Scowling as further exploration of the region reveals yet more traps placed indiscriminately, Wilhelm mutters angrily, "Some blind fool set traps all throughout the region without heed for anyone who may come through. Idiot!" Reigning in his anger, Wilhelm addresses his companions, "It looks like we've got some work to do. I'm not inclined to leave a bunch of bear traps laying around for some unsuspecting traveller or child to get caught in. We'll take them up and look for signs of the trapper responsible. I suppose it could have been Breeg, but I don't have much evidence of that other than his presence nearby."
Looking at each of his companion's in turn, Wilhelm idly scratches at his fastidiously trimmed beard as he thinks. Reaching a decision, he continues, "I think our best bet here is to divide into two groups and clear out as many of these traps as we can find. At a casual glance, it looks like we're going to have a few days work ahead of us. Let's plan on meeting back here in about two days to check in. If we need to spend more time clearing these traps, we can work it out then. Rowan, you and Dante should take a the half circular arc away to the east. I estimate a search around six miles in radius ought to be plenty. Lanya and I will take the west. Any suggestions or objections to my plan?"
"It was my companions and I, yes. I don't think the bear was bad. In a dream, I saw that it was once a man and had been cursed. We put an end to his suffering and one day we will find the one responsible." Rowan then drinks the sweet wine and smiles appreciatively. He then asks questions about Bluebird and the other forest creatures that the pair are friends with as well as any major land features or sites of interest in the area. After the light-hearted conversations and banter, Rowan turns more serious. "Do you two know anything about the death of this trapper? At first, I thought perhaps another druid had shapeshifted and murdered him but I'm reconsidering who may have been responsible. I'd like to know what happened and why."
As Rowan drinks the wine, it has quite a kick to it. Dizzy he finds that his feet seem to be merging into the ground as his body seems to be turning into earth.
The two fae seem oblivious to what is happening. Instead Perlivash and Tyg-Titter-Tut look at each other as Rowan talks about Breeg. "He's been dead here for several days. He was a bad man." This time it is Perlivash who replies instead of the normally talkative Tyg.
Rowan enjoys the drink and lets it take effect. This is pretty interesting... he thinks to himself as he starts to slip into the earth. He slides under ground and re-emerges on the other side of the pair, apparently enjoying himself. "What did he do to become a bad man?" Rowan asks the grig curiously.
Rowan excitedly searches the land for the hidden traps, often spotting them with ease from a safe distance. Thinking back on his drinking experience the night before, he considers the usefulness of such wine in combat and exploration.
"Dante, how did you become a part of this expedition? Why did you decide to come out here?" Rowan asks, wanting to get to know his partner better.
Rowan's conversation
"He left iron jaws lying all over the place." Pervilish says the word 'iron' with an involuntary shiver.
Trap finding
Over the next two days the tedious work of finding and removing all of the bear traps is completed. The weather stays fair and warm and there are no encounters. On the plus side, you have collected 1 dozen bear traps. Midway through Pharast 29 you ride into Oleg's. Mission accomplished and find Anastacia's group already there.
The two fae seem oblivious to what is happening. Instead Perlivash and Tyg-Titter-Tut look at each other as Rowan talks about Breeg. "He's been dead here for several days. He was a bad man." This time it is Perlivash who replies instead of the normally talkative Tyg.
"We're going to recover those traps for you so no one will get hurt." He looks hard at Tyg while emphasing "no one". "The next time someone sets traps or does something that violates your safety, you need to let me know so that we can right it. People dying isn't going to make things safer in your woods anymore. Do you or any of your friends know how to get a message to Oleg's safely?"
Hearing no further objections to his suggestion, () Wilhelm nods and wheels Triumph away to the west. "We'll see you in a couple of days, try not to get into any trouble."
