Kivyx yelled, before picking up the nearby mutton and marching resolutely into the darkness beyond Brevon's light. He couldn't go far in the deep snow, but he did know the wolf was out there. He remembered his tribe's slurk herders saying that if you wanted the animals to respect you, you had to show them you were the alpha male. Throwing the meat on the ground before him, Kivyx looked about for the wolf for a moment.
A moment later, a string of bellowing in Draconic followed... and the tone made it clear that Kivyx was ticked off.
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Laith's eyes raise in surprise and honor to see the kobold begin to act brashly, with force and vector. Maintaining her ready position, she holds up a hand briefly and calls out to the others, "It seems that our paladin of Apsu is engaging in some holy duel with nature. He seems committed to this act. Let us observe the sanctity of the struggle and not interfere. All know that Dragons bring honor unto themselves with personal deeds of heroism. Let us not steal from him his moment of praise unto his lord."
The wolf's eyes dart between Kivyx and the meat, as the animal considers these two possible food sources. It has stopped it's retreat into the forest but also doesn't seem to be attacking, standing frozen in place. Waiting, watching, preparing, you can't entirely tell what it's next actions may be.
Seeing the wolf eyeing the meat Colwyn feels a little braver and moves up closer to the paladin thinking, That's a good wolf take the meat, the Kobold's hide is to tough to taste good."
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Liath has seen wild wolf attacks. Part of the training for any priest is to heal the injured. The bites are nasty and the disease that follows worse. She's also, not seen herself, but heard tell, of wolf attacks on unattended things. Lifestock, pets...children. Once they no longer fear men, it seems they get a taste for it.
Seeing that the kobold isn't slaying the thing, her next words are kind, even pleading. "Kivyx. We can't leave it here. If you have magic enough and it heels to your call and takes leash, then fine. We'll entrust it to a husbandman at the priory.
But if not, it does us dishonor to turn tail and count us safe, when another innocent might cross this trail tomorrow and not have meat to hold it at bay. Remember to think not just of yourself, but of others."
She holds her action, and bades the others to do so as well.
Kivyx squints through the snowy wind as he stares back at the wolf. 'Don't flinch. Don't make any sudden movements. Let it know you are the one in command here.' he told himself, locking his gaze on the creature. A thought crossed his mind as he did so; was it a mother? Did it have young that needed its care? Would it feed itself, or would it take some back for later... or maybe, to feed her babies. '...then I would spare more than one life.' After a moment, he shifted a foot forward, pushing the mutton closer to the beast before speaking in native tongue once again.
Crossing an arm over his chest in a salute, Kivyx bowed to the wolf before turning around to let it feed.
After a moment, Kivyx trudged back into the range of Brevon's light, squinting his eyes a bit as he returned the crossbow to his back. "We're finished here... let's go! I'm losing feeling in my tail." He remarked, before trudging on towards the priory... or what he was pretty sure was the priory.
Once Kivyx returns to the group, the wolf greedily snatches the meat and sprints off into the forest with it's prize.
Although the storm continues to pick up in intensity, you can now all just barely hear what Colwyn mentioned earlier. Somewhere far off in the distance, bells chime out.
At Liath's words, he stopped in the snow, frowning, but not turning to look at her. "...then, when the snow subsides, I will come back to find it. I will bring more food, tame it if I can... and if it becomes violent... then I will defeat it." He sighed silently, shaking his head. "...I see your point, milady. If it is dangerous to us, who are so prepared for battle, no commoner could best it."
"...but..." Kivyx paused, trying to sort his thoughts into words before continuing. "...you claim that killing 'enemies' brings honor to your god. For you, there is only two options: shamefully letting it go free to kill again, or heroically striking it down with your weapon. I... I know those options. For me, for my kind, you never wondered if killing was the right choice, because it was always the right choice."
Finally Kivyx turned around to look at her, whether she returned his gaze or not. "...I want to believe that that's wrong. That... sparing others is a good choice. That I HAVE a choice. Suppose that wolf has babies it must care for... or perhaps, this meal will keep it sated until I return? ...I don't know much about the god I serve, which I know makes me a poor paladin... but I know this: when his son, Dahak, rampaged and chose to destroy, Apsu battled him to protect that which he created. I will face those who are evil and put them down, if I can... but I would do my deity far more honor by emulating his wish to protect things, rather than destroy them..."
"Sometimes, ending the life of another is the best thing you can do, though it may be a hard choice," says Brevon, nodding to himself. "It is not always a matter of honor, but of...of need."
