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Lidia starts and blinks when the phrase 'war hero' gets tossed in the direction of the group. She looks at her feet uncomfortably.
"Well... maybe it's nothing. Might just be a one off thing, some random mischief. Let's all just be careful and keep our eyes open. And I think we should search the ship, make sure there's no other obvious damage anywhere."
"Well, I'd like to check out the food stores. And before any of you eat anything let me check out the food."
Ben will take it upon himself to make sure he memorizes detect poison every day and use the spell to check out all the food. Both the food in storage and what we eat. He already has the spell memorized so he can get right to it. He will also check out things that are not food in case some poison is stashed in a cubby hole or something. He's going to be VERY busy,.
"Would it be possible to get permission to check the sailors possessions? If the perp is a member of that crazy person's religion, there might be an unholy symbol around."
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"If we search their belongings, they'll know we're onto them." says Lidia with a wary look around the deck. "At least, they will if they know we're doing it..."
She glances toward Thyste, and gives the halfling a significant eyebrow-raise.
But then she looks at the dripping Ulretha, and she notices the water pooling at his feet is rather red.
"Ulretha, you're bleeding! That croc got you good, huh?" she says, her voice suddenly full of genuine concern. She grabs some nearby sailcloth and goes to Ulretha, kneeling so she can wrap a makeshift bandage about his wound. "Why didn't you say something?" she scolds.
"Oh dear, I should have done something. Here."
Ben brings out the wand that they found when dealing with the invasion and activates it with a murmured word.
Murmurs a different work angrily, and then tries again.
"Piece of crap!"
Thyste catches Lidia's eye. "Wink, wink, say no more," she says.
"Eh, you can't go crying to the healer every time something bites you," Ulretha answers Lidia's question, looking down at himself.
In truth, he was just so mad that he didn't really notice the pain. Now that his adrenaline is starting to dampen down, the gash in his leg is starting to hurt.
He nods to both Lidia and Ben as they assist him, perhaps the most thanks either of them have gotten from him. The hyenas have gotten over being chastised for being useless and the human and half-human get him healed and bandaged up just in time to stop them from literally licking his wounds.
"Did you say you have...wildlife aboard?" he asks Bloodtusk.
"What is it? Where is it? Why are you transporting it?" he says, more demanding than asking, now.
Lidia watches as Ben uses the magic stick, and while he seems dissatisfied with the results, she seems more than impressed.
"Can you show me how to use that thing?" she asks him. "Do you just touch something and say a magic word?"
"Why of course. Say, you wouldn't happen to be interested in becoming a druid? I can see that you have a bond with that cat of yours. It is your cat, isn't it? I would be happy to sponsor you, though you would have to pass some tests. Mostly mind games and the like to test if you have the common sense required."
”I tried those tests once,” says Thyste, ”figured being half fox would help. But apparently there are certain suggestions for the usage of wild shape that are considered ‘inappropriate.’”
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"...Say, you wouldn't happen to be interested in becoming a druid? I can see that you have a bond with that cat of yours. It is your cat, isn't it? ...
This clearly catches Lidia off guard. She just blinks at Ben for a few moments before answering.
"Um... yeah, it's my cat I guess... I mean, it's not like you and Little Buddy, it just follows me around. But I almost feel like I understand what it's thinking. It's kinda weird. I don't know how to describe it."
"But I never thought about being a druid. I never really thought about being anything. I don't know if your druid friends would want me, I make most of my money killing animals for their meat and skins. Plus, I've heard... well... I mean, they're probably just stories..."
She blushes and clams up.
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”I tried those tests once,” says Thyste, ”figured being half fox would help. But apparently there are certain suggestions for the usage of wild shape that are considered ‘inappropriate.’”
Lidia looks curiously at Thyste. As is usually the case when Thyste says something around her, Lidia's brow is slightly creased in confusion.
"What sort of tests?" she asks the half-fox. It's probably not the question that was foremost in her mind, but it's probably the only one she feels comfortable asking.