Enjoying the pleasant weather, Wilhelm picks his way carefully through the underbrush, whistling quietly as he searches for signs of more traps. After a time, he speaks up, "This is honestly not how I envisioned my first ride alone in the woods with you going. Searching for bear traps to make a stretch of woods safe is not my idea of a romantic outing, generally speaking." Chuckling ruefully at his quip, he continues, "Still, it's pleasant enough to have a chance to chat and do something simpler then running a kingdom. It seems doubtful we'll have the chance in coming months. The weight of duty, as they say."
Casting a slightly shy sideways glance at Lanya, Wilhelm pauses a moment before continuing, "Earlier, we were talking about faith. I think my own beliefs are pretty clear," Wilhelm pauses as he raps his holy symbol with a gloved knuckle, "But I'm still curious about your own, if you're comfortable talking about it with me."
When Wilhelm speaks up, she chuckles herself as well, already looking in his direction as he glances at her. "So you've been planning to be romantic with me have you? Well can't say I don't like a direct approach, though I wonder what you had in mind for a 'first date'?" She smiles playfully at Wilhelm until he turns red.
She then looks down to the ground again, but this time Draekh stares at Wilhelm's face, swaying his head from left to right.
"Ah yes 'faith', I'm not as dedicated to my deity as you are to Iomedae, though I'd like to pray and ask for her blessing from time to time. Some important times in my life she was there to inspire me."
She straightens her back and looks back, her hair covering half her face and one green eye watches Wilhelm from under the red locks.
"You will know in time, I think your religious knowledge will be sufficient to know her symbol when you see it."
"I know she wouldn't mind if I 'share' my devotion, she would welcome it even. How would Iomedae look upon that?"
"Well master Gideon, I joined for this partly. You probably know this but I am a Lord, a member of House Surtova, though a bastard. Thankfully a recognized bastard, with offical inclusion into the house line. In Port Ice I was raised, not able to do this kind of thing, Lords generally don't traipse through the woods at significant personal risk. Then a comission in New Stetven and a military education at Skysword academy." Dante sighed, his steel eyes still scanning the treeline.
"You may be interested to know, that the more valid your blood and the higher standing your house, the more people expect you to be some master of battle and politics, do you know how many times I was passed over for a battlefield commission by someone younger and of higher blood then me? Eight times. I am an exeptional soldier and a skilled tactician, and those lords who deem themselves greater then me would have me waste my life and talent in the city gaurd, or teaching their arrogant assh*le sons how to soldier. They would have me die of old age without glory or honor. No. Not for me. I joined this outing because people won't like it, they'll try to stop it and when they do and armies meet in the field, they will know who defeated them."
Everyone can make a Perception check of 5 and be awoken to the sound of a grig playing a tiny violin. A faerie dragon flutters about to the music and what appears to be a petrified but mobile Rowan is talking to the two fae.
Comfortably asleep, Wilhelm wakes gently, piece by piece. Pulled gently along to consciousness by the sound of a violin on the breeze, Wilhelm lays still for a moment, trying to make sense of sight before him. This has to be a dream. Rowan is a rock and he's talking to a little cricket woman and a butterfly dragon. What was in those trail rations I bought from Oleg?!?
Shaking his head and goggling at the sight for a moment, Wilhelm comes to the reluctant conclusion that he is, in fact, conscious. He mutters to himself as he rises from his bedroll and wraps himself in his owlbear furs against the night's chill, "I suppose these are the fae that Rowan and his group encountered before."
Making a careful approach he gently calls to the trio, "I hope I'm not interrupting?" Holding his hands out to show his peaceable intentions, he takes a seat on the ground a comfortable distance from the fae, "I'm a friend of Rowan's. My name is Wilhelm."
Wilhelm obliges Lanya's teasing gaze by flushing red, "I had thought a pleasant ride in a flower bedecked woods alongside a dashing young knight might serve as a romantic outing. Instead, I'm afraid you'll have to settle for a blushing and blustering young paladin who's barely coherent when you smile his way." Wilhelm grins back rakishly as he quips, though spoils the effect as he saws Triumph's reins to a sudden stop with a startled yelp. "A blushing, blustering young paladin who nearly broke his poor horse's leg in a bear's trap. Definitely not my idea of a charming tale as from a story, though I suppose your tastes may differ."
