Following the daemon, Nuveril lands another solid hit on its side. But the halfling cannot help feeling a beat of despair as the wound quickly heals without apparent injury to the fiend.
"Get down from there. Don't worry. I'll bring it down."
Zeladiel fires his bow at Linah.
+1 Longbow, bless, drone, point blank:
Damage:
Still evidently confused, Zeladiel launchs an arrow at Linah. Fortunately the enspelled elf's aim is poor and the missile goes past her head.
On the other side of Nuveril, Khalid continues to cut at Xulthos with Tempest, the blade parting chitin again and again and doing more damage than the creature can readily heal.
Still shielding her eyes Linah can just make out the large form of Sajan falling to the ground. Acting by reflex she reaches out to channel life into her fallen companion. "You will not take him!" she calls out defiantly, to caught up to notice the arrow flying past her or the divine blade cutting into her foe.
My turrrn beast! Sarrrenrrrae guide my hand!
Miss chance Hit!
Potential crit!
Miss chance Hit!
As if answered by Sarenrae herself, Grall's blow drives deep into the creature's thorax, the rage suddenly taking him he reaches down with his enlarged teeth and clamps down on one of the creatures front legs tearing it from its body...Grall spits it on to the ground in disdain.
BTW I screwed up my damage last turn and forgot I was enlarged, here is the re-roll if you are willing to take it:
dam Thx!
I completely missed that Linah didn't specify a square for spiritual weapon. Given your LOS lets say you put it in -A,2 and have your move spare. I'm a bit confused by your attack modifers for it. Sorry I didn't really spend much time looking at them last round because the result was a miss and I was thinking about its debuffs/bless. Unless I'm missing something it should be hitting at +6 (+3 BAB + 3 wis). It can't flank or get any other bonuses.
Linah's flaming weapon swipes again at Xulthos' underside but the force blade is unable to penetrate its protective plates. The energy of her spell brings Sajan back to consciousness. . The prone and still extremely wounded monk shows no sign of give. He blinks once and starts to gather himself.
Perhaps the sign that the monk is not dead is the spur Grall needs. Or perhaps it is the sign of Haleen running up the corridor toward the group, a lit scimitar in her hand. Whatever it is, Xulthos is rocked by the gnoll's attacks. The sword blow to the thorax seems to have temporarily overloaded the creature's healing capabilities. Black blood and ichor flood onto the stone floor. The torn off leg is never growing back.
Haleen runs up the corridor making it twenty five feet from Zeladiel. But is she here to help or hinder?
Xulthos
Round 3
Initiative
Xulthos 24
Nuveril 23
Zeladiel 21
Sajan 20
Khalid 13
Linah 10
Grall 9a
Haleen 9b
Effects
Protection from Evil (Nuveril, Zeladiel, Grall, Khalid, Linah)
Mage Armour (Zeladiel, Sajan)
Bull Strength (Grall, Sajan)
Cats Grace (Khalid)
Shield of Faith (Sajan)
Weapon of Awe (Khalid)
Divine Favor (Khalid)
Enlarge Person (Sajan, Grall)
Magic Fang (Sajan)
Bless
Confused (Zeladiel)
Dazzling colours (-1 to hit, 10% miss)
Drone (-1 to hit, skills and saves)
Prone (Sajan)
Truly hurt by your combined attacks, Xulthos sways in midair.
I WILL NOT BE STOPPED. NOT BY YOU... YOU INSECTS! FEEL MY POWER!
The fiend flies forward slightly, directly over the prone Sajan.
Xulthos screams.
.......
You feel as if your heads are going to explode.
........
As if the world is ending.
..........
But it is Grall and Khalid standing within the cone of the main effect that the concussive dark magic strikes full force.
And the two stagger on their feet, stunned, their visual senses temporarily overloaded, their weapons falling to the ground....
SLA defensively pass
Will save Khalid fail
rounds + 1 round stun
Will save Grall fail
rounds + 1 round stun
Map is here.
