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Like Riftun, Torra is engrossed in Andochtuir's explanation; she knows nothing of alchemy or botany, but she knows a little medicine, and the idea that one could combine natural extracts to affect the body in certain ways is certainly not new, although she's never seen it applied like this before.
"What of the..." she begins asking, when the huge spider pounces on Yuto out of nowhere.
"Oh no no no no."
Trying not to hit her companion, Torra blasts the arachnid.
Teruko has been trying her best to follow along with Andochtuir's conversation, but she knows little of alchemical extracts. The closest she's ever come to potion-brewing is memorizing the exact formulas necessary to get particular colors of stained glass.
She's mulling over how best to relate the two when Yuto is suddenly attacked. Lunging forward, she once again uses the wand to cure the worst of his injuries. Couldn't they ever go one minute in this place without being attacked?
Torra unleashes a blast at the spider, crushing its exoskeleton under the force of the blow, as Riftun offers advice to Yuto. Teruko swiftly darts in to heal Yuto, whose spider-inflicted wounds close, leaving not even scars.
Yuto and Andochtuir finish off the spider, but as the last blow falls, a screech comes from the direction of the stables.
An emaciated arachnid-like horror emerges from the stables. "You! You killed Scrabbler!" It cries, furious, before charging along the hard ground towards Yuto. The half-elf warrior takes the chance to slash at the creature, cutting into its shoulder and sending it slightly off balance.
Unfortunately, this is not enough to prevent it from sinking its fangs into Yuto's shoulder. The samurai feels its venom pumping into his veins, and his muscles tighten, stiffening and locking despite his best efforts otherwise. Riftun shouts inspiring magically infused advice, but the pain is too much - Yuto cannot heed it.
The venom of their fangs causes stiffness and inability to move in their victims, much like the spiders they so resemble.
This is also a particularly starved-looking example of the species - perhaps it is weaker than most, but it seems a whole lot braver. Most prefer to let their traps do the damage to their foes.
Wow, all these spider creatures really like the taste of Yuto, huh. "Get off him!" Torra shouts as she prepares another earthen blast. "If your pet attacks people, you are responsible!" That was a lesson her parents had drilled into her whenever she wanted to have a pet, doing all they could to discourage the idea.
Torra's power builds around her, earth and stone grumbling and groaning, and she unleashes it at the creature, blasting it in its emaciated stomach and knocking it to the ground, where it begins to bleed, unconscious.
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Momentarily relieved that the spider has been so swiftly dealt with Riftun doesn't even notice the Ettercap until it's already sinking its fangs deep into Yuto. Riftun transfers some of his arcane enrgy into words of encouragement to help Yuto shake the creature's venom but, alas, it seems to have been ineffectual on this occassion.
In a moment the creature is already dealt with thanks to the combined efforts of Andochtuir and the always formidable Torra. But something bothers him about this creature.
It appeared just like in the stories, had venom and a natural affinity with spiders but... "Th-That's an ettercap for sure. They have venom that slows and stiffens their prey but this one is... unusually brave for it's kind... a-and look at it. It's so thin and frail... something feels off here. I-If someone were able to stabalize it I would like to tie the creature up and ask it a few questions... No more killing needs to be done here a-and besides I feel bad enough we had to kill its pet." Riftun mummbles.
Andochtuir cautiously walks forward and rolls over the fallen ettercap from where he'd fallen, using the flat of his blade. "Torra's magic is a vertitable force to be reckoned with." He muses, then kneels down near the body. "I'm not sure what good will come of trying to save him, Riftun. Or if much at all was even left of his mind. Still, I can see what I can do to stop the bleeding, if that can be done. Yuto, could you help me tie him up if that is the case?"
Then, he tries to stabilize the ettercap if it is not dead.
"I... didn't mean to hit them that hard. But it was biting Yuto!" Torra watches their efforts, her face screwed up in a mixture of guilt and anxiety, before walking over to help.
The ettercap is, through the combined efforts of Andochtuir and Torra, made stable, though it is still unconscious.
A light wind shuffles through the grassy courtyard.
"What are you apologizing for? It seemed primed to kill us. Or at least attempt to. If I had your magical skill, I would have done the same thing," Andochtuir says, after nodding appreciatively at the dwarf's excellent first aid skill. "However, if Riftun wishes to try, i'd say we let him talk to it. It wouldn't be the first... ah... 'unusual' ally he'd provide the caravan."
