Gorum again reverses his axe’s momentum to then overhead chop the brambles ahead of him.
But with all the gravitational pull of changing his axe’s course, he begins to lose his grip and causes his arc to go left of the target, missing the bramble.
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Mender stabs at the creature as he goes to snatch his life, using both hands to thrust his spear into the creature's body.
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With the downed creature's dying clicks and clatters, its companion howls a sickening, gurgling roar to the stars above...before diving through Quen's legs and escaping into the darkness.
Inspecting the knapsack, you can see it contains a mostly eaten loaf of bread. Nothing else is inside. However, with the lanterns light it is easy to distinguish between the redcap's iron boot marks, and presumably the two boys...which continue down the trail.
Gio kneels down before the hole that the fae creature was digging...
After looking it over, I think I need a rest, guys. But we should not tarry long...
EDIT:
Oof, yes, let's tend to our wounds for a few minutes. The boys hopefully aren't far, and are fine.
The trail lurches on, up hill and through bramble...the moon has has long set, but there is still an eerie glow to the forest. Time seems to move at a snails pace and soon the mystic glow takes on a new hue as sunrise approaches. Part of you wants to just go to sleep, but the thought of two boys lost in these woods keeps you moving and alert...
You reach a small grove of silver birch trees stretching before you. Dappled light of a sunrise not yet cresting the horizon scatters through the morning fog, and the aroma of honeysuckle drifts on the passing breeze. Rabbits hop lazily past, and the melodic chorus of blackbirds' tweeting their early morning songs drift from the branches above.
The footprints seem all over this place, and suddenly you hear a burst of warm laughter. Looking up, you see a beautiful female face peering at you from behind a tree. She ducks away as soon as you cast eyes on her...
Excuse me, my lady, Guiseppe starts, glancing at his friends before continuing, Have you seen two human boys pass by here?
A young man in his late teens steps out from behind the shadow of a birch tree. His shirt is unbuttoned to the waist, and his hair is tousled...it looks like hes been up all night just like you all.
"Begone from here! Put your weapons away, right now! None shall harm my love, Betula." he puts himself between you and the last tree the woman stepped behind.
He matches the description of Kester, the older of the two missing boys.
I intend nothing of di sort! Giuseppe laughs, then grows serious, Would you, perhaps, be Kester? Your family back at Butternut Grove sent us out looking for you and your brother?
Gio looks confused, Did di folk back there say they were brothers? Or just boys from di village?
Shaking his head, dismissing the thought, the swordsman continues, Regardless, they are worried about you. Now, perhaps you can bring your fine lady friend home to meet your mother and father, unless you do not truly love her, eh?
Oh, and where might your brother be, anyway?
He seems to detense about the shoulders and his stance is less aggressive, though his fists remain clenched "No...sorry mister but Betula can't leave...and I'm staying with her. She's everything I've dreamed of and more..." he gazes back longingly, trying to spot the hiding creature.
He waves away concern for his brother "Dickon is down the way a bit further...a few hours hike. He said he found something down there, a hurt animal. Er...no thats not right, a stuck creature he said...was going to keep an eye on it."
The woman cautiously steps back out from behind the tree, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder gently. Her voice is a spring breeze "It's a gorgon! I know it is...wild herds of them used to wander the northern reaches of the forest in times past...protecting Tel'quessir from orc and goblins that might harm them."
Looking from one to the other, Gio shakes his head, Well, can you at least write a letter to your family, telling them that you are okay and happy? Perhaps that you will visit them again sometime?
Taking a deep breath, I guess, we should check on Dickon. Betula, you will take care of Kester, no?
Gorum leans forward and asks ”You boys didn’t eat any food from picnic baskets did you?” looking to Gio and with back to the boy and woman, the Paladin tries to intimate that the woman is possible Fey using his fingers and silent words. “FAIR EEEE” he says with no sounds and over exaggerated mouth expressions.
Turning back to the boy and woman, the Paladin acts as though nothing weird had transpired at all while he was turned away.
”It’s a good thing you decided to stay and protect this woman. Never know who might be in these woods. But tell me, do you have much training? A good body guard needs to know at least the basics. I could show ya if ya want?”
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Io knows a charmer when he meets one.
Yes, let's go check on Dickon, mayhap he needs help with this creature. He raises his eyebrow to the others, letting them hopefully know he in no way believes this is some happy little couple. But whatever, following Gorum's lead and trying heard not to laugh at his wiggling fingers (what is that supposed to even mean?!?!), he heads off in the direction the lovestruck boy indicated.
Gio looks at Gorum's ridiculously exaggerated lip synch, and grins broadly, nodding in understanding.
The Athkatlan charlatan looks at Betula's reaction to his question, gauging her intentions toward young Kester...
"A...letter? Well, I...yes, I suppose they're worried. But I've neither parchment, ink nor quill..."
At Gorums offer "Oh Betula has abilities...beyond your comprehension!" he dares to say, flushing in the face a tad. "If it hadn't been for her, we would not've escaped the faerie with boots...she even nursed us back to health. It was then we...fell in love..." he reminisces warmly.
The dryad seems concerned the party is continuing further "Oh you must be careful! A wild gorgon is a beast to be feared and respected...their breath is enough to turn flesh-and-blood to solid stone, and with iron hoof and horn they pulverize the resulting statues to rubble!" she pauses and glances over the party to ensure all are attentive "...part of the magic of the Elvenflow is protect the outside world against such creatures."
The Athkatlan swordsman nods to his friends, his eyes telling them that the boy will be safe.
Gio then looks at the young lady, Elvenflow? What is this Elvenflow? Is it di forest? Di stream?
The woman is about to answer but Kestor excitedly blurts out "..its the river's real name! Duathampr was only what the first Bournes called it. It was a gift from Rillifane Rallathil...to help protect the fey crossings." The boy smiles as if it is the most wondrous thing in mankind's history.