I adjusted your first round damage for enlarge.
Nuveril tosses aside her madu. Whatever protection it might provide her is as nothing next to the possibility of piercing the creature's magical protections. She sees Khalid and Grall drop their weapons and stare sightlessly into nothingness and recognizes the tell-tale signs of a Gnome at work. She steps between the creature and her helpless allies and, wielding her hammer with both arms, swings in a desperate attempt to make some lasting mark in its carapace.
Ah, you're right about the attack bonus. I just looked at my stats for the scimitar and overlooked that the weapon is mwk, hence why i put +7. +6 is correct, and hopefully i'll remember it next time :)
A question: My miss, was it because i failed to reach the AC or because of DR?
Grapple from floor, all modifiers included. If successful sajan uses his move action to stand.p (no a00 due to grapple)
all mods included both pos and neg.
1-10 miss
[
No DR for the spiritual weapon it has a base AC 20 without the debuffs.
Grapple from floor, all modifiers included. If successful sajan uses his move action to stand.p (no a00 due to grapple)
1d20+14 all mods included both pos and neg.
1d100 1-10 miss
[
Grapple from floor, all modifiers included. If successful sajan uses his move action to stand.p (no a00 due to grapple)
1d20+14 all mods included both pos and neg.
1d100 1-10 miss
[
Edit:
Seladiel teeters on the ceiling and watches his friends fall up above him. The drone continues in his ears, but he sees the blood pool around Sajan.
Zeladiel shakes his head.
He throws an arm out and 2 magic missile hurtle along the ceiling and down into the creature.
magic missile damage:
From out of nowhere, Zeladiel's pair of force missiles streak up the corridor each hitting Xulthos in an eye. The daemon screams in pain, writhing and lurching as black blood pours from its ruined eye sockets.
As Xulthos rears it is caught in Sajan's iron grip, the monk surging up from the ground to hold the creature tight, heedless of the horrendous wounds that cover most of the right side of his body.
NO. YOU. DON'T says the monk grimly, looking through a mask of blood.
Khalid fights against his stun. The world swims back into focus. Nearly there.
Zeladiel retreats down the corridor, away from the drone.
"Stay back Haleen, lest its magic affect you."
Zeladiel retreats down the corridor, away from the drone.
"Stay back Haleen, lest its magic affect you."
Grall stands there his focus completely gone. All he can see is the lights, te are so bright! He hears sounds of battle but it seems so far away, he can do little but hope that his friends are safe and can defeat the creature without his strength...
A chill runs down Linah's spine and threatens to paralyze her to her knees as she realizes that she is not strong enough to heal Sajan completely. Another assult from Xulthos would probably mean his life, no matter how much life she channeled into the brave monk. She is loosened from her bonds by Sajan heaving his great arms around the carapace and dances back evading the creature's sharp claws. "The light of the Dawnflower banishes you from existance", she cries out as the birthmark on the palm begins to glow. A second later a shining spear of light shoots from her hand to fly towards Xulthos. Behind the hand of Sarenrae continues to slash, finally breaking the carapace .
A priest's spiritual weapon is a physical manifestation of the priest's will. The strength of their emotions, the force of their personality, their faith. As Linah faces down the daemon, her weapon grows to the size of a greatsword. It begins to glow almost painfully bright.
Like an arrow it flies toward Xulthos, caught up in its life and death struggle with Sajan. As if driven by some divine force, the point penetrates straight through the creature's back, going all the way through its body and emerging through the neck a few inches from Sajan's head.
Xulthos tries to scream again but this time nothing comes out. Its remaining eyes blink very rapidly.
And then the spear of light hits it. The spell doesn't just strike the creature it obliterates it. There is impact. For perhaps half a second the daemon is outlined in a white light. And then it is nothing but ashes. There is a tinkle as several metal items it was wearing fall to the floor.
Sajan stumbles back, holding nothing at all, and miraculously unharmed.
For a moment Linah sways on her feet. And then she faints, exhausted from the sheer power of the divine magic channeled through her.