Dismounting quickly in a remarkable display of horsemanship, Wilhelm lands heavily with a quiet gasp, then springs back athletically despite the weight of his armor. Grinning again, he triggers the trap with a spare stick, ignoring the metallic snap as he listens to Lanya explains her faith in her goddess. I wonder...
Reaching down and recovering the trap, Wilhelm hoists the traps chain loose of the ground. Standing, he finds himself short of breath as he meets Lanya's gaze. Flushing red at her intimation, Wilhelm sounds a little strangled as he gasps out, "I'm... not.. sure what... she'd think. I-I however, think it's entirely unfair for you to suggest that when we're alone like this." Wilhelm voice steadies, though it grows huskier, as he continues, "No... not fair at all. It's a lot harder to hold to propriety when we're not in a tavern full of people."
Clearing his throat, Wilhelm stoops to pick up the trap that he'd dropped. Setting the trap into his saddle pack, he remounts and rides alongside Lanya. Tentatively taking her hand, he kisses the back of her hand gently, before saying, "Despite what I may want, I have a duty as Baron that I must attend to. While Iomedae might well look favorably enough on *hrmhem* 'sharing your devotion', she'd probably frown on me for turning my back on my duty to my barony." Holding her hand a moment longer, Wilhelm grins suddenly, eyes twinkling, "Now, we'd best be off so we can see about abdicating said barony. Times wasting."
Releasing his hold on her hand, Wilhelm clicks his tongue and kicks Triumph back into motion.
The wine and the music has Rowan in a light and playful mood. With an over-exaggerated flourish he makes the introductions.
"Not at all Wilhelm. Tyg-Titter-Tut, Perlivash. This is Baron Wilhelm Orlovsky. Baron Orlovsky, this is the great and wondrous musician Tyg-Titter-Tut and the great defender of the fae realm, Perlivash."
Rowan then purposes stumbles over his own feet and falls into the ground, only to poke his head out close to the two fae and whisper in a loud and conspiratorial voice.
"Don't let the his title fool you, he is a modest and honorable man. Which is why we have selected him to be our leader."
"Please, call me Rowan. I'm a master of no one but myself." He pauses as he thinks Dante's words over in his mind and then considers how much to share with the older gentleman. "It's interesting how the noble's always seem to know what's best for those they consider "less than noble". My father worked as a game warden for some minor lordling and I grew up working as a paid servant to clean the stalls and care for the horses whenever they could use the extra help. I was young lad then and I used to play with the lord's sons and daughter whenever he went out on hunts with my father."
Rowan turns his head up to the sky as he reminisced on his younger days. "About eight summers ago, I remember his daughter, Rhiannon, had grappled me while I was playing knights and bandits with her brother. She had shoved me to the ground and after a brief struggle I had managed to pin her to the ground just as our fathers had returned from the hunt." He winced at the memory to follow. "I was beaten quite thoroughly for that, though I was lucky not to have broken any bones. The worst part was being forbidden to ever see her again. Because after that day, I could not stop thinking about her. My father had sent me back to his village to live with my grandfather to train me to take the old man's place. I had expected to hate it. My father was a quiet and firm man and I thought my grandfather would be worse. Turns out my grandfather was quite the eccentric." Laughing briefly, Rowan then realizes he's been rambling on and probably boring Dante. "Anyways, last summer, I went back to see her. My father had found me first though, and told me I would be executed if I were to try. He said to come here instead. 'Settle the River Kingdoms and become a noble yourself,' he told me, 'then you can pursue your love.' I remember his frown as he sent me off, warning me not to become too much like them."