After the Ettercap is bound, he picks it up fairly easily due to his enhanced strength, face contorting over its own disgusting smell mixed with fresh blood and dirt. "If we're lucky, our azata friend can heal it along with us. They might be able to channel healing energy in an area like Koya and Senshin can. If not, I suppose I can use my wand to wake it up with my wand."
If the naturalist song did not save him, Yuto has some poison to purge.
The young man looks really surprised to Riftun "Wh-why you want to save the monsters?"
In any case, Yuto walks into the courtyard to recover his father's katana before attempting any help to carry the ettercap.
This time, the young samurai recovers his sword without any further troubles.
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Teruko fusses over Yuto, barely noticing the conversation around her. She's too busy trying to figure out how best to draw out the poison. "I have some baking soda, maybe if that were mixed with water it could help. Regardless, we should leave here, now. Spivey can help heal us, and perhaps relieve the lingering effects of the ettercap's..." She turns and notices for the first time the ettercap being treated by both Andochtuir and Torra. "...The ettercap's bite. I don't...it still lives?"
She thinks, guiltily, of the lizard-folk she'd watched Zaiobe slaughter the day before. Perhaps it's that memory that leads her to not complain. "We will have to keep a careful eye on it. Make certain it can't hurt Yuto, or anyone else, any more than it already has."
Riftun looks around sheepishly as the others question the usefulness of saving the ettercap. He rubs at his shoulder bashfully and does his level-best to attempt to explain. "W-Well, I just... I have to- I believe that everyone has some bit of good in them. And that... l-like an ember... it just needs some motivation, some care to turn into a roaring fire... I-I believe that anyone can be good. I would love it if we could at least give them that chance."
He then nods to Torra. "Don't feel bad Torra, you were incredibly! As you said, they were attacking Yuto. You did nothing wrong I promise." He offers Torra a gentle smile then gets ready to accompany the others to the cemetery.
"A-anyone?" Yuto looks down at the fallen ettercap. Somehow the idea this can be an anyone never crossed his head before "I-I do not think th-this is a person Riftun, th-this is a monster" he sheathes back his katana while keeping the flail out for now.
"Th-thanks Teruko Sama" the young man smiles frozen as the young Kaijitsu takes care of the poison "I-I feel much better now, I think yo-your soda expelled the remaining poison..."
"Le-let's go back to the graveyard" not willing to spend more time than the necessary here exposed to more ettercaps or other stuff trying to slaughter him, Yuto begins to trace back the route to their little new friend.
The party leaves Brinewall, opening up its front gates once more, and returns to the cemetery, where there's no immediate sign of Spivey. However, before they can even call out to her, she reappears, fluttering down over the gate.
"You're back! That was... fast. What happened?" She looks at them, concern clear on her face. "Wait. Let me heal you all first."
She approaches, before pausing. "Hold up a moment... what's that?" She eyes the ettercap warily, fluttering carefully around it to land on Yuto's shoulder. As she touches down, some of his wounds heal.
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"Anyone."[/b Riftun nods. [b]"I-I know this creature has attacked you... and that it looks quite... strange b-but looks can be deceiving and... well, we had just killed their pet. I'm under no illusion that this individual... we will likely have to kill. After all I'm a Desnan a-and we are no strangers to the fact that evil creatures must be destroyed but... We do not wantonly slaughter and this individual had already been pacified. A-And I have questions that would nag at me were we to have killed this one outright. They were unusually brave and they preferred melee over opening with their webs... It's strange for an ettercap is all."
Sparing one last lance over his shoulder at the crumpled form of Scrabbles before they depart the fort Riftun sighs. "Besides, we've already seen an ember of good in this one. Love."[/b]
.......
Upon arriving at the cemetery Riftun suggests that they leave the bound ettercap just outside the cemetery just so as not to violate the sacred space in any way.
Seeing the azata descends the young bard smiles wide and bows respectfully. "Spivey! Thank you for seeing us a-and for healing Yuto, he was badly wounded while protecting us from on onslaught of corbies, magic, a giant spider, a-and..." Riftun looks back at the ettercap behind them mournfully. "... this one."
"They were acting quite strangely for an ettercap a-and we had already subdued them so I thought it was be best just to make sure they couldn't do any more harm and question them when they awaken. O-Of course healing my friends is far more important at the moment so i-if you could please help them with their wounds I would be very grateful." He nods his head to his injured companion, his braid bobbing in front of his slightly bowed head.
