"If I had known you were here, I wouldn't have allowed this wolf to stay. I would have banished the disease immediately. Is there anything more you can tell me about how to find the source of this curse?"
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"Sounds fun. But no dog jokes."
Continued conversation with Kleah and Princess. DC for sleeping members: 30: Harley turns to Kleah and says "I can shift back whenever I want. But to do so releases the wolf back to its torment. It was difficult enough to find a common ground with him in the first place. Letting him go may make the next attempt impossible. So I'm going to stay this way, my soul merged with his, until we find a way to alter the curse and free him." He lifts a foot to show his boots' new form. The soles of the boots have shifted to cover the pads of his canine feet while leaving openings for his claws. "As for these, their magic forces them to shift as I shift, the same way magical armor sizes itself to its owner." He pulls his glaive off of his back and holds it in his lap, connection to Denier still running strong, power flowing through the weapon. "Denier is pleased with what small success I've gained in conquering the curse but is deeply curious about the ritual involved in corrupting it." Harley flashes a wolfish grin and says, "The God of Knowledge does not take kindly to enigmas. He demands they be weighed against logic and wisdom, and brought into a quantifiable realm. And I'm all too happy to help." He slides the glaive back into one of the many straps and sheaths on his back, and says, "Also, I have no intention of staying out of towns. If fire genasi, goliaths, and all other manner of fearsome humanoid are given free reign in town, I will enjoy it as well."
I approach Princess in camp after nightfall, during her watch. For Kleah to overhear in her Trance: 15 | Everyone that's sleeping during her watch: 30: Harley travels day and night with minimal rest to catch up with his friends, and again manages to find their scent. He trails them at a respectable distance, far out of sight, relying only on smell to keep him close until sundown. An hour or so after nightfall, he moves closer, sticking to the densest groupings of trees and moving silently. He stops just outside of the firelight, where the darkness is deepest, and waits until Princess begins her watch. His current situation is positive, but this wolf looks nothing like his old one, and his leader deserves to be made aware of this first.
A few minutes into Princess' watch, Harley moves closer to the firelight, his arms spread wide in a non-threatening gesture. True to his friend's maternal nature, she spots Harley's hulking form immediately. She stands and seems almost ready to call out to her companions to be ready for battle, and then stops. Her eyes move away from his fierce, killing jaws and alien eyes to settle on his pauldrons, each carved from the skull of an ogre they had fought side-by-side. Upon recognizing her friend, Princess runs forward and embraces the werewolf, saying, "I'm so proud of you; but, whats with the birthday suit?"
Harley: "It has been months since we've seen a place in the wilderness as peaceful as the grove I found, so deep into the wood did I travel. In my meditations there, I was able to speak to the wolf, as I had before. And the difference between the two was staggering." "The wolf spirit I had initially shared my soul with was a true animal. Wild. Savage. Driven by instinct, but not unnecessarily cruel. This creature? It's maddened by the Fire Cultists' prodding. Nearly insane. Imagine a dog, stuck in a fighting pit. Now imagine a wolf in that same pit. The only peace it knows is the respite I'm giving it right now, by being in control." Princess: "What have the bastards done?" Harley: "I can't be certain. I only know that I can't leave it's spirit in torment. I also refuse to put it down. It has glorious potential, and as a hunter it deserves to see that potential realized. It also deserves revenge, and I will see that done as well. The peace I can offer it is to share my soul until we can rid it of the Fire Cultist's influence entirely." Princess: "I'm guessing that means you won't be going into any towns for the time being." "Do you think the other werewolves we killed were abused this way too? Were they innocent victims?" Harley: "In their own way, absolutely. It takes a singularly unique situation to blend your soul with a werewolf's, under ideal circumstances. The average person has nowhere near the willpower necessary. Most give in to the wolf, and this wolf is particularly aggressive. The other werewolves the Fire Cult warped are mindless beasts by now. There would have been no saving them." Princess: "That is a relief. I'm so glad you were able to gain control. How do we heal your wolf's soul?" Harley: "I'm not sure. I'm hesitant to ask for help from normal priests. They may seek to simply remove the curse, effectively killing this wolf. That I will not allow. So if we find ourselves without a way to find a Fire Cultist, I may be able to find answers within my Order. The Masters of the Long Death are familiar with a great many mysteries that we are not." Princess: "Whatever it takes, we will see it done and your new companion taken care of." Harley "Of that, I have no doubt. Now, I just need to find a hooded robe to cover up this mug around town."