"Maybe I am too young to know better, but I came here with the belief that it takes more then blood to be noble. That it takes more then the luck of the draw to have "noble parents" to be able to achieve greatness. And I too, am tired of nobles telling me what I can and cannot do with my life."
Lanya wakes slowly from her slumber after having a beautiful dream when suddenly a tune kept playing in her head. It wasn't a tune she knew or would fit the dream.
Looking up slowly and seeing two shapes, who seem to be Rowan and Wilhelm, speaking with a two small creatures, one playing a tiny violin, makes Lanya think it's a dream and almost fall asleep again.
Then realization kicked in. She gets out of her bedroll, casts a simple Prestidigitation spell to comb her hair and makes sure she does look presentable.
She then walks close to the tohers and takes a seat next to Wilhelm.
"So you're having a midnight meeting without informing me?" She grins as she sits down.
"Greetings, I'm Lanya, another member of this group. Please be welcome to talk us anytime you wish."
As Wilhelm stammers Lanya grins.
"I'm not suggesting anything Wilhelm, just asking a personal question." She moves her horse a little closer before he jumps back in the saddle. She reaches down and touches his cheek with one hand, then turns his face to hers.
"You poor man, still bridled by rules and code." She pulls Wilhelm closer to her horse with her one hand, then leans over and kisses him on his forehead.
As Wilhelm mounts again, she spurs her own horse on to pick up the pace again. "Very well Wilhelm, I'll not bring it up anymore." She then continues on a softer tone, so Wilhelm might not be able to hear.
"You use your faith as a shield in the wrong way. Passion and devotion don't exclude each other."
Wilhelm, bemused by Rowan's theatrics, takes a seated bow, "Honestly, I'm still getting used... to... wh-?" As Rowan tumbles into the ground and then reappears, Wilhelm's jaw soundlessly for a moment as he goggles. So I am dreaming then... wonderful. I might as well play along then. Wilhelm finishes his sentence, "... used to that title. Please, Tyg-Titter-Tut, Perlivash, feel free to call me Wil. Rowan is too kind, I simply do what I can."
Glancing aside as Lanya wakes and wanders over, Wilhelm smiles and offers to share his furs as he says, "A midnight meeting with Rowan and a couple of others, yes. Aren't you scandalized? Of course, I'm not convinced I'm not dreaming." Wilhelm looks pointedly at the semi-submerged Rowan to emphasize his point.
Nodding dubiously at Lanya, Wilhelm waits as she rides closer and laments his bonds "I am a paladin, there is a code that I must follow." Wilhelm argues feebly as he gently lays one of his own hands over Lanya's. Wilhelm watches her ride off, face registering a blend of frustration, resignation and consternation.
Hearing her quiet aside, resolve firms his gaze and he spurs Triumph to catch up. Pulling along side her, he reaches out and places a gentle hand on her arm. Once they've stopped, Wihelm looks at her with blazing eyes, "Passion and devotion may not exclude each other, but I still have a duty that I will see through. I must marry for the good of the realm, as has been pointed out to me numerous times. By yourself included, I believe. If I act on my feelings for you, there would be ramifications for the kingdom that I can't ignore."
Wilhelm pauses and looks into Lanya's eyes, visibly frustrated, "There are too many hopes and dreams resting on this nation's success for me to jeopardize it, even if it means sacrificing what I want. You should take two things away from this conversation. The first, that I'm will to sacrifice my life and happiness for the good of my people. The second..." Wilhelm leans closer and kisses Lanya.
A moment and he breaks away, leaning closer still so his mouth is near her ear. "The second is that I can't stop thinking of you, and I hope you don't dare think I turn you away lightly." Straightening in his saddle, Wilhelm waits for her response, slightly breathless.
She lets the kiss happen and lets the feelings come over her, for the first time among the company she is blushing.
When he backs off, he can clearly see her blush, but then she refocuses herself and speaks in a clear voice.