"I-I admit I also brought the ettercap along because, even though I am a Desnan, I harbor some Sarenite ideals, a-as well as Shelynite. O-Our goddess has a special relationship with the two after all and I believe that by taking in the teachings of all three we are complete, just as together, they are. I-I wanted to see if there was any chance this one would be willing to embrace the idea of redemption. As far fetched as it may sound." The red-headed man looks off to the side blushing heavily as he really puts himself out there knowing this is likely foolish on his part.
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Spivey examines the ettercap dubiously. "It looks like it would eat me." She pauses. "I can't tell whether it's evil or not - mustn't be powerful enough, or it could not be evil at all. I don't know."
She sighs, taking out her tiny butterfly holy symbol. "Well, if you want it healed, too, then that's your prerogative." A pale burst of starlight illuminates the area around the lyrakien, and those wounds the heroes suffered in the castle fade almost completely - only Yuto remains slightly injured - a minor bruise on his chest.
The ettercap stirs now.
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Yuto has a rope but he keeps it with him. He in fact ignores the ettercap and let's others deal with it, but Yuto clearly avoids approaching or even looking or talking with anyone helping the ettercap rather than him.
"Th-thanks Spivey..." the young man looks at his shoulder, the mark of the ettercap jaws still there, along with the blackness of the poison "I-I think we found and cleared that chapel of Desna. Do-do you want to come with us to clean it? Or is it better if we wait a bit until we are sure Brinewall is a safe place?"
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"As Yuto says." Teruko has also been mostly ignoring the ettercap, apart from making sure it isn't trying to escape. "The shrine had been desecrated by a priestess of Pazuzu, but we were able to kill her. It was a hard fight though, made harder by her...ally?" She frowns. "Now that I think about it, didn't Zaiobe say the Phantom and the priestess hated each other? Although I suppose she wasn't so much aiding the priestess as she was taking advantage of the situation."
She shakes herself a little. "Regardless, almost everyone had been quite badly injured, and we did find the shrine, so we decided to come back and speak with you. On our way out of the courtyard we were attacked by the ettercap's...pet, followed rapidly by the ettercap itself. It was acting strangely, and...I don't think any of us particularly enjoy killing unconscious enemies." She grimaces. "Though I'm not so naïve as to think it's never necessary. We should probably talk as a group about what to do with them. If some of us think of that as murder, and others a gruesome but necessary action...well. We don't want there to be any misunderstandings or hurt feelings."
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"Thank you for healing us." Torra nods at Spivey, then turns to look at the bound ettercap together with most everyone else. The dwarf frowns, chewing at her lower lip.
"What is a monster? This one speaks, and has... had a friend. If someone killed my friend I would be upset, too. Riftun, I like that you want to give them a chance. I don't think they will listen, but I like that you want to try. But Teruko is right, what do with them if they don't listen?"
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"My thanks as well, Spivey. Is there something nice we could get you in return for these healing services? A referred treat or drink you have, perhaps? If we have it on the caravan, I could see if we can arrange something. It seems the least we could do," Andochtuir offers to the Azata.
He walks over to the thoroughly bound ettercap, Fauchard drawn. In answer to Torra's last question, he holds his weapon ready over the creature. "If it does not listen, or its mind is lost, I believe we should do as we must. Sad though it may be, some creatures are inherently evil. Yet, filled with hate, it might just follow us for revenge regardless. In the end, as a guard, it is my duty to keep the caravan and its members safe. Killing monsters who attack us was always going to be part of that."
Spivey flutters away from Yuto, back onto the gate of the cemetery and well away from the ettercap. "Did you find the relic?" She asks of the samurai. "I... don't really want to go there. Not right now, anyways."
The emaciated spider-thing stirs and awakens. It hisses and clatters its mandibles, before looking around at the party. It struggles against its bonds, its compound eyes glinting in the grey light. The ropes creak, and several fibers snap, but the bonds hold, at least for now.
The ettercap twists, trying to get its fangs around to bite the ropes.
Spivey sits down on the gate, balancing precariously. "A difficult question." She observes.
"If you're going to try, Riftun, it should be now - and fast," Andochtuir urges, eyes narrowed at the apparent ease of its escape and readying his weapon in case it actually broke out.