Princess: "You're still as beautiful as ever, my friend."
Harley: "Birthday suit it is, then."
"I'm touched by the gesture, brother."
Harley moves to Kleah and clasps wrists with her. "Stay safe, Beastmaster. I'll be back before you know it."
He kneels to clasp wrists with Fedward and says, "I'll keep an eye out for anything shiny." He moves to Szuki and says, "I like you enough to see past the fact that you just robbed me of a tower's worth of excellent fights. Keep it up." Harley moves to stand before Princess, and embraces her as family. "They're playing my song. If I've learned anything from you, it's that it'd be a shame not to dance. I'll find you all after the moon, friend."
Harley breaks his meditation long enough to grunt, "Fair enough."
"I don't know why you suddenly think I'm going to try to shroud my intent. I've never done so before, and you've known me longer than most. If our enemies are worth the time, they've known about us since our midnight excursion into the smoke went south. And you joined me on that excursion, when I intended to go alone. Remember that the next time you counsel restraint, or patience."
"It's not possible to divulge too much information to dead men."
Passive Perception Needed to Drop Eaves=15: Harley: "Whats on your mind, friend?"
Princess: "Harley, I've noticed more savagery than usual from you my friend, and I'm worried about you. Are you certain that you can handle the transformation into a werewolf again?" Harley: "I'm certain. I've noticed a moment or two myself where I've been more aggressive than usual, but I've reached a conclusion in my meditations these recent months. Since I've lost the wolf, I've gained no additional measure of calm. I always thought that the wolf brought out a level of savagery that I would not possess had I not bonded my soul to him. I was wrong. I'm the savage. It's been me, from the beginning. I could have gone to any number of monasteries, but where did I go? To the home of an order deeply fascinated by death. An order with no fear of death." "There is an old elven saying; 'L'apnel du vold'. Are you familiar with it?" Princess: "I can't say that I am. What does it mean?" Harley: "It's a feeling or an emotion. Most reasoning beings have felt it at one time or another. When you step to the edge of a cliff, and while appreciating the vista before you, for the barest moment, you imagine stepping off. When you're in the heat of combat, and you deftly parry an enemy's attack, there is a flash in your mind of what would have happened had the attack made it past your defenses, and slammed home. These are moments when reality creeps past the curtain we fashion for ourselves and shows us an inevitability. 'L'apnel du vold' translates loosely to 'Call of the Void'." "And I hear it, friend. All the time." "Knowing that Death awaits us around every bend, I've embraced every moment. I will continue to do so. Seeing what is behind the curtain has made me less patient with people who have no teeth to bare when death comes for them." "So when I feel that old hunger thrumming through my veins, begging to become what it needs to become, I feel no fear. I only feel a need to show this beast who is truly the one to be feared. And Deneir supports my right to choose and has faith that I can conquer this. Imagine what that feels like to someone who was going to try and conquer it anyway." Princess: "I think I know what you mean; I hear this call myself. I once lived on the very brink and desired only to live as beautiful a life as possible to make my brief moment on this plane meaningful in the only way I know how. I still believe in beauty as a way to transform ones life and the world, and I see the beauty of friendship and the bonds we create as part of that dance. What do you cling to? What protects you from the void, sir?" Harley: "Choice." "I choose to continue fighting. To make it as difficult as possible for Death to claim me, and not out of fear. But because before Death claims me, it will come to respect me." Princess: "I envy your certainty. I know exactly what you mean. To know that your God has faith in you is a wonderful thing. Know that I also have faith in you. Whatever comes, I will be by your side. If there is anything I can do to help, ask and it is yours. This time you are not alone." Harley: "I know, friend. That's why I shared this with you. I'm not certain the others would understand as you do."
"But thank you."
I return to the group, annoyed at the lack of satisfaction from killing these fire cultists. Ash leaves no trophies to be taken, had they even proved worthy for me to take one in the first place. "Ash, like the others. Just a few coins we can split later." I see a nod from Princess, who seems to need a private moment, and before I move to join her, I walk over to Kleah. "The next time someone escapes, let me run them down, especially when Princess has asked me to. The rest of the party needs your marksmanship more than I do." I put a hand on her shoulder to attempt to convey respect for the excellent shot nonetheless, and then join Princess at the side of the group. "What do you need, friend?"
"It's alive. You're welcome."
If any hit kills it, I turn the blow and do subdual damage.