”Oh, just. SO many tests. You have to rise with the sun and lay with the moon, or vice-versa if you prefer. You know how I sleep, that was never gonna work our. You’ve gotta breathe with the wind. Mostly I sat there while the grass made my butt itch.”
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"That doesn't sound too hard." she says, a trifle hopefully.
Lidia sits on a coil of rope.
"Why don't you sleep well? Do you have bad dreams? You act like you're always tired."
The cat moseys over, stops long enough to look insolently at the hyenas, then jumps up into Lidia's lap and flops down. Lidia automatically begins to give it pets and scritches without even looking down.
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Ben is a bit bemused by Thyste's claims. The thing is they COULD be true. There is a lot of flexibility in what constitutes a test, but Ben has never heard of a wild shape test. Ben only just recently learned how to do that. Then again, she never actually said that it was a test, just that she made a comment. And some of Thyste's comments would certainly repel some of the more conservative teachers, so it is possible. It's just... Ben cannot see a likely scenario where Thyste would try out for becoming a druid. Or be dedicated to ANY cause for that matter.
"Um, well, Thyste's supposed test aside, the way of a druid takes discipline and dedication. That is part of what the tests are for. Weeding out those who are just out for a lark. But in order to activate a wand you do not have to be a druid. or a cleric. It just makes it easier. I know there are ways of doing it without that kind of training, but I sure don't know how. Perhaps Thyste does? She seems like the type that would make a..."
Seeing where this might lead to puns and or innuendos, Ben's lecture stops abruptly.
"Anyway, you might ask around. I have an extra wand you could practice with."
Ben grimaces as he realizes he may have left himself open. Particularly when dealing with someone that could surprise a druid with wild shape suggestions.
"Wands are brimming with magic," Thyste mentions. "All it takes is a little coaxing to get it to come out."
Lidia's eyes light up. For once she actually seems quite pleased and excited. "Can I?" she asks breathlessly.
"...I have an extra wand you could practice with."
Thyste nearly chokes herself in an effort to keep from laughing at whatever jokes might be playing in her head.
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Suspecting why Thyste is undergoing contortions, Ben WORDLESSLY pulls out his CLW wand with 4 charges left and gives it to Lidia.
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Suspecting why Thyste is undergoing contortions, Ben WORDLESSLY pulls out his CLW wand with 4 charges left and gives it to Lidia.
Lidia wordlessly and carefully takes the wand, like it was a sacred thing. Her fingers caress its length and her eyes greedily study its smooth woody surface.
After doing this for a while, she looks up at Ben. "This thing won't hurt me, right? I mean, I don't want it to just go off before I want it to and spray magic everywhere. I guess I should just be gentle with it? While I learn how to handle it?"
Thyste starts guffawing and slapping the (remaining) railing.
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After doing this for a while, she looks up at Ben. "This thing won't hurt me, right? I mean, I don't want it to just go off before I want it to and spray magic everywhere. I guess I should just be gentle with it? While I learn how to handle it?"
"I've never done it myself but from seeing other people do it, I'm pretty sure you can be rougher with it than you think," Ulretha chimes in with the extent of his knowledge about wand handling.
"I'm surprised you couldn't stay up to lay with the moon, though it seems right that you didn't care about laying with the son," he says to Thyste when she describes why she flunked out of druid school.
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There is an insolence standoff between the cat and Onnikka. Only, on Onnikka's part, she makes a point of ignoring the other animal. And making sure it is obvious she is ignoring it, laying on the deck and looking around as though waiting for something interesting to happen. Her theoretical master falling overboard and almost getting eaten by crocodiles not qualifying.
Crezobill's ears perk up when he sees the cat again and he licks chops but doesn't go any furhter.
Fazingar isn't particularly paying attention, going and sniffing around everything in an ever widening gyre from Onnikka.
Thyste nearly keels right over the edge of the boat. Thankfully, the railing is made for people twice her size, and she’s saved.
Deciding that she’s had enough laughing for now—and fearing that she’s threatening a Fort save to avoid asphyxiating—she slinks off to the crew quarters.