Riftun bows graciously to Spivey as his wounds and that of his allies are healed and offers a prayer to his goddess in thanks before swiftly turning to the bound ettercap as quickly as possible knowing he doesn't have much time.
He does offer a grateful smile to Torra for her understanding before he sits directly in front of the ettercap and reaches inside his azure bag after unfastening its crimson rope. A moment later he draws out a bag of trail rations he had stored within and places them before the strange creature.
"I'm glad to see you're awake now. P-Please don't struggle against your bindings right now. They are for your protection as much as they are for ours. S-Some of my friends are nervous and this is unfortunately necessary to ensure everyone is calm." The young man explains and pushes the trail rations forward towards the creature.
"But, first thing's first. You look like you're absolutely famished. P-Please eat. If you would like some water I have some of that too. After you've had your fill I-I would like to know your name. I'm Riftun by the way." The bard smiles gently and prepares his waterskin for the ettercap should they take Riftun up on his offer.
"A-a re-relic?" Yuto echoes the little azata's words blinking without gasp "It was too dark" He then turns towards the group's dwarf "Torra San, did you spot any relic in the shrine?"
"This is all we found..." the young man shows the scroll and the pretty stones and pieces of glass "I-is some of this the relic?"
Spivey shakes her head briefly before looking at the ettercap and Riftun.
The only result the bard's words get is a hiss. It lunges at him, trying to get a desperate bite of him when he approaches. Before it can sink its fangs into him, however, Andochtuir swings his fauchard, knocking it back as he carves a chunk of its jaw off. The ettercap sprawls on the ground, bleeding out again.
Riftun simply closes his eyes at the ettercap's reaction knowing Andochtuir's fauchard will answer. He opens his mournful blue eyes once again to stare down at the bleeding creature before him and sighs heavily. "I thought that would happen... but still..." The bard shakes his head and wipes some of the ettercap's blood from his cheek before looking up at his half-elven companion. "Thank you Andochtuir, for saving me and allowing me to play out this request of mine... I-I know it was foolish but I had to try."
He reclines and sucks on his inner cheek making a bit of a pout. "Truth be told, a part of me wants to try again. I-I feel like they may have felt like we were trying to eat them since we tied them up and... well... th-that's what spiders do before they eat something... but I know I've pushed my luck already. I-I'm willing to do whatever you all think is best."
Torra watches Riftun's attempt, turning away as Andochtuir strikes the ettercap down. She shakes her head at Spivey. "I didn't see a relic."
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He reclines and sucks on his inner cheek making a bit of a pout. "Truth be told, a part of me wants to try again. I-I feel like they may have felt like we were trying to eat them since we tied them up and... well... th-that's what spiders do before they eat something... but I know I've pushed my luck already. I-I'm willing to do whatever you all think is best."
Solemnly, Andochtuir looks at the ettercap of whom he'd just sliced off part of its jaw, though he knew the wound went deeper, and cut deep into the neck. He wasn't entirely sure about ettercap anatomy, but if anything like a conventional humanoid, such a wound was usually fatal for a number of reasons.
"You have a good heart, Riftun. You... remind me of a more innocent time, when my brother was still alive," he says, not unkindly. "But I'm afraid this one might be beyond healing, and that we might have to conserve our reserves even if it weren't. The ghost is still there, for one. And we don't know if Ameiko's condition will get worse over time, or not. We might be best served trying to push as far as we can, as fast as we can, and as safe as we can, making use of whichever is available to us. That was a creed among Elven militia. Trying to help an enemy survive might jeopardize this."
Taking in Andochtuir's words Riftun shakes his head solemnly and gathers up his rations. "I understand Andy a-and thank you again for indulging me. I, understand the unfortunate reality of the situation.
He digs into his bag again and pulls out the little silver and darkwood disc they found on Kikonu's corpse. He holds it out questioningly to Spivey. [b]"We, umm, we did find this Spivey. We aren't sure what it is... is it what you're looking for?"
Spivey shakes her head again. "No, that's... it looks like it's supposed to change something? It doesn't feel quite like what I'm looking for."
The lyrakien tilts her head. "How carefully did you look? It's probably rather small to you," she spreads her hands about three inches apart. [b]"While I don't know what exactly it is, it should be around the shrine." She scratches her cheek. "At least, that's what the dreams tell me, anyways."
"Y-your dreams?" Yuto asks with curiosity.