"For now, the beast shall live, as you choose."
He says nothing further, following the others wearily through the snow.
Col warns, "Hurry before we freeze to death. You can debate the meaning of life later." He starts heading up the trail towards the priory.
The final flight towards the priory is perhaps the most harrowing leg of the journey as you are beset by the absolute worst of the storm so far along with the howls of what you can only assume is some other wolf pack.
Finally, nearly a full hour later, the trail breaks out of the trees. Ahead, the ground rises sharply and you can hear the distant sound of waves crashing on rocks and the clamor of the ringing bells. Barely visible through the driving snow you can a make out a large building standing hard against the cliffs - the Priory of Cymer.
With the shelter of the trees gone, your only choice is to push on through the driving snow and dusky gloom towards the shadowy outline of a battlemented high wall and a gatehouse. Set into the wall is a single wooden gate embellished with some very intricate scrollwork which is entirely two difficult to admire in the current weather. Anyone checking the door finds that it does not budge, although a rope pull, leading to a bell in the gatehouse, dangles by the gate.
The Priory looms ominously in the murky twilight. Brevon breathes a grateful sigh to see it.
"A hot meal, a warm bed. These are the ultimate pleasures in life. Come, friends, we shall be well-received by the clergy of Darlen."
With renewed vigor he approaches the door.
"Er.. Odd. I suppose they are not expecting travelers in the storm. Very well..."
He reaches for the rope pull, eager to inform the inhabitants of their arrival.
About a minute after the bell is rung a small peephole slides open in the middle of the gate. An eye peers through it. From the other side of the door, the eye's owner speaks:
"Travelers in this weather? My aren't we bold? I'd very much like to let you in but you know how the roads are these days - bandits and what not. State your names and business and I'll see what I can do for you."
"Ah, well, uh yes of course. My name is Brother Brevon Sabor, acolyte of the Noble One, devotee of the Eternal Flame, servant of Darlen, bless His fair and noble name. This," he says, gesturing to Liath, "is sister Liath Gwenilian, fellow believer. These others, Brothers Kivyx and Colwyn, are our companions and friends. I am here in search of Light, my brother. Would you deny me such? Would you turn a fellow believer out into the dark? "
Kivyx tries to bundle himself in his cloak, but his dive in the snow earlier left him too cold to properly recover. By the time they reach the Priory, his tail barely moves where it used to sway with his walk, and one can almost see icicles forming on the tips of his fringes.
Waiting patiently for Brevon to deal with the doorman, Kivyx tried his best to ward off the cold... with little effect. Finally, he pipes up, shivering as he did. "Look. Mr. Door. We know about the bandits. We- well, SHE, actually-" He nodded towards Liath, nearly tipping over as he did with how stiff he was. "-sent them all to whatever you consider an afterlife. And then decided to take up a hobby skinning wolves afterwards. I'll be surprised if any sentient thing within 5 miles comes near here with her inside! Now please open up! I'm growing another layer of icy scales here and I'd like to find a nice warm space before trying to find the person I'm looking for."
Brevon's entreaty is interrupted as he breaks into a coughing fit.
Colwyn waits silently hoping they open the door soon.
The gate swings open to reveal a rather striking man clad in tight fitting clothing clearly intended to accentuate his impressive physique.
"Friends and faithful are always welcome here - please do come in." The man usher's you in past the walls of the priory before introducing himself. Although his eyes raise a bit when Kivyx walks past, he makes no remark. You find yourselves within a snow shrouded courtyard surrounded on all sides by cloisters. Although it is still bitterly cold, the wind cannot reach you here and the walkways are all partially covered by a roof supported by ornately carved pillars (a few of which bear some scurrilous marks of graffiti). Aside from the snow, there is little else here besides a few benches standing by the cloisters.
"Welcome to the priory then! Name's Malvenos, and it is my absolute pleasure to meet..." he addresses Liath directly for a moment, "...all of you. You'll want to follow me to Father Ruan." After closing the gate and replacing the thick bar, Malvenos leads you to a plain wooden door upon which he knocks. After a few moments, he opens it and ushers you into a comfortable but plain office. Behind a large writing desk sits a frail old man. As you enter, he sets down the book he was reading and rises unsteadily to his feet.
"To have braved a journey to the priory in this weather must place you among the ranks of either madmen or the truly faithful." The old man's voice barely rises above a whisper. He offers a faint smile, "Even if you are madmen you needn't worry - I'm easily deceived. I am father Ruan Gloyne and I welcome you. Travelers are rare these days, so you must pardon my excitement - as well as the current state of our accommodations, our guest quarters are a bit worse for wear and all of our folk are too busy preparing for the storm to tidy up for you. So then, I'm sure Malvenos has already pestered you, but you must tell me your names and what brings you to the priory."