Haleen is visibly overjoyed at Xulthos' death. She seems to fight the urge to go to Grall, healing Sajan and checking on Linah.
Nuveril finds herself covered in the raining ash that is all that is left of the creature when Linah has finished with it. The sudden silence in the wake of its droning wings is disorienting. She looks down at the hammer clutched in her two hands and hears the jeers of the children who had grown to tower over her back on the savannah: too small, too weak to be a warrior. In truth, what had she accomplished? With the utmost effort, she had managed little more than a chink in Xulthos' armor. Wearily, she collects her madu and waits quietly for the others to recover and rejoice.
|
As Khalid shakes off the effects of Xulthos's last desperate attack, he surveys the group to see if everyone managed to survive the battle. Seeing that everyone still lives, the inquisitor lets out a relieved sigh, and for the first time in days allows himself to relax...
"I see that Linah still breathes, but is she alright?" he asks Haleen.
"Sajan, good to see you are still with us. I must admit I had my doubts for a while."
Grall walks over and picks up Linah in a big bearhug, Sarrrenrrrae carrrried this day, I felt herrr powerrr in me as I strrruck.
The beast had no chance against us.
Grall gives her a little wink...
Grall finally himself feels as if he can relax as well. The creature that had so tormented Hallen is gone and she can return to Katapesh free of the bonds of her vision.
Would they keep their word, would they really free him?
What would he do next? There was too many things to think about..he better get back to the moment...oh yes, I should put Linah down... chuckles to himself.
He walks over to Haleen pretending to be mad, You! he can't contain the smile, I knew you wouldn't listen...at least I slowed you down a little.
Grall looks at the others travelling this road with him, who are they really, what do they mean to each other? Only time will tell...
Zeladiel staggers down to the ground and rubs his eyes. He glances at the few remains of Xulthos then stares at his bow and looks guiltily across at Linah. He waits sombrely and is the last to congratulate her.
"Thank you, Daughter of Sarenrae. I am truly sorry for my part. Pass judgement on me and I shall pay penance."
He hangs his head.
The darkness envelops Linah like a soft veil and she feels all her strenght slowly leak out into nowhere. Eventhough she cannot move she feels safe. Calm. She feels loved. All her troubles and aches dissipate as her weightless body travels through the void. In the distance she can make out a figue, a light in the darkness, the shape of an angel unfolding it's wings. Linah starts to hear voices as the light grows brighter and brighter until it engulfs her completely. In a flash it is gone and she's back in the corridor underneath the Sarenrae temple of Kelmare. She can feel her strenght returning like a wave of warm water, but before she knows it she is carried off her feet and embraced by Grall in a giant hug. She cannot hear what he's saying but replies with a smile.
The strenght has yet fully returned to her legs when Grall puts her down so Linah staggers slightly and has to brace herself against the wall to avoid falling. She traces the outline of her birthmark and tears of joy starts to flow uncontrollably from her eyes. She hadn't felt like this since her childhood. Since she cured her brother. Sarenrae had flown through her. Sarenrae had delivered them.
"No penance is nessessary. I know where your heart lies, Master Araxyll", Linah says when she has gathered composure. She lays her hand on his shoulder and gives the elf wizard an encouraging smile.
Zeladiel nods at Linah's words, but worry still adorns his brow as he turns away. He waits quietly for the others to recover and rejoice and finds himself standing beside Nuveril. He goes to leave, stops himself, goes to say something, stops himself and shifts uncomfortably. He looks at his feet if she looks up at him.
As you contemplate your failings as you see them you can feel an odd tingling sensation from that part of your skin making contact with your amulet. The contact of your blood has done something to the thing. Energised it somehow. You look at it and for a moment the pattern on the front seems to change from roiling clouds to roaring flame, from fire to a mighty mountain, from earth to an ocean. Then all is as it was before.