"I-I guess we can come back a-and check the shrine for that relic... i-if you can describe it again for us..." then turning to Teruko he asks "Ho-how we can deal with the darkness in the shrine so we can search mo-more comfortably around?"
Riftun puts the disk back into his bag and seals it with the crimson rope. It was worth a shot.
"We d-didn't really get a chance to fully explore the shrine honestly. We were kind of in a rush to get back a-after this horrifying ghost corby attacked us out of thin air. But... we should be able to return to the shrine now that the priestess is dead to give it a better look." The bard explains warily to Spivey before turning his attention to Yuto.
"I-I think the shrine was only dark due to the priestess' magic. There's a good chance it will be normal again when we return." He then gently reaches for the samurai's hand and looks up into his eyes sadly. "A-Also, I just wanted to say. I-I'm sorry if I offended you by taking mercy on the ettercap... they attacked you, they hurt you, so I should have consulted with you before making it any offers. I just want you to know that your safety is important to me a-and I apologize for getting ahead of myself." He bows his head deeply to signify the depths of his sincerity.
The half-elven warrior smiles slightly at the Riftun's use of his more informal name, then steps away from the ettercap. Turning back to face the area behind the party - to hopefully avoid surprises while they were talking, he still listens to the discussion on the missing relic and the azata's dreams of it.
"Hm... so back to the shrine it is, then?" he surmises. "By the same path, or this main gate mentioned earlier? I still have my strengthening elixir active. In case we wish to thin out potential enemies who could flank us, this might be a good moment. Though, if you al wish to return right away, that is fine too. And should we run into the same darkness, Torra can see through it. If all else fails, couldn't she find this relic on her own, now that she's back up to full health?"
"Lady Desna offers truth and foresight in dreams, for those who know what to pay mind to." Spivey says. "I don't need sleep, but it is an easier way to listen for her signs." The lyrakien smiles. "Maybe you've discovered some truth in dreams yourselves."
After a moment, Spivey frowns. "I believe the relic is a box of some sort. Small by your standards, but big enough for me." She smiles awkwardly. "Sorry I can't tell you more precisely, but that's the impression I've gotten."
At Riftun's mention of the ghost corby, she bows apologetically. "Yes, she's been troubling you since you got here, hasn't she? I'm sorry I couldn't do more to help you... but she was rather big for me to engage by myself."
She settles back on the gate, swinging her legs in an oddly childish gesture.
"A-A box, ok, thanks Spivey" the Tian smiles at the azata "Do not worry, you have been of great help, friend. I only have this arm still a bit slowed by the poison of the ettercap. I-it will be ok in time. I think"
Once said this, and perhaps after some more special healing, Yuto will open the march back to the shrine.
"I... it is ok... I understand mercy..." despite this, Yuto seems distant for some minutes as the group walks up the road, until he finally opens up "It is just... the way you run to stop the ettercap bleeding wh-while the poison was sti-stiffening me..."
"B-Bothering me since I arrived? What do you-?" Riftun pauses in confusion and then thumps his fist onto his open palm in understanding and exclaims, "Oh! Are you saying she was the one who was moving me about and taking my things, and breaking stuff around me while I slept here? But why would she do that? Why not just kill me?"
.....
Riftun looks shocked and then genuinely hurt as Yuto explains that he felt abandoned by the bard in his time of need. His eyes well with tears as he replies, "R-Ran to help the ettercap? I... I'm so sorry Yuto... I tried my best... I kept my performance up to help you and was willing to use more spells to help as well but... My magic is more subtle than others... sometimes people don't even realize it's there. More or less... It's supposed to draw out the best in others... B-But-"
The bard takes a moment to dry his eyes on his sleeves, "I'm not like the rest of you... with your amazing abilities and combat prowess... my magic isn't that strong... and I don't really have much in the way of medical know-how... B-But I did my best to help you, I promise Yuto. I-I'm just sorry it wasn't enough. I would never leave you to suffer."
"I'm not sure. Sadism, maybe?" Spivey sighs. "But sleep is sacred, and I wish I could've done more to prevent her from doing that... but..." She shakes her head. "I'm sorry."
"Oh, I can help with that." She flies over to him, chants a few words while drawing a slow symbol in the air. With her touch, Yuto feels his muscles relax, and the full range of motion return.
