"No, the difference between life and death is that his god restored to him the abilities he lost when he fell from grace. The redemption of a paladin is not an ecuminical matter, it is." Teyran paused, looking for a way to better describe it. "Were I to fall, I would have to beg forgiveness from the one who knows every lie I've ever told. I would also have to perform an act of atonement equal to the sin that had caused my descent. So if you wish to offer an objection to leaving Akiros in charge of this place, then do so, but as far as I'm concerned, the state of his soul has been spoken for by one I don't dare question." There was no judgement in Teyran's tone, if anything, he sounded like a grandfather explaining something to a curious youth.
"In short, I believe that Morley has it right."
Like I said, saves me the debate.
Antha followed the conversation with the others. She'd felt the power wash through her when the curse on the man was released, and felt no doubt that allowing Akiros and him to remain here was the right thing to do.
"Indeed. That Erastil has seen fit to return Akiros to his power for his actions in removing the curse of the temple. This is beyond the sign of the stag. Nonetheless, perhaps your injuries are making it difficult for you to see the higher connections."
"Does this help? Does any other require assistance?"
Thank you, Arasmes. Much better, indeed. I do however, and always have found higher connections somewhat subjective, as is morality.
I prefer ethics.
Stretching, Valeska moans... she smiles genuinely as she stands up straighter. Not all there, but quite serviceable.
"I prefer stabbing bandits and getting paid. Looks like we're all done here. Lets go kill some mites." Grendolynn suggests.
Valeska walks over to Akiros, surveying the bear-become-man.
I do not cherish the idea of loose ends behind us as we travel deeper into unknown country.
Will Akiros Ismort III swear fealty to Lord Kesten Garess, Swordlord of Brevoy... until such time as Lord Garess' orders are contrary to his God's? We would help defend this place as we can, and would expect succor.
Akiros realizes after a moment what is happening and takes a knee. He places his fist over his heart, "I will swear fealty to Lord Kesten Garess, a Swordlord of Brevoy, until such a time as his orders are contrary to my God. I will provide stewardship over this place until my duties are dismissed, providing assistance and support in times of hardship and distress."
Then rise, Akiros Ismort the Third, Steward of the Temple and may your word be your bond. . Valeska offers a hand.
Akiros takes a hold of Valeska forearm for support as he rises again. "Thank you, but decision have you come to concerning my companion?" He gestures to the man.
I must leave that decision to those wiser that I, Akiros. Your reason however, Sir... is greatly appreciated.
Releasing the man's hand, Valeska bows and withdraws... to ready her mount.
"You're a paladin. You judge 'im." Grendolynn says to Akiros. "We're off to deal with a mite problem."
Grendolynn will sit in her saddle bouncing with eagerness.
Morley shrugs. "All we got on this guy is what you've told us.. so... unless you think he is still a threat..." He shrugs again and sees Valeska and Gren mounting up. "I'd say he has a hung jury at worst."
Teyran looked from Grendolynn to Valeska with surprise as they readied their horses. "Did we not come here to secure the aid of the former Stag Lord, or at least question him about his replacement? And now you wish to leave as he lies unconscious? I understand that we have made other promises, but we offered no timetable, and those who made the request have waited some time already, I doubt their patience is at a breaking point already."
Valeska looks to the older man. I would be more interested in the Druid, the puppet-master. The man there, one puppet. If you wish to stay, I am not against it, Teyran.
"If you wanna ask him some questions, someone's going to need to heal him first by the looks of it."
"Are others in need of healing at the same time, or shall I focus my energies upon the former Stag Lord?"
"I would not be comfortable leaving the man, particularly in the state he is in, even with a protector. This land can be dangerous. As mentioned, this man may also have information on his former host and of those who replaced him. He may even know more of the one Lord Kesten searches for."
" fine. Apparently tha bear di'int see me as eno a threat ta take a swipe at." Tad responds, a hint of disgust in his voice.
"A strange thing," Teyran said to Tad, "Unless I'm mistaken, you did more than most to bring it down. You are certainly the only reason he's still alive. I admit that I had intended to strike him with the flat of my blade, but it seems to take more discipline than I possess to stare down a charging bear and resolve to not hurt him."
Antha frowned in disapproval at Valeska's apparent lack of forethought.
"And do you see no use for what he could tell us about the druid, things few others may know? Surely it is important to know one's enemy, and to know of any weaknesses in their fortress before trying to storm the walls."