Haleen heals the worst of Sajan's wounds and it does not take long for Linah to recover enough to walk. The former flame witch hangs her head just a little at Grall but can't contain her smile. And here I wanted to help and made it in time only for you to finish it off! Still its gone now. It can't hurt anyone anymore. Not me and not you. I'll take that and be content.
Knowing you now have plenty of time to explore the crypt you make your way back up the shaft to the upper level.
The fire elementals have gone though you expect they still remain bound.
Examining the secret door in the main crypt, you eventually open it with some fiddling revealing a corridor beyond. That in turn leads to the reliquary, a plain chamber, storage for the church’s valuable religious artifacts. These fill several niches carved like benches into the stone walls.
On the floor nearby are remains. Of one of the priests by the fraying red and yellow vestments. A very decomposed hand rests over a simple bronze headband decorated with sunbursts and an intricate flame pattern of small red gemstones at the front. .
On the far side of the body are stacks of folios of parchment. On further examination these seem to be records, quite well preserved in the dryness of the chamber. Census records, registries of births and deaths. All the details of a town once fill of people. Now all gone.
It seems the lone priest took the two things he or she deemed most important and secured them here before dying alone.
Linah doesn't need the warning from her phylactery to know that looting the reliquary items may lead to the Dawnflower's displeasure but feels no similar warning in taking the headband or documents and you do.
You return to the surface where the others greet your return with great enthusiasm. Almah is smiles from ear to ear at the news that the last obstacle to the achievement of her impossible task has been removed.
You return to the battlemarket and Almah orders the commencement of preparations for a great feast to be held at the battle market. Several goats are slaughtered for roasting. The lady also puts the last of her wine reserves for the purpose and Undrella suprises everyone by supplemeting them with several barrels of a fiercly strong dark liquor of her own making.
Sunset has just fallen and the festivities are just about to begin in earnest when Garavel shouts for quiet and Almah, resplendent in blue silk, addresses the entire group.
My friends! We have achieved much in these few days. By the dint of your hard efforts, Kelmarane is free once more! As the months pass its streets will fill with people again. The fields will be replanted. Boats will once more tie up at the dock. And everyone will know that it started here, because of you.
But noone had done more than one of you. Noone has fought harder or more bravely.
And that is Grall. A gnoll, a slave.
Well gnoll he may always be, but a slave, I say no longer!
Garavel hands her a rolled parchment and she holds this out to Grall.
By the authority given to me in the name of the Pactmasters I declare this slave freed! Come collect your letters of manumission!
Not everyone cheers. Dashki looks like he wants to spit on the ground but doesn't dare to. But most do. Soldiers, servants, herders. They cheer and the sound rings out from the market as the cry of the Kuldis used too.
Zeladiel nods at Linah's words, but worry still adorns his brow as he turns away. He waits quietly for the others to recover and rejoice and finds himself standing beside Nuveril. He goes to leave, stops himself, goes to say something, stops himself and shifts uncomfortably. He looks at his feet if she looks up at him.
"What is it you want, Elf?" she growls in an unfriendly manner. As she speaks, she glances down at the amulet around her neck and raises a hand to hold it out flat in her line of vision for a moment, before her hand tightens around it possessively.
Zeladiel barely notices Nuveril's amulet.
"You fought bravely and well. I am sorry I can't say the same for myself. I had hoped to rise above your limited expectations of me, but you were right. I don't know if that pleases you or not. I just thought you should know. I couldn't be trusted. You were right."
Zeladiel slowly moves off after the others, his bow at his side.
|
|
After hearing Lady Almah's declaration of Grall's newly won freedom, Khalid approaches the former slave...
"Congratulations, my friend. Haleen is safe, Kardswann and Xulthos have been defeated and yet you are still here. It appears the Dawnflower has need of your services yet." the inquisitor says with smile.
"Enjoy your freedom, you have more than earned it."
Zeladiel barely notices Nuveril's amulet.
"You fought bravely and well. I am sorry I can't say the same for myself. I had hoped to rise above your limited expectations of me, but you were right. I don't know if that pleases you or not. I just thought you should know. I couldn't be trusted. You were right."
