Chrysa reaches the pool and has a seat beside it. The water is clear and lovely and inviting. And seems to glow with an inner radiance.
”Conjuration, or healing magic. Unless it is a illusory aura, this water should heal you up. Erastil has like blessed this place again.” She smiles at Chrysa.
"A deities will then." said more reverently than one might assume in a former bandit. She'll reach out and cup the water in her hands. Bringing it to her lips and drinking deeply.
The clear liquid is the most amazing drink she has ever consumed. No honeyed taste, no familiar buzz or burn, just... perfect water. She swallows, it washes down her throat, healing everything as it goes, her wounds... her...
The constant weight on her head is suddenly gone. The others see a shows glow around her coal black horns, then poof they are green ash in the wind. Gone.
The startled woman reaches up. Nothing, just hair and head. Her eyes go wide, luminous in hope. Every night you have witnessed Chyrsa do battle with her horns, filing them down a few inches only to have them regrow through out the day. And now...
She could scream in delight, she could dance and kiss every person here, she could... but she doesn't. She simply leans forward to the pool until her lips are just shy of touching, and whispers the most emotion filled thank you possible, meant as a simple prayer of thanks to the God of Family
(hers being an utter cancerous sore of humanity maybe he was having pity).
"Sophie, can you detect any traces of the fey on me?" Chyrsa asked with warring delight and worry. She knew there was no way Sophiel wouldn't have been able to see through her disguise as a tiefling when she was using her abilities to hunt their tormentors. The half elf had been polite enough to leave it her secret. But now...
Isabella scratches her head and leans in to Sophie "Uh, could you explain to me what is going on right now?"
Chrysa forgets her secretive semi manipulative nature and blurts out "When I was a child, the fey stole me and gave me these..." she waved at the nothingness above her copper hair. "I'm not a tiefling. THEY did it to me!" 'they' is spoken with pure hate. "And now..." she looks back to Sophie "... is it really gone?"
Sophie pauses, then takes a deep breath; she makes a wan smile, and concentrates ”whatever you have it certainly seems abated. Your courage and generosity of spirit seem to have impressed Old Deadeye. No, there’s no trace of the fey on you.” She smiles, happy for her friend, and that balance had been restored to this place, and pats Chrysa on the shoulder. ”Well, Chief, shall we bottle some of this up and see if it keeps? We have more to do; no rest for the weary.”
Orri just stands back in surprise as the bear is defeated and the temple is restored. He barely notices when Bella calls out for him to help, but sees chief move to provide assistance. Instead he starts to walk the grounds and try to figure out exactly what happened. Was it some sort of curse they lifted? He wasn't sure but while the others tended to Chrysa and the waters he tried to look for some sort of explanation as to what they just witnessed.
Chrysa is in awe, reaching up to nothing and beaming. Offhand as Sophie asks about bottling, she offers an opinion "I think people should come here, to his temple for the waters. Taking it might be considered sacrilege. We can ask the priest next time we're at the trading post to be sure though."
Orri eventually finds his way back to the fountain where the others are and he notes "I don't know what that was all about, but there are a LOT of bones in the cave, lots of different kinds. Whatever was going on at least no one else will die to that thing." He looks to Bell and smiles "Good job." then briefly turns to Chrysa with a sheepish grin "I'm glad you're ok."
Isabella doesn't understand what's happening with the pool water, but she's just glad everyone is ok. She turns to her brother as he appraoches, appreciating his compliment. "Thank you." she says with a slight smile. "It was close, he almost got her too."
She exhales loudly and adds "It's much harder, you know? I didn't know it was going to be so terribly dangerous out here. I mean I knew it was going to be dangerous, but, this is harder than I envisioned it."
She suddenly reaches and grabs Orri's forearm. "Oh. Don't tell anyone I said that, okay? Keep that between us. I want them to think I'm tough."
Chrysa returns Orri's sheepish grin with a beaming one, and a "Thank you" and continues her giddy sitting doing nothing as the siblings goes off to look at bones.
The group camps the night in the cleansed temple, resting peacefully and safely. The next morning, Chrysa is pleased to discover her horns have not returned, and her good mood persists as the group returns to Oleg's fort over the course of the next day.
The group arrives at Oleg's at about noon. As you approach, Kesten makes his way to you, an opened scroll in hand. "Seems word of your deeds and discoveries has reached Restov and the Dragonscale Throne. They've tasked you with dealing with this Stag Lord personally."