Yuto breathes relieved as the effects of the poison are finally levied "Th-thanks Spivey" the young man smiles genuinely "I-I think we must depart now, find that box"
As they walk back to the castle, the Tian looks a bit concerned, not knowing what to tell Riftun to calm him down "I-I am sorry... I did not mean... I mean... y-you just did not know about the poison. Fo-fortunately she knew what exactly to do" he looks back to Teruko and smiles "If not for her, I wo-would be probably frozen in that ground now..."
When the party arrives to the castle, Yuto decides this time to just step through the main gates, being cautious in order to surprise the ghost if possible.
If no opposition is found, he makes it up to the battlements, direction to the shrine, katana at hand.
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Teruko is quiet while Riftun tries to talk the ettercap down, and even more so after he fails. "Even monsters have motivations," she finally says. "Friends, family, dreams...I don't think there are any sentient beings that don't have at least one of those. It's not a bad thing, to want to save them. But Andochtuir's right, about needing to conserve our resources. I think...I think once a creature has attacked us, sparing them is very unlikely to do any good and could cause further harm." She looks at Riftun, trying to convey sympathy. "Nevertheless I don't think it was foolish to try, and I'm sorry it didn't work. You are a good man. I understand why Ameiko likes you so much. She holds very similar beliefs about second chances." And third chances, and fourth...
Once they're ready to go, she inclines her head towards Spivey. "Thank you very much for your aid. It would have been difficult for us to heal everyone, and we certainly couldn't have done it as efficiently as you did. Nor could I cure the lingering aftereffects of the poison. I believe we have potions that might, but now we can save those for an emergency. We'll be certain to search the shrine for this relic you've mentioned, and take the first steps towards cleansing it."
"It is just... the way you run to stop the ettercap bleeding wh-while the poison was sti-stiffening me..."
Teruko doesn't want to interfere with this conversation. Truth be told she'd had similar thoughts, when she turned around to see both Andochtuir and Torra looking after the ettercap while she was still trying to draw the poison from Yuto's wounds. However she does have one thing she needs to say. "As a matter of priorities, I understand stabilizing the dying take precedence. However, if any such future situations arise, I know a cantrip that can do so automatically. I am far less talented when it comes to mundane healing." She shifts uncomfortably. "I would...appreciate it...if I were not left alone with poisoned wounds."
Riftun's cheeks flush slightly at Teruko's compliments but at the moment he doesn't feel like he's earned it at this point. His eyes stay trained on the floor as he just does his level best not to get in the way and screw things up again but is so distracted staring at his feet he keeps bumping into things.
Teruko doesn't want to interfere with this conversation. Truth be told she'd had similar thoughts, when she turned around to see both Andochtuir and Torra looking after the ettercap while she was still trying to draw the poison from Yuto's wounds. However she does have one thing she needs to say. "As a matter of priorities, I understand stabilizing the dying take precedence. However, if any such future situations arise, I know a cantrip that can do so automatically. I am far less talented when it comes to mundane healing." She shifts uncomfortably. "I would...appreciate... if I were not left alone with poisoned wounds.
Hearing this, Andochtuir hangs his head towards the kaijitsu heiress. "I apologize, Teruko Kaijitsu. I was too focused on the enemy, and then the question of whether it was still alive and could be saved. In doing so, my attention for the well-being of my allies erred. For that, I am sorry. As recompence, I could offer to make everyone antitoxins when we return to the camp, to better ward ourselves against poisons. And in the future, I will not interfere and defer to your use of this cantrip in a similar situation."
Like Riftun's, Torra's gaze is downwards as they walk back to the castle. There was already a lot of talking about the matter, so she doesn't speak, but she feels sharply both Yuto and Teruko's rebuke, as mild as they were. She had let her guilt over killing yet another thinking, speaking creature cloud her judgement and endanger her allies, especially Yuto. She clenches her jaw in anger at herself and continues walking in silence.
As they reach the gates, she tries to move as quietly as she can, hoping that they can pass by without another fight, but she's even clumsier than Riftun.
"Oh, do-do not worry. I was just s-scared... I should learn to be more valiant" Yuto looks at Andochtuir clad in his armor, well trained and still knowing how to prepare powerful concoctions. He looks down at his katana. The grasp still feels clumsy on him. He had a lucky strike on the ghost, but only because Riftun pushed him to try "You bring Desna's luck with you my friends. I should be more confident under that mantle"