If I did everything... What fun would there be for the rest? I've negotiated fealty to Lord Garess.
The last time we questioned a man... Valeska shrugs, but doesn't look upset.
"Yeah, I'm staying out of it this time. Don't want to lose my temper again. I'm fine Arasmes."
Not complaining, but that bear/man did some work, Arasmes.
"If you two ladies are hot to trot... Akiros has sworn fealty to Kesten. Leave the unbeared man in his care to sleep it off... we come back after checking out the pink dragon's mystical tree's infestation of magical beasties. Sound reasonable?"
I find a great many things reasonable, Morley Worgendale. Valeska offers a half-smile.
"Sounds good to me."
Antha paused for a moment to consider their options. With a brief nod indicative of having made a decision, she says, "Yes, let us look into these mites. Akiros can be trusted to deliver messages to Kesten about the druid and the bandits."
Valeska nods. Change of heart noted, Antha... Seems we're waiting on some men to decide what they feel is best.
Is there anything we could do to make Akiros' stay any easier, perhaps secure the surrounding area.
At Valeska's query, Tad looks rather pointedly at Grendolynn. "'At sounds more like your bailiwick. But, 'ere's tha thing..." Now turning his attention to Antha, "'Ow's 'e gonna do 'at when 'e's watchin' o'er place...
an invalid?"
"We 'orter at least patch tha blighter up so's Akiros' only lookin' at task at a time by 'is lonesome."
Arasmes channels his deity, but it seems the Dawnflower's attention is largely elsewhere.
"Tend to your friend Akiros, and then report back to Lord Kesten. I am sure that this man could reveal much of the early days of the bandits and of those who took over."
"I must admit that I am running low on supplies. If there is none here that can assist in the gathering of edible plants and animals, it might be best if we all return and refill our packs."
"Yes, true, Tad. I assumed he would wake on his own in a day or two," she replied. "But you know what they say about what it is to assume!"
At Arasmes' mention of food, everyone is startled by the rather liquid rumbling coming from Tad's belly.
Smiling embarrassedly, "Ehe..
Tha's another good point."
Valeska approaches her Paladin. Teyran, let's spend a day... I'll go with Gren and bring down some game, small... large, whatever we find. We can supply Akiros and ourselves.
Someone should start a fire and about cooking gear in the temple, maybe pick berries and tubers, should be... radishes. Should probably borrow that bow, too.
"That sounds okay. If I try to hunt while we travel it will slow us down quite a bit."
Was that a unicorn?!
"Doubt you'll find much meat running around nearby... " Morley nods to the sleeping unbeared man.
Morley empties his pack, makes a couple trips grabbing packloads of fallen wood nearby, then forages for some edibles.
Teyran was glad to hand off the bow. He hadn't really wanted it in the first place, but it seemed the height of foolishness to venture into the unknown without a ranged weapon of some kind, even it was just a bag filled with stones to throw.
As he waited for time to pass, Teyran followed the lead of Morley, though he was not as successful a forager.
As the outdoorsy types spend the day rustling up provender, Tad occupies his time examining the shrine & clearing away the obvious overgrowth.
Morley is about to track a small buck, and the group easily brings it down. It will provides around 3 days of meat for the group, with some other things to supplement (berries and veggies) then it can be stretched out to five days.
We should leave some for Akiros and his guest.
"Good work Morley. Are we ready to take on the mites now?" Grendolynn says, after the buck is dressed and people are sating their hunger.
"I am. I think that Tyg the Perlivash said the mites were... hmm. Under a special tree, but I don't recall where; or, if I did, in which direction it is from here."
"Tha wee ones said tha' was a tree, an' we'de find it a day's travel ."
"Seems likely It'd be East of 'ere a ways."
Thinking for a moment, "Any o' you lot know what a Sycamore looks like?"
Akiros takes the supplies offered to him with a nod. "Be careful out there. One of the bandit camps is directly east of here, if you cut cross then you will surely run into them. I would suggest going back around the way we came."
"Is the camp large? It is after all our main mission to rid these lands of bandits. If they are few we should probably take care of them on our way."
"Tha H-
Foresty...
Lady makes a good point. Are we talking more'n' us, less'n' us, 'r a more'n' us?"
"And would this be the camp to which some fellows we had routed from the keep would have fled?"