As I sprint toward Kleah and see the brown bear charge, I dive at it, attempting to grapple it and bear (heh) it to the ground. Provided the attack and grapple both succeed, I say to the creature, "If you happen to be a wildshaped druid, now would be the time to say so."
[dice=Intelligence]1d20 + 2 + 8[dice]
"I can hear the screeching of gargoyles in the distance, down this hallway. I also sense wind shifting ahead, so it would be wise to assume that they have some amount of room for aerial tactics. It's just as well, I've grown rather fond of riding them. However we proceed, we should anticipate imminent combat." I take my weapon in hand again, ever at the ready.
"I could stand to add some more Gargoyle dust to this bag. The rest of my clothes aren't going to dye themselves."
"The air smells stale and musty here. It becomes heavier and more oppressive the closer we get to the Underdark. The last time the air smelled relatively fresh was from the tunnel Fedward managed to squeeze through. If we insist on seeing to the slaves, we should take that tunnel to the surface afterward."
"The Underdark is not a place we would survive in our current state. Many powerful creatures have been lost to it's winding corridors, and worse things than monsters stalk the pitch black. There are cities of foul things that span miles, and even they do not venture into the wilds of the Underdark unless in force. Even vampires give it a wide berth, and I've fought many of them into gruesome stalemates. We would be wise to fear what these creatures fear."
"I am also not inclined to waste time effectively re-exploring the entire complex. I have already voted that we continue forward, and should mention now that whatever we do, we should take a short rest to attune to our new acquisitions. It would help us greatly in our endeavors, whichever path we choose."
Harley is not interested in debating with the halfling any further and turns to the leader, Princess. "What say you, friend?"
"He just said that the majority of them are dead. Right now, dead. Not dying. Dead. We'd be going back up there to rescue people who are likely already dead. And one earth warrior with a few gargoyles is a joke, so no, our escape is not hindered. Additionally, we just raided the storeroom for food and had a long rest. We have no need to return to town. When I say common sense, this is what I mean. Our goal is to find the remaining members of the delegation, not save every last slave. And while the Underdark may eventually be ahead of us, we will have the ability to backtrack should we need to. Also, common sense would dictate that if we run into the Underdark proper, and have labyrinthine tunnels ahead of us, as opposed to finding some specific destination, then yes, we can reassess moving forward at that time."
"I vote we keep moving. To go back up and search this entire complex for surviving slaves when they've likely scattered to every corner would be a waste of time. But every time I speak common sense I get overridden by the bleeding hearts in the group, so I'm prepared to do whatever our leader decides."
"There are people here we are specifically trying to find. I'm not going to abandon that lightly. Stow your cowardice and talk sense. What happened?"
"I have no intention of escaping until this place is wiped clean of cultist filth. I vote we stay in the bunk room and lock ourselves in. Wherever we decide, I will take first watch."
"Everyone else can still see him, right? It's not just me?"
"Maybe Mr. Sneaky Sneaky would like to take a crack at it?", I ask as I glance at Mashbottom.
"I understand, friend. I'll be nearby." I leave Marek to his meditations and meander around the castle, lost in thought regarding my path.
I track down Marek and sit with him. After a moment I speak up. "I've never followed the practice of any religion. Any god. Before mastering the animal inside of me, when it still held sway, no mighty being ever manifested to stop my destruction. Not one celestial being cared enough to stop the rampage. But this god, this Deneir. It feels dfferent. I have no intention of traveling to the ends of the earth and spreading the gospel. All I know is that a goodly god rewarded us for nothing more than being kind to a smith. For making a friend. Most gods seem interested in demanding faith from their followers. But this one seems to have faith in us. I already intend to continue bringing justice to those who inflict their will upon the innocent. But Deneir's demesne, the concepts of knowledge and creative invention, are also worthy of protection. I'm certain your god knows you better than I, but perhaps there is room enough in your heart for another god. There seems little point in a pantheon if you can't respect different gods for the different parts of your heart they fill. If you like, I'll leave you to your meditation."
I seek out each of my friends in turn and let them know that the gift is worth whatever it would ask of them, provided they are strong enough.
"Let's talk about that robe. Anyone have any means of discerning its efficacy or utility? Also, I'm thinking an even split amongst the party concerning those jewels. Seeing as we did fish you out of the drink, Mushbottom."
I return the grin, and ask, "I'm thinking red and black robes with a murder hood. Anything close to that?" |