"I understand your problems and your devotion, I too serve our fledgling realm, but know that I'm not as shackled as you when it comes to showing my passion."
She then leans in close herself so she could whisper in Wilhelm's ear. "We are who we are and I'll be a temptation for you in the days to come."
She looks closely into Wilhelm's eyes, at his lips, then kisses him back, longer than Wilhelm did himself.
When she breaks off, she looks very seductively into his eyes.
"I'm bad company for a man such as you Wilhelm. Coming to the Greenbelt has lit a fire in my blood, I'm much more dangerous than I was before, perhaps even more so to you."
She straightens her face and sits upright on her horse, staring at Wilhelm's face to look for a reaction.
Both Tyg-Titter-Tut and Pervilash bow as Rowan provides the introductions, the grig momentarily stopping the music. They may be rustic, but it seems like they have some experience in courtly graces as they do it perfectly. "We greet the Slayers of the Great Bear." the grig says solemnly. But once Rowan reveals that Wilhelm is the leader she blurts out, as if she can stand it no longer. "Please don't kill him. The bad man deserved to die, he was..." she pauses, looking for the right word. "Malicious"
Lanya looks at the faerie dragon and the grig and seems surprised and unsurprised at the same time.
"Ah so that's what the marks where on the branch that killed Breeg. It all makes sense now, are you and your kind by chance the caretakers of the Greenbelt?"
Lanya asks with a surprising light tone in her voice.
"If so, I could understand your actions, though there are more trappers and hunters living in this area, what made Breeg stand out? Why was he so malicious that he needed to die while the others are not?"
The grig is quick to defend her friend. "He left iron jaws all over the place. But he doesn't eat what he catches. He...tortures them and skins them alive."
Wilhelm returns, as best he can seated and wrapped in a fur, the fae's bow. The Slayers of the Great Bear, eh? That has a nice ring to it. Surprised by her outburst, Wilhelm's smile fades as he looks from Tyg to Rowan to Perlivash. Eyebrows raising as comprehension comes, Wilhelm's frowning gaze settles on Perlivash. Those claw marks... they could well have come from the little dragon. This fae may well have slain a man who would have been my subject.
Still frowning, Wilhelm withholds comment as Lanya asks her questions. Listening carefully, Wilhelm tries to gauge the veracity of the little grig's response.
Distracted and feeling uncertain, Wilhelm runs a hand through his hair and sighs, "That does sound despicable, Tyg, but that doesn't mean you can just kill him. I suppose to date you've had no recourse, but I still find it hard to just ignore this." Looking conflicted, Wilhelm looks carefully at the pair before asking, "What of the other trappers and hunters who will come to these woods? If they aren't cruel, will you harm them? And if they are?" Wilhelm's gaze is sympathetic but his voice rings with steely authority as he asks his questions.
Noticing Lanya's blush as he leans back, Wilhelm grins as he meets her gaze. He starts to make a quip, but cuts off as she speaks first. Listening for a moment, he puzzles over her words -my problems and devotion?- but all such thoughts quickly fade as Lanya leans in close to whisper in his ear. As if you aren't alr-
Rational thought fades, as does his awareness of his surroundings, as Lanya returns his kiss. Time seems meaningless for a moment and blush rushes to his faces. As she breaks away, Wilhelm finds himself short of breath and feeling distinctly warm despite the morning's chill. Meeting her smoldering gaze with an unfocused one of his own, Wilhelm arches an eyebrow as she names herself dangerous. As reason begins to assert itself again, Wilhelm straightens himself in his saddle, buying a moment to think.
"I'm not convinced that you are such terrible company for me, nor that you'd be a danger to me. Maybe that's foolish, but if being named a fool is the worse I have to suffer to be in your company, then I'll pay that price readily enough." Drawing a ragged breath, he looks away for a moment, gnawing his lip, before continuing, "I was ... am still afraid of how this may turn out. But I can hardly deny what I'm feeling." Looking back into her eyes, his gaze firms and his jaw sets to steel, "I think... whatever we have... that it should have its chance to shine. I suppose time and Iomedae alone will tell if it's a roaring inferno that burns itself out quickly or, perhaps, something more enduring."