Kivyx keeps a wary eye on things as he moves through the priory, though he was grateful for the respite from the wind. That made it a bit better... not as good as a roaring fire, but better. Shaking loose a slight layer of ice he'd developed on most of his features, he followed the others to meet this Father Ruan.
Seeing the old man for himself, Kivyx was honestly surprised he was still able to speak, much less stand on his own. Shaky as he may be. "I guess faith will keep you going longer than you expect... assuming you aren't putting yourself at risk." Kivyx was still trying to warm himself up, but he managed to hold it together long enough to give the elderly man a respectful bow.
"Well met, dov'sha. I am Kivyx, Paladin of Apsu.... well, still training paladin. I've come this way looking for someone very important to me. Another paladin. A female human... long dark brown hair, fair white skin, blue eyes, shining armor. I heard in Swallowfield that a woman of that description was headed this way in the company of some sellswords... no clue why, but I don't care. I just want to find her." Kivyx's expression quietly shifts to one of weary, but still hopeful, determination. "...please tell me, dov'sha... is she here?"
Brevon bows as best he can.
"Father Ruan, it is undoubtedly a great honor. The hospitality of the Cypher reached my ears as far away as Swallowfeld, and I dare say it is greater even than I imagined."
"I am Brother Brevon Sabor, devotee of The Justicar. You are right to say we have endured a perilous journey, for the trials we have faced since departing Swallowfeld have tested our mettle in many ways. It is only by the grace of The Shining Light that we stand before you now."
"Yet, I fear the road I travel leads yet further on. For while I cannot speak for all my friends, I have come seeking answers to a question; one that has plagued me for moons now."
Brevon pauses, glancing from face to face, as if contemplating whether to go on. He wrings his hands nervously, his long, dirty nails visible in the firelight.
"For over a year I believed, no, I knew I was a chosen of Darlen. This was a truth shown to me in glorious visions and dreams. And yet...yet now I begin to doubt that The Noble One has a purpose for me, or if he did that I have failed in some respect. You see, I have not received a vision, nor a dream, nor a whisper in some time now. Further... further, my health has begun to fail. This weak form you see before you was not always my lot. I was a strong man once, a vital man. I fear these afflictions are linked."
"I have heard rumors, whispers on the wind, that there may exist here within the Priory remedies which are, er, unatainable elsewhere. I come to you now, father, begging your aid in these matters, requesting your wise counsel as to matters of the body and the soul."
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Liath waits in patient silence as two other companions give their greetings and make their purposes known. Her eyebrows arch a bit as Brevon speaks. She hadn't known that he had such a...condition. Of course, with the wind and the dark and his cloak,
but,
no,
now that the weather is without, yes, the signs of unhealth are apparent. And yet instead of some Arch-Priest of a major temple, he comes here? Surely the hand of Darlen himself must be in play here, for else 'tis such an act of madness as to not be believed.
Realizing that her turn to speak had come, she shakes herself out of her reverie.
"Most Honorable Greetings, Father Ruan. May the Light shine always upon you. I am Warpriest Liath Gwenilian, and you may know that I bear all the glad tidings that House Gwenilian wishes unto you. As a symbol of the eternal bond between, um, us and, uh, you, I have brought with me...."
She kneels down and takes off her pack. She brushes off the snow and moisture, and after some moments wrestles out a large water-proof leathern sack. She places it before him and extracts it's singular contents.
"...this Book of Exalted Prayers. For only a copy of the rarest of books would be properly matched with a man of the rarest of minds."
She pauses a moment. Her next words, as she had planned it, were the simple request of the shelter of the Priory, followed by a promised leave-taking at first light. But now...now the words caught in her throat. Though her duties are discharged, there is work left undone.
"With the gift so delivered, I should now request leave to accompany, and, erm, ah, watch over brother Brevon in his quest for panacea. Surely whatever, ah, rare herbs that would be needed for so august a poultice must needs be located in remote locals. And he has proven himself tall in the eyes of Darlen on the journey here."
Colwyn bobs his head, "I'm Colwyn Dein of Swallowfeld, pleasure to ya Vicar. He smiles, I'm just a simple pilgrim he to fast and pray as I consider what line of work to pursue."
I should wait before I ask questions about Malvenos. he concludes
You get the feeling he is holding something back