Navo runs up to Teflar and strikes with sword and hatchet. The sword pings off her magical shield, but the hatchet slips below her guard and cuts deeply .
↺ Teflar shivers at the blow, breathes deeply, and says "Ah yes that brings things into clarity!"
Winter raises her shield and punches Teflar twice, the first hitting her shield and again it is the second blow that lands, winding the priestess
The priestess is now looking quite wounded.
Vingarren Stribe
Teflar │
➤ Siyokoy Sa Lupa
Navo Visyrion │
Saturnine Winter
➤ Buzzmark Hardstone
Scarecrow/Kareida
Buzzmark takes a mighty swing as Teflar focuses on spell casting. The blow lands dealing a terrible wound, but Teflar still manages to cast the spell.
Then Teflar's spell bounces off the fighter's disciplined mind and he is unaffected by it.
Buzzmark swings his great pick, this time pulling the blow at the last minute. It strikes true and knocks the priestess unconscious. Teflar crumples to the ground and the threat is over.
Vingarren Stribe
Teflar │
➤ Siyokoy Sa Lupa
Navo Visyrion │
Saturnine Winter
Buzzmark Hardstone
Scarecrow/Kareida
Siyokoy moves to the fallen priestess and tends to her
Alone now, Kareida watches as Teflar falls but does not intervene.
The villagers continue to flee along the cliff face, quickly moving out of sight.
➤ Vingarren Stribe
Teflar │
Siyokoy Sa Lupa
Navo Visyrion │
Saturnine Winter
Buzzmark Hardstone
Scarecrow/Kareida
Vingarrenn delays.
Teflar fails to throw off the persistent damage and the final mental jolt from the minister's spell kills her.
Kareida pulls off her mask and looks on with confusion, keeping her distance and waiting to see what the party does.
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Vingarren approaches the fallen form of Teflar, confirming her death. He had not intended to kill her. I simply provided her with a divine gift. He thinks to himself. Surely, had she been as devote as she claimed, such a small matter of pain would not have led to her death.
"It would seem that the local priestess--if, indeed, she ever was such--has perished." Vingarren declares, having dismissed the bullhorn spell. His harsh, elderly features twist into something almost akin to a smile. "It would seem that the flock of the Midnight Lord within this area is need of a new leader." He adjusts his holy symbol. "How fortunate for them, then, that I am already here."
He turns to Kareida, "Unless, you have designs to assume the role that Teflar has... vacated ?"
Kareida moves up to the group and also looks down on Teflar's body.
With a solemn expression she turns to Vingarrenn, takes a quick breath and responds "I... I have developed a connection with the community here and would like to serve it." she is silent for a few seconds, sighs and continues "I came originally as a spy working for her to root out the dreamers, but the community welcomed me. While I couldn't follow her directive to torture and kill these villagers, I can lead them, rebuild their trust and guide their faith."
"Ah, yes, dreamers is the name many followers of Desna in this land give to themselves. They are ... more common in these outlying areas than in Pangolais and the other cities. Even in the Atteran plains they are often hunted down as a threat to the rule of the Midnight Lord." she seems about to say more but decides to stop there.
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Winter watches as Vingarrenn watches in decided inaction as Teflar dies right before him. He could have easily saved her...
Speechless at the subtle brutality, she remains wary of him somewhat, as her remorse is stained with other emotions, including anger at the priestesses deeds, but also, something more...
She continues to process her feeling in silence...
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Navo considers Kareida's words and behavior. He takes out of his pocket his Wayfinder, and shows it to her.
"Call for them back Kareida. Teflar is now dead. Tell them that I Navo Visyrion, offer to guide them away from this place - should that be their heart's desire."
"We will return to Rannan Atteran's farm to conclude our business here. Then, I will depart with anyone who seeks asylum from this tyranny. There are many places where Desna has built churches and communities. I will take them there."
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"Even in the Atteran plains they are often hunted down as a threat to the rule of the Midnight Lord." she seems about to say more but decides to stop there.
"A 'threat to the rule of the Midnight Lord'?" Vingarren stifles a laugh. "Dreams are an illusion. Pain, however, is real. While I can see why the government in Pangolais may consider them a threat, these 'dreamers' can do nothing to impinge upon the sovereignty of the Midnight Lord."
"The dreamers may wish to believe that their veneration of Desna will lead to freedom, but ultimately there is no escape from pain. Indeed, by choosing to worship Desna here in Nidal, knowing of the government's policies, have these dreamers not invited pain to be inflicted upon themselves? Have they not chosen to be subjected to pain?"
"Even if you depart from Nidal, you will not be able to out distance the domain of Zon-Kuthon. Pain is certain. Only by accepting that eternal presence of pain, does one become free, learning to act through the pain or because of it--that is what true freedom is." The Minister of Pain opines. He directs his words to Kareida, but is hopeful that his words are getting through to any others. "Be assured, devotedly following the ways of Desna will not lead to any other outcome. And you need not accept my word on the subject. Do not the Windsong Testaments tell of how The Great Dreamer's pursuit of beauty led to her release of the Gossamer King?"
"'[Y]et she knew he was a great hunger whose presence would bring pain and suffering.'" Vingarren quotes with relish.
"I will interfere no further with either your own designs or those of your flock, Kareida." The kuthite assures. "And know that once any of you have sufficiently experienced the soverignty of the Prince of Pain, once you have come to realize the truth of my words, that I will then eagerly welcome you into my own flock and teach you more fully what Zon-Kuthon has to offer."
Kareida listens to the party's words, carefully weighing them up.
"Thank-you Navo, I will call them back and we can return with them to the village. Minister, I am glad that you have a less exclusive view of religion in these lands. I will happily tend to these people now."
Kareida then sets off after the villagers. She is gone for around an hour but returns with the four villagers as promised.
"Very well, let's get back to the Ranch. I think everyone will be keen to be reunited."
On the journey back, Kareida pulls Buzzmark aside and says "Yes you would have seen little evidence of the worship of Desna here - it is something people keep well hidden and only share with those they trust. The reasons should be apparent after this latest episode."
When you return to town, Rannan is delighted and relieved. After warmly greeting the returning people he turns to you "My thanks for resolving the mystery here and bringing peace back to my village." he hands each of you a pouch with coins totaling 4 gp "and here is your promised reward. You are welcome though to stay here as long as you want, but if you don't I wish you safe travels."