Clearing his throat, Wilhelm chuckles and looks abashed, "Now I think we ought to continue. I'm afraid if we keep this up, we may never leave these woods. Sadly, I believe there's work to be done."
He waits a moment, pausing to listen to what Lanya has to say in return.
Lanya listens to Wilhelm's words to Tyg and Perlivash. I basically asked them the same question. I would probably do the same thing if I were them, though it's not what we aim for here.
"What Wilhelm is meaning to say is this, if you ever come across another person that mistreats you or the other inhabitants of the forest, be it a hunter, commoner or even a lord; you come to tell us. We'd like to found a new country here, with fair rules for everyone including the treatment of the fae of course. If you tell us, we'll make sure he gets his just punishment."
"Please tell your friends that we are not evil and we do want to live harmoniously with the fae and the other original inhabitants of the Greenbelt. Is there something else we can help you with besides removing these traps? Or something else that troubles or threatens you in these parts?"
She grins wickedly at Wilhelm, noticing she has put another unforgettable thought into his mind.
"Well then, let's go, don't want to keep Dante and Rowan waiting too long for us." She says as she musters her horse forward, leaving Wilhelm a bit dumbstruck behind her.
Perlivash answers this time. "Good Rowan has asked us to go to 'Olegs' the next time a bad man comes into the woods and talk to him first. We have agreed to do so. I did it. Tyg-Titter-Tut had nothing to do with it."
Nodding slowly, Wilhelm looks from Perlivash to Tyg-Titter-Tut and back. Arching an eyebrow at the grig, he replies, "I suppose that's well enough. Rowan will be in charge of making sure that the wild places of our realm are safe. I'd also ask that you let us know if anything else dangerous should enter the woods." Mouth still thin, Wilhelm sits back and listens to the ongoing conversation for a time, mulling over events in his head. Was that too lenient? They killed a man, even if he was a vicious bastard. It does seem that I can trust them not to do it again, now that they have recourse. Sighing dejectedly, Wilhelm sets his frustration at the moral quandary aside and returns his attention to the conversation with the fae.
"We can't be everywhere at once, Baron. Even after I get a guard up and running, they are not going to be able to keep everyone safe at all times. These two did the same as what any adventurer would do in the Inner Seas. If an ogre went around catching and skinning humans, I could not expect the villagers to wait around for the government to send out a military force. Most likely a few brave men and women would go out and try to end the threat themselves."
Rowan pauses for a moment as he considers his words carefully.
"These lands are still wild, though we are doing much to make them safer. I think everyone out here needs to know that they are allowed to protect themselves from danger without having to worry about our government punishing them for it. At the same time, we can't let the people deal out punishments as they will. Mob justice is hardly ever true justice."
"Tyg-Titter-Tut, Perlivash, there will be more hunters and trappers coming into the region, and I can't have you killing off everyone that is trying to make a living out here. I believe that we should ban these iron bear traps. They're too dangerous for everyone in the area, not just the fae. What other laws do you think would keep your people safe? Is there any sort of leader of the fae that we can discuss this sort of topics with?"
At Rowan's mention of a leader, a look of pure unadulterated terror crosses the faces of the tow fae. Tyg-Titter-Tut stammers. "Oh, no. You don't want to do that. Whatever you do, don't attract her notice. She lives far away to the South, where the First World crosses over."
Lanya grimaces as she can guess who they mean.
"I'm afraid we have already attracted 'The Green Lady's" notice. She's aware of our exploits and I have personally met one of her stronger servants and we dispatched one of her other ones. A druid who was the father of a bandit called the Stag Lord."
Lanya bites her underlip for a moment.