Zeladiel slowly moves off after the others, his bow at his side.
Nuveril watches the elf walk away, mystified. Honestly, she had forgotten all about the wizard on the ceiling the moment the fight began and has no idea what he might or might not have contributed to the effort.
Garavel hands her a rolled parchment and she holds this out to Grall.
By the authority given to me in the name of the Pactmasters I declare this slave freed! Come collect your letters of manumission!
Not everyone cheers. Dashki looks like he wants to spit on the ground but doesn't dare to. But most do. Soldiers, servants, herders. They cheer and the sound rings out from the market as the cry of the Kuldis used too.
Grall tentatively grasps the parchment, Thank you mistrrress, it fills my hearrrt with joy that I have done my parrrt to frrree this city and rrrevenge the fallen, my frrreedom will not be wasted.
After hearing Lady Almah's declaration of Grall's newly won freedom, Khalid approaches the former slave...
"Congratulations, my friend. Haleen is safe, Kardswann and Xulthos have been defeated and yet you are still here. It appears the Dawnflower has need of your services yet." the inquisitor says with smile.
"Enjoy your freedom, you have more than earned it."
Thank you Khalid. We did well underrr yourrr leaderrrship, I would follow you again in times of need. You have my blade if you everrr need it again. Indeed she has shown me grrreat favorrr, I will strrive to be worrrthy of her light.
Zeladiel barely notices Nuveril's amulet.
"You fought bravely and well. I am sorry I can't say the same for myself. I had hoped to rise above your limited expectations of me, but you were right. I don't know if that pleases you or not. I just thought you should know. I couldn't be trusted. You were right."
Zeladiel slowly moves off after the others, his bow at his side.
After a while Grall approaches the wizard, seeing him off to the side, alone.
Masterrr Zeladiel, may I speak with you? ...what botherrrs you so, we have won the day and Kelmarrrane is frrree, did you not complete what you came herrre to do?
Zeladiel's eyes narrow at Grall's question.
"I have not addressed you, slave," Zeladiel says haughtily and moves on quickly to join the others.
However, that night after Almah's speech Zeladiel's smile is warm as he approaches Grall and shakes his hand.
"Congratulations. It has been an honour and a pleasure to see you fight. You are an amazing combatant and have truly earned your freedom. Which is just as well, since you make a terrible slave." Zeladiel smiles broadly.
Linah is at an excellent mood during the feast. Eventhough the sorrow she felt for the previous citizens of Kelmare still lingers, it no longer weights her down. The evil that was Xulthos had been banished, the shadow cast from Kelmare.
She makes no atempt to conceal her joy as Almah announces Grall's release from slavedom, but waits until the commotion has died down around him before she approaches the barbarian.
"Congratulations!", she says and embraces the gnoll. "So now that you are free, what will do?"
Linah is at an excellent mood during the feast. Eventhough the sorrow she felt for the previous citizens of Kelmare still lingers, it no longer weights her down. The evil that was Xulthos had been banished, the shadow cast from Kelmare.
She makes no atempt to conceal her joy as Almah announces Grall's release from slavedom, but waits until the commotion has died down around him before she approaches the barbarian.
"Congratulations!", she says and embraces the gnoll. "So now that you are free, what will do?"
I don't know...I have neverrr had to make my own decisions, except in combat.
Forrr now I wait to see what Haleen plans to do. I think my calling is herrre but...forrr what time I have in this life I want to spend it with herrr if I can.I do want to help you rrre-build the temple and make surrre the Gnolls can not returrrn.
What would you have me do?
Now that Grall has found Haleen he has no idea what he will do next. He wants to stay by her side but he also wants to help here at the town.
Depending on whether or not you want to RP this out he would basically bide his time with her, trying to spend whatever time he can with her until she tells him what she wants to do...if it is to go back to Katapesh or stay here. If she goes back to Katapesh he would probably follow her, at least at first.
Zeladiel's eyes narrow at Grall's question.