Chyrsa ignored Kesten and rushed to to Jhod "There was a priest, I mean there was a bear that once Bella killed to save me, turned into a priest. Young and handsome, if you go for the priestly type, which I don't, sorry. He was in a bloodstained robe and seemed content to be finally passing. Then the entire temple... BLOOMED... the pool in the center became..." her babbling slow to show a smile "He healed me." her fingers brushed the place her horns once were. "Thank him for me, please."
Jhod is completely flustered by the enthusiasm Chrysa is showing him, but as comprehension settles in on him, her excitement becomes infectious and he is soon just as excited as she though his advanced age limits his exuberance. "So you found it then? Praise to Old Deadeye! Please, you have to take me there! I can be ready in...give me a few minutes!" he says before heading for the guest house.
Isabella leans in to Orri and whispers, tapping her head with her finger "I think she hit her head really hard when she hit the ground."
Sophie hesitates, and then nods at Chrysa. "I don't think this would quite be the case, given the circumstances, but I defer to your wishes. We shall ask Jhod first, if you'd like. Perhaps we can bring him here."
Sophie thinks about tatzlwyrm ecology and taxonomy.
She tries to keep her eyes out as they go for any tracks or spoor of the creature.
Sophiel heads back curiously, more contemplative than usual as they travel, and less chatty. She seems to be lost in thought much of the time, though she is always polite, she seems somehow distracted. They return, and she listens as Chrysa explain what transpired. Sophie nods at Kesten, "Indeed, it was to be expected, Sir Kesten, he is a plague. That said, and I say this with no disrespect, but what can we expect in return for such a task, might I ask? It is no small feat that the Surtovas are requesting. You know I am hardly a mercenary, Kesten, but the Dragonthrone can spare more, I would think." Sophie looks at Kesten with sincerity and earnestness, and gestures at the recently injured Bella "One of our companions is gone, and we nearly lost another. Something harsh runs through the bones of this land. Perhaps you have felt it." She levels her gaze at him.
Kesten turns to Sophiel and replies "I do not know the reward, My Lady, but I was assured that should you prove successful in the endeavor that you would each be handsomely rewarded."
When Kesten approaches the group about the Stag Lord he simply shrugs and adds "It was already one of our objectives to deal with him, so I suppose this just makes it official."
When Jhod mentions going with them to the temple Orri simply nods, though he has questions for the priest once the man is ready to depart.
Looking to his companions he notes "Everyone should resupply as needed, we should get ready for a longer excusion so stock up on provisions. After we get Jhod to the temple I think we need to start exploring the region more and track down any leads we can to find the Stag Lord."
Isabella nods along with her brother's suggestions. "I concur. We were destined to move in this direction."
Looking to Sophie, she builds on her argument. "I for one agree. This task should not be taken lightly and we will not lose another of our own."
Once all of the questions are answered, Isabella goes and purchases a second set of clothing undergarments.
Jhod comes out of the guest house after a few minutes, scrambling to finish stuffing his effects into a sack. He hurries over to the stables and after a couple more minutes comes out leading a mule. ”I am ready when you are! I...I know you just got back...” he says as realization that the group may not wish to leave again so quickly. His enthusiasm tempers as he adds ”I suppose you will wish to rest. Sorry, I’m getting ahead of myself.”
Sophie examines the writ from Kesten briefly, reading through the language and trying to divine who wrote it, if she can. She nods at Kesten, and adds ”I suppose that will have to suffice, but this land needs more than a trading post.” Her piercing eyes appraise Kesten not unkindly.
Sophie waves her hand dismissively at Jhod’s suggestion, ”for my part, I’d rather rough it than stay here, but I don’t speak for everyone. As a fellow priest of nature, I’d like your input on the temple sooner than later, if possible. We have a lot to do, and seemingly less time than we’d like.” She turns to Kesten, ”any news from Dunstan’s family? Would they like us to return his body?”
”The messenger likely hasn’t made it back to deliver the sad news, I would wager,” Kesten replies.
Your previous charter is hereby amended to find and subdue the bandit leader commonly known as “The Stag Lord.” Upon his apprehension, he is to be executed for the insurrection, instability, and multitude of crimes he has committed against the Dragonscale Throne. Upon completion of this task, you shall be rewarded in turn appropriate to the risk taken in this endeavor.
The document is signed by Trine Fervourblade, and bears the seal of the Dragonscale Throne.