"All the fae we meet seem to be scared because of her and I fear they rightly do so. Perlivash, Tyg-Titter-Tut, do you know of other groups of fae that would like to work together with us, we'd like to extend a hand of cooperation to those who would accept it. Together we stand stronger, perhaps even against Her."
The two fae seem fascinated by Lanya. You have opposed her and not been destroyed?" Pervilach then adds Falchos, you need to talk to Falchos. He carries the news." He then offers a flagon filled with wine to Lanya and Wilhelm.
Lanya suddenly grows about 20", almost bursting out of her clothes. Two additional arms spring from her side and she grow two additional breasts. (+2 size bonus to Strength and the Multiattack Feat for 9 minutes)
Wilhelm finds himself under the effects of a Righteous Might Spell for 5 minutes
"Falchos? Alright, thank you very much. Where might we find him?" Lanya says as she accepts the flagon of wine from Perlivash.
She then takes a sip from the flagon as she looks back at the two fae, still intrigued by them. Unaware of the special drink she just took, she feels nauseas at first.
"Uhm... Hmmm... This is some heavy wine, I've never felt so...."
Then she suddenly grows, almost bursting out her clothes as she does so. The sudden addition in limbs feels awkward, but not as weird as the new pair of breasts.
"This is surely not what I was expecting. What's in that flagon?" She asks the two fae with a combination of amusement, embarassment and curiousness.
"I suppose that's true, Rowan. I'm not sure that equating humans with animals sits quite right with me, but I'm not so familiar with nature as all that." Considering the argument presented to him, Wilhelm's sense of frustration begins to ease. "And yes, I'm in agreement that simply serving punishment by mob is to frowned upon. I should think there should be some relatively impartial third party to act as a mediator. We'll have to take up the details with the rest of the Council when we return."
Listening with interest as Rowan asks about a leader of the fae, Wilhelm is taken aback by the unbridled terror in the little fae's plea. The Green Lady, again? Who is this leader who would inspire such terror in her subjects. Jaw tightening in anger at the thought of the tyrant, Wilhelm nods his agreement with Lanya, "Lanya speaks wisely. Any ruler who inspires such terror in the people she is supposed to server is not worthy of the title. I think we have a common cause."
Cocking a head curiously as the fey mention the mysterious figure, Falchos, Wilhelm sits and idly listens as he mulls over what he's been told. Not noticing the proffered flagon, Wilhelm yelps in alarm as Lanya suddenly begins mutate before his eyes. What in the name of Iomedae?!? Goggling at Lanya's newfound form, Wilhelm's mouth gapes for a moment before he remembers himself. Snapping his jaw shut, he shakes his head and mutters, "Yes, definitely still dreaming."
"I too, am curious what exactly was in that flagon, Perlivash." Wilhelm's initial shock begins to fade and he snorts in amusement, "An interesting new look for you, Lanya."
although Perlivash and Tyg-Titter-Tut were unfazed by Rowan's transformation, Lanya's seem to bother them and fly off a few feet before settling back down. Tyg-Titter-Tut explains. "Those berries friend Rowan gave us were so good, we decided to get him a present in return. Fine Fairy Wine. Be careful, I'm told that mortals can find the effect most intoxicating." she says as Perlivash hands the stoppered flask to Rowan. Rowan can tell the flask still contains about two quaffs of the clear liquid. Tyg begins to play her fiddle again.
"Intoxicating? I'd think people could get addicted to transforming, though this form actually doesn't suit me that well. I can understand if people like to see what the possibilities are."
Puzzled by the fae's reaction, Wilhelm ponders the issue as they explain the nature of the wine. Glancing at Lanya, Wilhelm's confusion only continues to grow. There doesn't seem to be anything particularly terrifying about her new form. Unusual, to be sure, but scary? I should ask, but I need to know about this Falchos first. They may not want to talk about Lanya's new.... form. Deciding the issue was too curious not to ask about, Wilhelm inquires, "Perlivash, Tyg. Can you tell us where we might find this Falchos person?" After receiving an answer, Wilhelm continues to ask, gently, "Just a moment ago you were truly terrified by Lanya's transformation. Why is that? Is there someone to fear who looks like that? I know it might be difficult to talk about, but I wouldn't want any of my friends to be hurt by a danger we don't know about."
