Dehlia moves into a flank against the remaining skeleton and attempts to smash it with her club twice.
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Grunting in acknowledgement of Lazlo's support, Dehlia taps the base of her club to release the strap holding her broken shield before dropping it to the ground. Dehlia reaches forward to wrest control of the skeleton's longsword away. While the skeleton focuses on keeping its weapon, she swings the club wide to the left.
The skeleton's sword swings directly at Dehlia's neck as she instinctively pulls up her shield and bats it away. Redirected, the blade slashes just shy of her right eye and cuts deep into her scalp and leaves a crippling gash in her shield. Grunting in frustration as sap trickles from the wound, Dehlia draws her hatchet and slashes back. Roots from her feet spread across the ground nearby, writing and grasping at the air.
Cut leaves and flower petals fall from Dehlia as the bone fragments fly. Gritting her teeth, she raises her shield as she takes a defensive position next to Nix. She bangs her small fist against her shield and gestures at the nearest skeleton. "Come and get me!"
Dehlia takes a moment to scan the foliage nearby. "Well nothing around this area looks dangerous, but I would keep alert in any case." Surveying the area, Dehlia starts toward the watchtower. With a gesture at Lazlo, "Join me, Lazlo. I'm always better watching another's back."
Dehlia, who spent most of this time timidly standing half-behind her companions, speaks up, "I'm not sure I belong." For the first time since any of you met her, she appears to be trying to make herself smaller and less noticeable. "I know nothing of cyclops, and I'm not even a pathfinder. The only thing I'm good for is fighting to protect others." Her head bows slightly and her voice grows quiet, "It seems you have high standards for this mission. If I'm to be turned away I'd rather know now."
Not all the leshies created by Dew were accounted for in the aftermath. Young and disfigured, several wandered off into the forest either with intention or because they were lost. Dehlia spent time tracking them down to provide guidance and find them safety. Their appearance meant folks in the region tended to greet them with fear or anger. She tracked one particular pair to an area of the forest on the edge of farm land. One was a root leshy that looked like a giant onion, nearly bitten in half by a dire wolf. The other was a leaf leshy, with leaves that looked disturbingly like long mummified fingers. Afraid to interact with the locals, the hungry pair had been stealing from nearby farms. It wasn't long before the locals were sharing tales of dreadful monsters in the area stealing supplies for dark rituals. Fortunately, Dehlia tracked them down before the locals put together a posse to find them. It took some effort, but eventually she convinced the farmers they were just leshies. Eventually the locals agreed to take care of the leshies, as long as they worked. They even gave the leshies nicknames: Onion and Mums. -------------- A few nights later, Dehlia found herself lying in a forest clearing under the stars. She had originally joined the Pathfinders out of convenience and concern, with no thought for what was next. They had graciously invited her to join them, but she wasn't sure she wanted to. Looking up at the stars and reflecting on her journey, a sense of calm and purpose washed over her. It was a feeling she hadn't felt for a long time now. At the edge of her mind, anxious thoughts warned her not to trust quickly, but protecting people gives purpose. "I hope they'll still take me." She closes her eyes, lets her roots dig into the soil, and rests through the night. Tomorrow, I seek my companions.
Dehlia cocks her head to the side and consider the names. "Yew... yew... what about Dew?" Nodding at her own suggestion, she continues, "Dew shows on plants with the light of dawn. You're young and were born into the world without purpose, but are a part of nature's beauty." Her flower buds slowly reveal light blue orchids.
"Well I can't see much from here, but if they're not on us now no sense in waiting around!" The roots at Dehlia's feet withdraw from the ground and her flowers curl back into bulbs as she sprints out of her hiding spot and toward the monolith.
Dehlia nods at Kalla and scans the surrounding area. She spots a bush nearby two trees that matches her personal foliage, steps in, closes her eyes, and blends in.
Dehlia raises an eyebrow at Kalla's "kin" comment as she sprints deftly through the forest terrain.
"Fine, but I refuse to leave Kalla alone. I will stay." While Kalla speaks, Dehlia does her best to look menacing but fails to overcome her naturally cute demeanor. When Kalla finishes speaking, Dehlia bangs her shield and shouts, "And if you want to kill her, you'll have to get through me!" While she tried her best to project a loud and booming voice, the result was more like a loud squeak.
Seeing the worrisome state of her kin, Dehlia spots the cliff approach and scans her companions, pausing for a moment on Sharlott. "The best approach is from those cliffs, but I'm not sure we're all capable of climbing down safely and swiftly. I say we charge, waiting only means more of these abominations." A frown appears on her face as she adds, "I'd prefer we remove the enchantment over killing the crafter, but I know that may be difficult. My kin should have opportunity to defend themselves, perhaps they are under a corrupting influence."
Dehlia can't help but sing along and clap to Kalla's rhythm. Her flowers start to uncurl, revealing a bright blue flower, but she catches herself just before it is fully revealed. She stands at attention, a stoic look across her face, as the flower buds curl again.
With one eye cocked, Dehlia responds, "Can't say investigating is a strong suit of mine. But I did notice the scarecrow seemed to be of the forest."
Seeing the centipedes swarm Bruit, Dehlia moves out of the three cover and bangs her shield to draw attention before attacking. "Fight me!"
With a grin on her face Dehlia wades into battle, taking a flanking position against the scarecrow. "Take your best shot, abomination!" Her flowers uncurl and bloom to reveal dark red petals as she lashes out with her shield.
Dehlia takes only a very small portion of food, just enough to taste. "I've tried meat on a few occasions." She slowly rolls the food around her mouth, noting the taste and texture. "I've had better, but I suppose they're light on seasoning with all the fire around." "Most leshy subsist on sunlight, though I can also get some nutrients from the ground." As she speaks, vines wrapped around her legs slide into the ground. Noticing Sharlott's lack of appetite for the meal at hand, Dehlia offers her some bread. "This bread is mild, and should sate you for a day." -------------------- After listening to Urwal, Dehlia makes her way to the cooking fire and offers her skills, as well as some local herbs she picked nearby, to bolster the flavor of the rabbit.
As the conversation continues, the black flowers on Dehlia's shoulders curl back into bulbs. "I'm just a wanderer. I don't know what's going on with my kin either, they just woke me from a nap." Dehlia cocks her head to the side, "Come to think of it, I don't remember how I came to be in this part of the forest." After taking a moment to consider the circumstances, Dehlia speaks up. "I'm a guardian with no one to defend, and I don't like what's happening to my kin here. If you're going to investigate, then perhaps I can accompany you, for now." She stands up as straight as she can and puffs out her chest slightly. "They call me Dehlia. I'm just about the toughest fighter you'll meet, and I can cook a hearty meal just about anywhere."
Dehlia sheathes her axe but keeps her shield at the ready. "Not to be ungrateful for the assistance, but who are you and why are you here?"
Trudging through the thick brush, Dehlia advances towards the last leshy and attempts to finish it.
Upon seeing Sharlott taken down, Dehlia roars with fury at the closest leshy. Placing herself firmly in between the leshy and Sharlott's limp body, Dehlia attempts to bash the leshy with her shield.
Fury seething from her, Dehlia stomps forward toward the nearest leshy. "Abominations, die!" As she swing her shield and hatchet forward, a flower bud on each shoulder uncurls and blooms into a dark black flower.
Hampering Stance: Squares in a 5ft emanation are difficult terrain for your enemies. -------------------- Although wary of the newcomers to the battle, Dehlia stays focused on the leshy abominations. She advances toward the strange dog surrounded by leshies, stomps the ground, and lashes out with her shield.
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