At Sophiel’s suggestion for the area to grow, Oleg scoffs ”BAH! I didn’t move me and my wife out here to have everyone come chasin’ us down and crowding in on us again! Far as I’m concerned, everyone can either stay to the north or south of us. Leave me and mine in peace!”
Chief Sootscale, having gathered quite a lot of water from the spring, seems busy studying it on his journey. Though he suspects it has lost much of its potency, it's still a curiosity to him.
But he does look up for one bit of news. "Finally, we go kill Stag Lord? Let's go! Big boom, kill dead, everybody go home." The Chief grins at the thought of the last part. "We just stop by kobold home first, so people no worry."
"Oleg, your trading post has been a welcome refuge. To us, and everyone else who's come through. Hopefully you understand why Sophie is being Cantankerous!" she pauses to look at their half-elf, along with a smile, before turning back to him "Once the stag lord has been removed, trade will flourish and unfortunately more people will plague you. But no matter what happens, and not that you need any of us telling you this, This Place Is Yours."
"Now you wouldn't happen to have a net woven through with cold iron."
Oleg looks at Chrysa when she makes her request like she had just grown a tail. ”Why in the nine hells would I have that?”
"Fey" she answered, but accepted that as a emphatic NO. "Normal supplies then, sir."
Orri looks to the others when Jhod mentions he is ready to go and shrugs "I'm fine to head out if the others are. We need to start looking for this Stag Lord anyway." He turns to look back at Jhod "What are you going to do when we get you there? Are you planning to stay because we are likely going to head off directly from there rather than come back this way."
"I'm going to stay and do what I've been called here to do," Jhod replies excitedly. "Erastil has given me visions and a calling to restore this once glorious temple. Perhaps he will also be blessing you on your journey."
The group eventually heads back out into the wilds, dropping Jhod off at the Temple as promised. He stands in the courtyard in wide eyed wonder, as a tear rolls down his cheek. "Thank you...thank you all so much, My Lord and Ladies. If you are ever in need of anything...my spellcasting services are at your disposal."
With urgings from certain members of the group, you eventually agree to get out of the forest as quickly as possible, and resume your mapping efforts on the far side of the Narlmarches.
__________
The stink of moldering plants and a strange quiet in the sound of bird life surrounds a somewhat sunken clearing in the woods here. At the center of the clearing, the soggy ground becomes an insect-infested, stagnant, swamp-like pond, and sprawled at the pond's southern edge is what appears to be a dead horse.
__________
A fifteen foot tall statue of Erastil stands near the edge of the forest here, partially overgrown at the base but towering above the surrounding shrubery.
Returning to the temple, Chief is very interested in seeing whether the water retains its healing properties. He collects more water for use in his future brews, intent on studying it further.
"Uh oh, dead horse mean dead person?" speculates Chief. He checks carefully to see if they were at risk of falling into swampy marshland.
"Ooh, big statue of archer again," says Chief unhelpfully.
Chief Sootscale looks at the map that has been drawn up of this region, including the spots that require more investigation. "We go east from here, best way to see whole forest and find tatzylwyrm trophy."
In the morning, there is sobbing from Chrysa's tent. The kind that starts in the bones and ravages through your entire body. Any attempts to go see her is met with a "" until finally it quietens.
Several minutes later, a once again horned young woman emerges with splotchy red eyes. Without comment she'll start gathering up her gear and waits as alone as she is allowed to be, until they are ready to move on.
Isabella will approach Chrysa's tent only to be turned away with the shout. She gives the tiefling space but approaches her again later once she's out of her tent. She slides her arm around her shoulder and leans in and whispers "What's wrong Chrysa? I heard you upset earlier and tried to come by, but you weren't in the right place for that. Talk now?"
Chrysa stiffens at the touch, but doesn't push her away. The happy wonder held in her eyes for the last few days is gone. A hard cold remaining.
"You can't tell? Or are they just the norm, so the aberration was their absence?" she inclines her head to make sure coal black horns erupting from her copper hair are visible. "It is simple, Isabella. Hope is for fools. A lesson I learned at ten and should have never forgotten."
At the temple, she does not approach the pool. Doesn't get anywhere near the damned thing. And leaves the others to say good bye to the priest.
At the swamp, she suggests looking for the horse's owner. "A dead horse out here, means a dead rider, and whatever they were carrying."