Lanya looks up as Wilhelm determines that the two fae were actually scared of her transformation.
It's good to have someone close to me that's able to read people's faces and intentions. I lacked the more observational skills because I focused on hiding my own.
"If Wilhelm is correct, I'm wondering that myself as well. I only want my enemies to be afraid of me and not my new friends. You have nothing to fear of me Perlivash and Tyg-Titter-Tut. If I can do anything to prevent this from happening again, please tell me."
Tig-Titter-Tut just waves off Wilhelm's mention of Lanya's new form. "Oh, for a second we thought she was Yarkali, come to trick us. And Falchos visits all the fae from time to time. Next time we see him, we'll tell him you'd like to talk to him." Perlivash adds. "He does spend a lot of time with Tiressea down by the lake."
"Yarkali? Trick you?" Wilhelm's ongoing confusion and perplextion doesn't abate with the fae's 'explanation'. Shaking his head and massaging his temple with one hand, he waits for the fae to finish explaining. "I'm glad to hear about Falchos. Please do send him to visit us, next time you see him. Can you tell us more about this Yarkali? And Tiressea as well, I suppose?"
The two fae look at each other and Perlivash whispers. "Yerkali serves the Green Lady. She can take several froms but one of them looks just like what the wine has done to Lanya only with darker skin and jet black hair instead of red. Tiressea is a dryad, she lives in a grove by the lake."
Rowan stumbles a little over himself as he backs away from Lanya's new form. "Lanya, I'm not certain if I'm hallucinating now or you just changed into a very peculiar new form."
He closes his eyes and shakes his head a few times before looking back at Lanya again.
"I think we might have to make a few adjustments to that wedding gown you had Sanita order…"
Rowan didn't notice the fear in the two fae creatures that Wilhelm did. After Perlivash explains Yerkali's form, he takes a moment to think of any fey creature that fit that description.
"What other forms can Yerkali take?" he asks curiously, thinking that maybe the multi-armed form similar to Lanya's isn't the creature's natural body.
"Can you describe Falchos to us? I'd like to be able to greet him properly on sight. Also, is there any gifts in particular that you can think of for us to present to Lady Tiressea?" Rowan asks politely.
Lanya chuckles at Rowan's mention of her new form. "I'd have to say you're right on that, though it's definitely not a wedding dress."
Lanya looks a bit taken aghast when she hears that the fey fear Yarkali. No wonder, she does serve the green Lady. Though i'd better keep quiet about my heritage I think.
She smoothes her clothing to take any looks away from her expression.
"Yarkali you say? I've actually met her as well, though I did not know she was able to change like that. When I met her she was in the guise of a serpentesque troll riding on a large horse and with two trollhounds with her. We had a short talk, but she didn't want to go in any details about herself."
"She can turn into the biggest snake you've ever seen!" Tyg-Titter-tut replies. "Falchus is a satyr. I'm not sure what Tiressea would want, but I'd like to there if you call her Lady." Perlivash talks to Lanya. "That's what she looks like when she's hunting, although usually its a black unicorn she rides." he responds to her description. "You're not going to tell her we've talked to you are you?"
"Yes you are right, it was a black unicorn. I guess meeting her alone was impressive enough that I almost forgot about the unicorn." A giant snake? now that explains everything. I already thought it strange I'd descent from a troll-like creature.
"I'm not gonna tell her anything. The one time we met she warned me of her master and that the next time we would meet we would be enemies. I'll keep this conversation a secret if you can keep it too." She says with a wink to the two fey.
They look relieved that Lanya is not going to tell on them.