"I have not addressed you, slave," Zeladiel says haughtily and moves on quickly to join the others.However, that night after Almah's speech Zeladiel's smile is warm as he approaches Grall and shakes his hand.
"Congratulations. It has been an honour and a pleasure to see you fight. You are an amazing combatant and have truly earned your freedom. Which is just as well, since you make a terrible slave." Zeladiel smiles broadly.
"I would have you choose for yourself", Linah says with a warm smiel. "You are free now. No one can give you orders. If you want to help restore the church you are most welcomed to. I would be happy to have you there."
After Grall's ceremony, the celebrations begin in earnest and threaten to go on late into the evening. Hadrod the herder produces from somewhere a five string 'ud and proves himself to be quite a fair musician playing a series of lively tunes with the lute-like instrument as others clap or stamp (or both) out a beat.
There is dancing for anyone willing, which proves to be quite a lot of people. At one point a smiling Undrella even tries to convince Sajan to take a turn. After much prodding the harpy even favors you all with a few songs. Afterwards, few can recall what she was singing about but even Almah concedes she's never heard anything so fine.
There is food and drink. Toasts for brave deeds. Many, many toasts
It is midnight and things show no sign yet of slowing down when Haleen squeezes up to Grall.
I've been thinking. If I go home Father's like to marry me straight off. Well assuming my lack of hair doesn't kill him first.
I can always write him and Uncle and tell them I'm all right.
I was thinking about making a home here. It seems quite a nice place without all of the daemons and undead and evil genies and what not.
She smiles. Well what do you say?
************************************************************************
A fortnight later and the seasonal storms come. Even here close to the mountains, near two weeks of solid rain, covering the land, washing away the dust and blood. The land is renewed.
A few weeks later and the first caravans arrive. By overland at first. And then by river. A trickle at first and then a steady stream. Materials and people. Merchants, farmers, builders. Families and children. All determined to make Kelmarane live again.
As the people go back and forth so do the tales go with them. About a group of heroes. The most eclectic are those most mentioned of course. A giant Vudrani fist fighter with the strength of five men. A female halfling, fierce as a wolverine, bearing a hammer forged by an Azlanti king. Strangest of all a gnollish paladin, a former slave and chosen of the Dawnflower. They travel with an elven magi if you'd believe it, with a mighty priestess and a warrior who moves like quicksilver, bearing a sword of starmetal.
The tales spread far and wide. To Solku, Olenko and the golden city of Katapesh itself. To many the tales bring hope, a message of hope. That evil can be confronted and defeated by those brave of heart and strong of will. But not to all. No, not to all.
END OF CHAPTER 1
Grall smiles, knowing the Dawnflower has truly blessed him this day...
Yes, stay herrre...
he looks towards the temple knowing his work has just begun, but he can put it off for at least the night,
with you, I could ask for little else fierrry one!
his toothy grin spread form ear to ear as he suddenly grabs her, throws her over his shoulder and carries her to the floor where the others are dancing. There he twirls her around like a twig laughing in joy at the happiness he has finally found...and for once in his life, enjoys himself for its own sake...
Sajan does actually reluctantly dance at the ceremony at Undrella's request, although it seems to be more of a battle dance, twists and turns, rolls, cartwheels and backflips as though avoiding the blows of invisible enemies. The result is actually fairly impressive and agile for the big man, although his lack of skill when dancing in a more conventional manner is painfully obvious to all.
(Acrobatics)
Sajan had said little after the final battle with Xulthos, but knew that despite falling to the creatures might early in the battle, his companions may not have survived the onslaught without his sacrifice. As he desperately wrestled the beast from the ground and forced his way up through eyes stained red with his own blood, he had expected the gesture to cost him his own life; but it had been just enough for Nuveril and Linah to finish the held Xulthos off. He spent some of the evening with Khalid and Linah, congratulating them both on the victory and raising a glass politely to Sarenrae; while she was not his patron deity, he felt he must acknowledge her part in their victory. Sajan also sought to find Nuveril in the evening, concerned about her destiny and whether she was well after the difficult battle and the revelations the undead thing had told her.