She walks inside casually, then checks the sleepers to make sure they’re definitely sleeping. Satisfied with what she finds, she stays light on her feet and wiggles her lockpick from behind her ear.
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Lidia looks from one person to the next as Thyste laughs and as others make odd comments about the wand. At least she thinks that's what they're talking about. Her eyes narrow and she blushes. She looks convinced that she's the butt of some joke, or that she's done something ridiculously stupid. "You guys are weird." she says as a parting shot, then gets up and heads off toward the aft castle, slipping the wand for now into her quiver to get it out of sight.
Ben who knows perfectly well what the others are up to, tries to help Lidia and preserve her innocence. "You are all incorrigible. Lidia, I don't think they are talking about the same thing as we are. First of all the wand is a wand of cure light wounds. The only way you are going to be hurt by it is if you somehow poke yourself in the eye with it. It has 4 charges, which means that it can be used four times. When activated you have to touch someone and transfer the positive energy build up to the wounded person and, voila! They will be healed and any bleeding will stop."
"If you are a spellcaster of a type that can cast the spell, you can activate the wand by uttering the command word. If not, then... well, frankly, I don't know. I know it can be done, but it seems impossible to me."
With a hidden smile, Ben wanders off and starts his exploration of the ship, Little Buddy in tow.
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Kioshi is not the social type of guy but he tries his best not be too burdensome.
Hearing the conversation Kioshi is slightly amused.
”Dear Lidia, Ben explained this perfectly! Well, if you need anything from an arcane point of view from a WIZARD and not a WITCH then please tell me... I am ready to aid ... “ he says with an open and honest look on his face.
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Ulretha doesn't seem the least bit ashamed or embarrassed by the talk or Lidia's reaction. Although he neither illuminates nor mocks her. She may be tough-as-nails mentally as well as physically but he knows she needs some more experience and world wisdom...at least in some areas.
Maybe she'll take a liking to one of these sailors. He'll teach her what's what.
Onnikka shows no signs of being inclined to get up from her comfortable spot on deck and Crezobill is likely to get so excited that he'll get underfoot and trip him going down the stairs.
So, he taps Fazingar as he goes by and flicks a finger in the direction he's going.
After looking at him questioningly for a moment, the male hyena gets up and pads after him as the gnoll heads down to the cargo hold.
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A1. Main Deck: A2. Stable:.A3. Forecastle: A4. Galley: A5. Crew Cabin: A6. Chart Room: A7. Bloodtusk’s Cabin: A8. Pilot Deck: A9. Cargo Hold: A10. Coxswain’s Gangway: A11. Rowing Banks: A12. Armory:
Kioshi would start to explore the ship as well and visit the areas of interest which are the kitchen, the chart room, the armory and the pilot deck.
"Katsu's in the kitchen with Benny, Katsu's in the kitchen I kno-o-o-oww..."
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After checking the pilot deck, Lidia finds a dark, quiet spot below-deck where she can be alone. She pulls the marvelous wand out of her quiver and holds it, studying it the way she'd study an arrow. Then she holds it to her ear, listening to see if any sort of wonderful hum comes from it. But nothing, just a stick. There was faint etching in the wood, symbols she didn't understand. She thinks about Ben's words. She was no druid. And she was certainly no witch. But even if she didn't know magic, she did know a little about healing. She'd had to, with all the cuts and bruises and worse she'd had. But herbs and poultices and splints were one thing -- this was magic.
Taking a deep breath, she takes out her hunting knife and draws a shallow cut across her forearm, then takes up the wand, touches it to the wound, and speaks the magical word Ben had told her. Nothing. "I didn't think it'd be that easy." she grumbles to herself. She holds up her arm in front of her eyes, imagining the wound closing and healing, trying her best to focus hard on the thought, then touches the wand to her cut and speaks the word again. Nothing. She exhales and grimaces, thinking. The cat emerges out of the shadows and sits on her lap, then goes up on its hind legs to try and lick the wound.