The dryad merely nods, caressing the boys face and chest in appreciation.
Will its waters protect us if we drink it?
The dryad shakes her head no slowly "...but it has already protected you, mankind I mean, for thousands of years. It's magic is similar to the breath of the gorgon itself...any beasts of the forest that dare cross it, cross it with intent to escape into your world...are held fast by the waters of Elvenflow." she makes a little walky-walky movement with her 2 fingers that stops frozen suddenly, whispering creepily "Bound still as stone." her eyes two penetrating radiant stars.
Giuseppe slowly nods in understanding, Alright, if we need to be running for safety, we must cross di river. We'd best hurry and bring Dickon home... Kester, we will return with parchment and quill for you after we have returned your brother home.
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"Yes..." he seems struggling or embarrassed with the words but finds them at last "...but do call out first, next time you come. We may be engaged in...ah...well you know..." he winks and the dryad giggles.
Mender had let the others speak, happy to allow mortals to solve mortal problems. Then the woman appeared.
It took him a moment, but he realized what she was.
Fey.
Those pretenders to the glory of the Gods.
Mender spat, then said "Release your sorceries on the child's mind, Fey, or I shall call upon the power of the Gods to lay you low."
As he calls out, the light in the area immediately around him grows a bit brighter....sharper, even. Not painfully so, but enough that it's clear that, although you have seen Mender in life or death situations before, he's of a different mind now.
Mender is mad.
Even before the aasimar's words, the mere spitting upon the forest floor nearly had the dryad bursting with tears...and anger. She gripped a blackthorn cudgel tight in her fist that shimmered with magical power.
But the words delivered so forcefully cast the shadow of a doubt on her true love for the first time "Is it true my love, have I ensorcelled you so? Is what we have a lie...?" she backs away, crying and tearful, stepping directly into a tree. Rather than knock noggin-first on the wood however, half her perfect body seems to phase into the material...as if it were one and the same. Her hand stayed perched lovingly on the boy's shoulder as she struggled against her heart to leave.
"No!" the boy shouted "There is no sorcery here! The darkest fiend's enchantment could not be so sweet, nor a vile hag's poisoned fruit so uplifting. Only you keep my spirit soaring, my Betula! You! Absent any magics!" he too, on the verge of tears as he confesses his deepest expressions of love.
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Mender looks at the boy and says "Be quiet child. The adults are talking."
Dude! Io shakes his head.
Gorum instinctually sides steps away from Mender due to raw intensity exuding from the Aasimar. He wasn’t surprised by Mender’s reaction, but more the fact that it seemed to have worked.
Stepping closer to the boy ready to grab him if he tries to run or fight. ”Trust me kid, there have been many nights at the tavern that I’ve said the exact same thing.”
Kester, I am a cleric of a goddess of healing. Your family sent us here to find you. They love you very much and I think you love them too. I would be remiss in my sacred oaths and vows as well as to yoir parents if I did not at least make aure for myself that you were not hurt. the half eld saya.
"No! I'm not going anywhere with you...you...fools! If you are too foolish to not see love when it is right in front of you I want nothing to do with you...or your barren hearts!"
Mender, what have you done? Gio steps forward, My friends, I am usually a fair judge of character, no? Would you say that I have misjudged often in di times that we have traveled together? These two are in love. There is no foul magicks afoot. Not that I can tell, anyway... but lust is a powerful drug, no?
The swordsman looks at Mender, then shakes his head as he sees no empathy in the celestial's face...
Giuseppe walks to the tree, Betula, tell me what it is that you love about Kester? Would you ever let harm come to him?
Betula cautiously remains behind the boy, with a stern and desperate look plastered on her face she responds "Of course not." she sighs "I was once guardian of the fey crossing here...but when the elves left, they forgot about me. Many lonely centuries I dreamed of finding the right man to share my thoughts and heart. I never forgot how to love and prayed it would be so. Many have come for me over the years but I knew it wasn't right. I've waited so long for this true love...I'll not let him slip away like water through my fingers. I never needed to use my magics, since the love was mutual...in fact I think I loved him first."
"No, love...it was I who loved you first." his heart yearns to please her.
"No, I." she corrects.
"No, I." he ammends rubbing their noses like eskimoses.
They prattle back and forth the way disgusting couples do.
Love is love, and it seems you two are in love. But Kester, your family does not know that this is why you are gone. Please, take us up on that offer of a letter home. He searches in his pack from something that will function as a pen and paper and comes up with a scrap sheet but nothing to write with.
But your brother, perhaps we should go assist him? It sounds like a creature not to be trifled with.
"So if you love him, why won't you let him go and see his family?"
Persusion
The cleric replies to the fey I too am far away from my own people, however just because you are lonely does not mean that you can enforce the mind of a boy. There 8s a difference between love and lust. Lust takes in thymus case the boys will while love gives One must be free to love
"Also, what are you going to do when he grows old and dies? This is why Mortals and immortals should not co-mix."
She seems to resent Mender's remarks "He is not my captive. Of course he is free to go wherever he may wish."
Kestor seems persuaded however by Quen's wise words... "Maybe its best I settle their concerns, dearest. Just a quick check in with ma and da'...I can be back in a matter of hours! And can bring the soap and fruits you were talking about..." he winks.
After an amused grin at Kestor, the dryad narrows her eyes at Mender "Hmph. You know nothing. Love is immortal." she sighs "Fine...but hurry dear, I can't stand the thought of a night without your warm embrace..."
They french for an idiotic amount of time loudly and shamelessly in front of you all...Kestor copping a major feel. Finally he steps forward. "Alright, you got me. Let's see what Dickon has thrown himself into..."
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