Although Sajan nodded respectfully to Zeladiel, truthfully he did not know the wizard very well yet in comparison to the others; and he always felt that his talk of his simple life and his few years of experience would bore the ancient being anyway.
He finished his evening by bringing Grall two glasses of the finest drink he could find, wordlessly handing one over to him and raising a glass. He had made his speech on Grall's freedom while he was still a slave and as promised, treated him as he would a friend. He toasted Grall's freedom, danced one final time and then retired around midnight, seeking to reflect and train with Tiger on the deeds and trials of the last few weeks.
The next morning, Sajan had made his decision on what to do now Kelmarane was taken. He sought out Garavel and offered his considerable skill and expertise in keeping the Hinterlands safe from the Gnolls. To keep himself honest in his work and to provide proof of his achievements, Sajan began to keep a large bag of Gnoll's teeth, two taken from every one of the vicious beasts he slew keeping the town safe. The bag became both Sajan's focus and a symbol of fear for the local Gnoll tribes, tales of a massive human crushing Gnoll's heads with his bare hands told to Gnoll children around huddled campfires, his name spoen only in whispers so as to avoid attracting his wrath.
When not on patrol, Sajan would check in regularily with any of his party that remained in Kelmarane; and would always give Undrella a fond visit, saving the finest furs and goods he took from those he slew for her. Any other time he had left was spent vigorously training with iron discipline; for Sajan somehow knew instinctively that the surge of immigration to the town would be likely to have deadly repurcussions...
Grall spends the next year plus enjoying his new life. He doesn't need much so Kelmarane suits his needs just fine.
If allowed he spends part of his time accompanying his friends, Nuveril and Sajan, hunting the Gnolls in the hills near the town. He is conflicted by their taking of prizes from the bodies of his bretheren, but says nothing to them. He hopes that Sarenrae will show them the way beyond their hatred for his people. He hopes that he might find others like him, Gnolls that want peace, but he is also realistic that most of his race are brutal beasts who enjoy the pain of others.
Most of his time though is spent with Linah and Khalid helping to restore the temple. He wears simple robes during this time and is seen using his great strength to help the builders who are fixing the impressive temple. At first the townfolk who see him fear his huge visage, but after a time most get used to him. He has no weapons, other than the dagger hidden on him. Many treat him as some type of freak to be avoided, pulling their children away from him as he walks down the streets, but he eventually wins the respect of a few, and that is enough for Grall.
All of his remaining time is spent with Haleen, the love of his life. Not sure of her true feelings for him, Grall doesn't pursue any of the romantic feelings he has for her. His hideous form isn't one that many could even think of being attracted too. He also fears for Haleen's treatment in the town from her association with him. With all of the people now around, he rarely touches her or treats her in a too familiar manner in public. So is this what it is like to be free he wonders??? Even with these challenges, life is good for Grall...
Linah greets the following morning with a smile. As she steps out into the sunlight it is as if the dawnflower herself was smiling down at her, the rays warming her from the core. She was at peace, she felt fulfilled. Kelmare was safe, ready to be born again. Grall was free and reunited with Haleen. But most of the doubts she'd harboured deep inside her were gone. Every single doubt she ever had was swept away when Sarenrae delivered her underneath the church the day before.
Smiling her eyes sweep across the landscape as the city starts to wake all around her. Today was going to be a good day, and the day after was going to be even better. The following months sees Linah working to restore the Dawnflower's percence in the newborn city. She offers her healing to those who require it and holds ceremonies in the church as soon as Haalrun's defilings have been removed.
Honoring her vow she tries to teach Nuveril to read Kelish, to enable her to read the records stored underneath the church and hopefully find the truth of her origins. Sending letters to the clergy in Katapesh, she asks for they know about Haalrun and his conregation. She also sends letters to her mentor Khalib as often as she can, keeping him updated on the rebuilding of Kelmare.