"Ew. No. Quit it. I need to learn this." she says irritably, pulling her arm away from the cat. The animal looks at her and she looks back. And oddly, she can almost sense what its thinking, although its animal face was inscrutable. "I'm sorry, I know you're trying to help, but I need to learn this. If it doesn't work, then you can lick it." she says. The cat just looks at her. "It's hard to explain. How do I explain magic to you?" she says, more kindly. "I don't really understand it myself. That's the problem. You'd think I'd know more, given everything." Still the cat just looks at her. She returns her attention to the wound.
A wound is pain. It bleeds. It hurts. It weakens you. It feels bad. Think of things that feel good. The sun warming my skin. The cool wind blowing my hair. A light rain on a hot day. This cat's fur under my fingers.
When I hurt myself, my mother used to kiss it. It didn't heal it, but it didn't hurt so much.
She realizes the wand is vibrating in her hand, ever so slightly. But as she looks at it and studies it, it slowly subsides, the way a string settles back to silence after its plucked.
It wasn't a rational thing. Of course not -- magic was the most irrational thing there was, the whole point of magic is that it makes things happen that don't happen naturally on their own. Commanding the laws of reality to bend, just to suit you. That wasn't something you could reason into being. Reason told you it couldn't happen. But maybe you could imagine it and you could try and feel it. If you knew how that other reality felt -- you could begin to will it into your existence... somehow.
She tries to think about pleasant sensations again, but it always comes back to the same thing--remembering her mother kissing a booboo. And the wand would begin to vibrate. While it vibrates, she touches it to her cut and speaks the word. There is a sudden tingle and a zipping, hissing sound as the wand suddenly goes still and the wound knits up almost instantly, good as new.
"I did it." she says, looking incredulously at her arm. A huge, toothy smile fills her normally grim and gaunt face and her eyes light up with pure joy and pride. "I did it!" she repeats triumphantly to the cat. It gives a drawn out 'raaooooooo' back at her. Still sitting, she jumps up and down on her butt and laughs like she's being tickled. "It was so simple! I can't believe it was so simple!"
She scrambles to her feet and hurries off to find Ben.
****
When she finds Little Ben.
"I did it! I made it work! I can use the wand!" she exclaims in raw childish glee. It's almost hard to recognize the hard, grim killer in this happy young girl -- it's her but everything seems different.
She hugs Ben out of pure excitement.
"Thank you!"
"What? Oh my!
Ben gives her a big, though gentle, hug back.
"Well, that's wonderful news, little lady. I have to say, I'm impressed. You are an enterprising young woman, and now, with a little help from a magic item, you are a healer. And this group can always use another healer the way things are going. We will have to buy you a fully charged wand later. And, oh my, there are lots of interesting wands out there you can buy that do a lot more things than just heal, though that is my personal fav."
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Lidia beams happily.
"A healer. I'm a healer." she says, trying out the sound of it.
Tears come to her eyes. She draws in a ragged breath and has to hug herself to try and keep some control. She still smiles broadly, but is clearly just overcome.
"I never thought I could do something like that." she manages to get out.
"Well, we are all growing. All the time. I just learned how to wild shape not long ago and my connection with nature is much greater than it was even a couple weeks ago. I'm not surprised that the recent events have brought out new things from within you."
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Lidia isn't even really listening, and yet she hangs on Ben's paternal tone of voice with obvious eagerness.
When he finishes, she doesn't really have anything more to say, aside from a million things. In the end she just runs in and hugs him again with a sniffle and a giggle. Then she breaks off the hug abruptly.
"I gotta find Ulretha. He might still be hurt!" she exclaims excitedly, obviously hoping he is. She dashes out of the room with a bounce as she looks back and waves happily at Ben.
*****
When she finds Ulretha, Lidia is more composed. Her pleasure with herself simmers under the surface and just bubbles out as general energy.
"I figured out how to work this thing. It wasn't so hard." she says breezily. "Are you still hurt? I could use the practice."