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Suspecting Arlen is up to something or has somehow secured the scarf, Lucian says, "Aye, we'd best git goin'," and then, over his shoulder, says to the Kitsune, "An' ye'd best get runnin' afore the Kami come ta claim ye. Too bad. Ye'd've made a fine Pathfinder," and walks off shaking his head and muttering "Poor li'l foxy boy. Gonna be food fer the Kami now."
Perhaps like a stubborn child who, having up until this point, been resolute, realizes suddenly that it'll me missing out on more fun if it does get it's way, and tries to revise an earlier decision, "Foxy" takes sudden and unexpected interest in the party - fueled by Donavin's genuine offer "Wait - you all are not going yet, are you!?" his eyes seem to express - despite his antics - a loneliness only known by one who derives pleasure in moments of stolen attention "Don't you want my help in tracking down the Green Scarf? I swear I didn't..."
His plea is interrupted by a weak call from the woods: "h-...h...he...he-elp!" the sound barely manages to reach your ears, coming from the southeast through the trees...
...
Lucian discovers fallen Pathfinders - mauled and piled together - unconscious or dead - all bleeding - except the one who called out, who is also bleeding, but conscious enough to see the elf rushing to his aid - before passing out once more...
Dorobu waits on the rest of the party before deciding what to do...
While Donavin tends to the wounded, the Pathfinders confirm Keemul's suspicions. "H-he was... looki... looking for something... kept asking about... about a scarf... and clawing us if... if he didn't like what we..." This person crashes into Donavin's care, too weak to finish her sentence, but to add "Lin Po?" and well as "Ti... Ti Lan?" a concerned look over her face...
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"Yer friends are safe," Lucian says to the woman who was asking about Lin Po and Ti Lan. "We'll take ye back to 'em once ever'one's on their feet." He then takes her hand in his and says, "Name's Lucian. These er mah mates," and then, indicating each, "Arlen, Keemul, Donavin, and that little guy what just healed ye is called Raini. 'is furry feline is Sasha."
Raini's spell puts these stray Pathfinder into a walking condition, claw marks dissipating into breaks of now-scarred skin - they stand up - the woman Lucian is talking two thanks the party - and Dorobu - for finding them.
"The wild cat - eight legs it had - was snatching us one by one looking for one of the relics specifically in our possession." She looks at Keemul, who had asked specifically about "cats" "Am I to assume you destroyed the beast?" hardly a question "In any case, if you wouldn't mind one more favor - and escort us back to our caravan?" she asks.
Lucian also notices that her eyes are perhaps - especially given the circumstances - a little too liberally wanderful over his form! "Yekaterina" She introduces herself. "And this is Bagger, Charly, Marroquinne... and the little one there is Sprout" going around her team - four humans and a gnome - all who either bow, curtzy, or shake hands...
"Oh, I'd like!" Yekaterina says, touching the elf playfully on the nose.
"That's the one!" to Arlen "I think it's best safe in your hands..." She adds, her attention not fully given to the monk.
Suddenly the Green Scarf speaks to Arlen!
"Hello? Is that you? Thank you for saving me from that Entity - I would have one more favor to ask of you!" the voice is only audible to Arlen. It describes taking it to a Sacred Glen a couple miles East of the wagon, and to perform a series of tasks at a certain time of night, claiming that doing so - with as many participants as possible - will allow it to have a greater chance to "free" itself...
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And with that, Arlen condemns a benign spirit to an eternity of imprisonment inside of a cold vault, perhaps a worse fate than the Hagwitch - whatever her motives - had in store for it.
The party returns to the wagon to see the other Pathfinder leaders standing watch and waiting for them. Ti Lan is the first to spot you - and she is surprised, nay, angry! - to see Dorobu strolling about carefree amidst your company "Thief!" she shouts, and runs at him drawing her spear!
Lin Po looks upon Lucian, then Yekaterina, then Lucian, and jealousy grows in his eyes!
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"Wait! He's cool," Keemul interjects, trying to calm down Ti Lan. "Well, enough so. He doesn't really care much about us, or at least he's trying not to, but he shouldn't bother us anymore. Right?"
"I don't think he has any reason to follow us back to Sakakabe - unless you were being coy about joining up with us, I couldn't tell?" The gnome looks back to Dorobu, train of thought derailed. "But we should head there sooner than later. Although, can we stop at this one village and you all can translate for us? I think we solved their problem by taking down the hag."
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It is hardly the first time Lucian's seen jealousy on someone's face, though it's usually a bit more warranted than it is here. Ah 'aven't even actually been wit' either uv 'em, he muses to himself.
He then throws on his best "smoothing things over" smile and greets Lin Po with, "Little egg roll, Ah've come back to ye, just as promised, wit' yer scarf an' yer companions."
He then approaches the little Tian fellow and leans in to speak quietly, "Ah'm a wee bit concerned the trauma uv th'experience 'as jostled poor Yekaterina, so Ah'm tryin'a keep 'er close ta keep an eye on 'er. Ye know 'ow it is, business before pleasure an' all that. Right? Uv course, Ah knew ye'd understand," and with that, he walks back to Yekaterina.