At the statue, she just stares at it, with a simmering anger.
Chief Sootscale gasps as he sees Chrysa's horns once more. He thinks for a moment, thinks better of speaking, and then decides to speak anyway.
If the horns can go away once, they can go away again. I've worked long and hard on transforming myself, unlocking the essence of dragons. I'll work hard on how to remove your fey essence."
Sophiel folds her arms as they finish their conversation with Oleg, looking obviously frustrated at the time they spent there. She seemed relieved to be on the road. After they leave, she sighs contentedly ”that charnel house makes me uncomfortable, I’m glad we left.” She chats with Jhod on their trip amicably about priestly things, pressing him on the tenets of Erastil, usually nodding in affirmation, but rarely disagreeing on the merits of one practice or another.
When they reach the pool again, she breathes in the clean air and nods in contentment, ”Father, it is a lovely place, and Erastil is quite remarkable for a human god. It would seem most, don’t quite understand how to strike the proper balance between the wild and civilization, but if all humans found solace in his teachings, the natural order wouldn’t constantly get put out-of-sorts as it is now. Thank you” and she bows to him respectfully before taking some time to examine the rest of the temple.
When Chrysa’s horns grow back, Sophie is sad for her, though she doubts any of her words could soothe the pain. Sophie whispers to her in the tent, ”I am here for you if you’d like to talk. I’m also a child of two worlds, and I know how rotten it can be, at least a little.”
Sophie keeps her eyes, nose, and ears ready to spot any threat where the dead horse was found, and also looks for tatzlwyrm tracks or other signs of habitation.
Sophie cleans off the plants at the base a little to allow any inscription or etching to show.
Isabella looks at Chrya's horns and tries to decide if commenting on them is going to upset her or not. "I know they have been thrust upon you against your will, but honest I actually like them. They are a defining characteristic that makes you unique and special."
"I don't have horns so I can't begin to understand what you are going through, but if there is a way to get rid of them once like the Chief says, we can do it again. I promise to you that I will help you find a way to get rid of these if you truly don't want them."
When Chyrsa has a meltdown he leaves her be, happy to let Bella or one of the others work that out. Once they are on the road Orri warns Jhod about the prankster fey in case he runs across them. After they reach the temple he bids the priest farewell and tells him they will try and stop by at some point to check in on him.
Orri nods as the others suggest there may be a rider and helps to look around for anything. "Just be careful, because if something killed the horse, it could still be here."
Orri goes to take a closer look at the statue wondering what in the world it is doing out here in the middle of nowhere. He checks to see if there are any signs it is part of a hidden structure or something.
As the group discusses their next route he pulls out his makeshift map he has been composing and notes "We should go east, then south, then east until we hit the river and follow it south."
Closer inspection does not reveal any sign of a rider, but it does reveal one very unfortunate clue. The horse was, in fact, a Unicorn! Where it's horn once was is now only a bloody hole in its skull.
Chrysa thanks each of the well wishers for their words, but has smothered hope like a stupid rat that had gotten too close to a fire, then chopped it up with an ax while screaming hate into its face, and ground it to dirt with a rock. Then took a piss on it for good measure.
Now she is good.
She agrees with Orri's suggestions of where to go.
"Ooh, unicorn. Interesting. Very interesting." Chief Sootscale is seen studying the body. He seems to be going in search of parts that have not decayed, collecting bits of it for his own use. Hair, skin, hooves . . . "Too bad someone take horn. Could use for potion."
"That can't be a good omen." Chrysa mutters "Any idea what killed it?" she asks the chief.
"Good question, good question," he says, as if he had not even thought to ask that question. "Hmmm . . ."
"Uhm." Bella thinks, looking at Chrysa. "I hope there aren't some horn-killing creatures out here." she says, trying not to look at Chrysa.
Sophiel notices this, and recoils, a look of obvious revulsion on her face. "A violation! Who would do such a thing!?" Her nostrils flare as she looks around, keeping her eyes open for signs of other creatures.
But Sophie is too angry to be much help, glaring into the woods at imagined shapes. She draws her bow and holds it at the ready.
Aside from the missing horn, there are no obvious wounds on the unicorn’s body. Also, it seems that all animals and insects are avoiding the corpse.
A tightening of her grips on her short swords is all the signs Chrysa gives in response to Bella question. Whether it is in worry the other woman is right or in grave physical pain at retraining herself from yelling at her, is hard to tell.