Lucian can see the dual effect his chosen term of affection has on the man - being called "little egg roll" causes him to feel an incongruous mix of shame yet pleasure - and just when Lin Po is about to turn his suspicions acutely upon the elf's untruthful words, Lucian manages to smile just right, causing him to second-guess and doubt himself, and fall silent instead of speaking. He blushes against his will.
Meanwhile, Keemul barely manages to talk Ti Lan down - instead of impaling the Fox on her spear, she instead impales him on her gaze - walking straight up to him, and opening her broad shoulders wide, mugging hard and pushing her face just into his space, as if daring him to move forward just a single inch, which, you imagine would be cause for her to make things truly physical. Steam rises from her forehead.
Dorobu senses the situation completely, and without yielding a single inch, declines to push his luck by physically crossing the invisible "line" Ti Lan's body language demonstrates, but never-the-less exploits his relational advantage. He returns her hateful look with a slimy smile - standing as he is behind an imaginary buffer of the PCs' good graces - and, as if rubbing it in her angered face, dares to open his mouth to speak, so as to incite the warrior into crossing her own line "Good to see someone has some sense!" indicating the gnome "If someone could remove this Oaf from my path, that I may properly Commiserate with those that Too suffered at the claws of the beast!"
His words set Ti Lan off! She moves to strike him! "You Dare!"
Yekaterina retreats into Lucian's armpit!
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"Stop this nonsense at once! Haven't we all suffered enough? Dorobu might have taken advantage of the situation but he is not the one that murdered your companions!" shouts Raini as he advances on the group, his arms waving wildly.
To Ti Lan and Dorobu, "I am sick of the bloodshed. Sick of the hate. Sick of it all. Let's move out and honor the dead and their sacrifice with dignity and respect, not more animosity and brutality."
To Dorobu specifically, "And you. You stole a precious item from these fine people and now openly mock them. I offered you protection when the witch and her minions attacked. What did you do because cower and lose the relic? My patience is wearing mighty thin. If you can't be civil and respectful, then be on your way. Effective immediately, my offer of protection has been rescinded. Not only will I not intervene should you provoke anyone here. Mark your next words carefully, my friend."
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And with that, Dorobu falls in line. Raini is aware that his first instinct was to simply depart again - but the druid's words struck a deep nerve. For perhaps the first time in a long time, Dorobu looks to be ashamed of his actions. And instead of running, he chooses to remain with the party, and without saying it, Raini knows he will behave himself for the rest of the trek back.
Ti Lan looks on approvingly at the gnome, as if he had expressed exactly what she was thinking in words what she had meant by her actions. She bows to him very deeply, honoring his Nobility, and for the rest of the trek back, endeavors at intervals to seek his sagely advice on this matter or that, as if wanting to soak in his wisdom, blessed to be sitting before a great Philosopher.
Lin Po eventually accepts that he will be unable to win over the elf's attention and affection, and decides instead to be happy for Yekaterina. His sense of humor returns at some point, and he spends the entirety of the trip consumed in his search for the perfect joke - indeed, his sense of comedic timing is unparalleled! - causing great laughter amidst his comrades, old and new. At some point, he whips out a vial of "a little something I was saving" and passes it around the group: Cool strong sake of the finest make.
The party passes back by the village, and immediately the lieutenant Pathfinders - who speak the local tongue! - begin excitedly talking to the old woman while pointing at the party. She strikes her husband again, and yells something at him, and off he goes running...
...And later, at the Feast thrown in their honor in the Sacred Fire Circle, though you can't understand the details, Lin Po is now recounting the Story about how the party first slew the Poracha - the stout man imitating Keemul swinging a large object two sizes too large for him, which generates the loudest round of laughter among the villagers - then imitating the stern-faced monk Arlen punching quickly, this also generating a great laugh as the "stern face" looks quite amiss cast with Po's rounded and now reddened gentle features - while Lucian and Yekaterina disappear at some point - sharing in the eating of deer meat and wild rice.
In the morning, the young boy comes up to Donavin, and hands him a wood-carved (non-functional...) sword - holding it out with two outstretched hands as if to "knight" him - and then runs off quickly into the bushes, but still looking out as the party prepares to head out...
...And reaching Sakakabe, Amara Li is delighted that the PCs were able to bring back everyone alive, as well as the Green Scarf and the other Relics, and organizes a great Tea Party in their honor. The evening is filled with great revelry, and we conclude our adventure with parting words:
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Keemul gladly participates in all festivities. He also eyes any fancy Tien weapons he can get his hands on, and will bring at least one when he is reluctantly forced back to Avistan. With the help of his main man in Tymon, the gnome soon has a new katana of ridiculous size forged to wield in battle. All the more fitting of a Ruby Pheonix participant and savior of Tien artifacts!