As Yon looks up at where the Dryad was, all he sees is a rolled up parchment with a red ribbon.
It is a scroll of raise animal companion.
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Agriver continues to care for the various people of the keep that require aid: Sick, Old, and the prisoners awaiting justice.
Each day after his meditation and communion he walks the streets looking to see if the Lil brothers have made their way back to the fort. ”Wonder where Yon is, we were to share a pint”
He head back to his room for his final night of reverie – and lights the largest and final candle as he begins to focus on the mantra of Glory.
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As the four hunt, it becomes quickly apparent that they work well together. Ayame, however, is not impressed with Robin's of a bow, but she does seem a little more impressed with his ability to bring down birds. It seems that the surly she-wolf really enjoys waterfowl, so Robin brought down a couple of ducks and geese for her.
Later, he asks Yon, "So, now that Hanspur has granted me some magical spells, do you know of anything that I could use to stretch them out or cast them more often? My single spell of 'explode bird with massive arrow' might be fun, but it isn't as effective if it would be if I could cast it a couple of times per day!"
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Yon repeats himself louder for Robin to hear.
"You want one of these?" he says, holding up a Pearl of Power, "From what you seem to be saying, this is what you want. It let's you cast a spell all over again the same day. Just gotta say the magic word."
Putting it back in his pocket, "I'll show you where you can get one, gotta take Aggy back there too. He was interested in it when I got this one. Wants to know how to use it."
Thinking a moment longer... "We should probably go meet him at the pub, I hope she still has some elk stew!" With that, he walks back to the Helmed Lady, expecting to find his grieving friends, and surprise them.
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Vala walks into Abernard's office "... what? What's she doing here?" Vala stares in momentary shock, Janira's vibrant energy a stark juxtaposition of her meditative reverie of the last several days.
Knowing she'll be unable to actually speak Vala listens and nods at Janira's story. "Alright... how do I get out of this one... she'll keep talking all day if I don't do something..."
When Janira pauses for half a breath "Want to go get a drink? Tell us all about it." Vala smiles. "Maybe I can deposit her on someone else there ..."
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"Yeah, bro, that sounds like exactly what I need. I knew you knew all that magicky stuff and all. Did you know Hanspur has blessed me with the ability to cast spells now? I can make my arrows super-powerful now. They blow up birds!" With that, Robin follows Yon back to town.
A while later, getting closer, he tells his brother, "Yon, I gotta make a quick detour. Gonna drop some of this extra food off with someone who could really use it. You're welcome to come with."
Thinking about who was with him now, he turns to Ayame. "The person we're going to stop and visit has several children. They may try and pet you, because they don't know any better. Please don't hurt them!"
The she-wolf looks at Robin, as if to say, 'I wouldn't hurt cubs... not even human-cubs, you moron!' She doesn't care if Robin understands, but she understands how cubs work.
Robin stops by the home of Ilyana Stonde, who is very thankful for the extra food.
The children are terrified of Ayame, until she quickly and gently plays with them. Rboud also joins in the wrestling that takes place.
Vala makes her way quickly towards the Helmed Lady. Janira happily follows along asking questions... to which Vala realizes Janira expects responses.
Eventually they arrive at the tavern, where they find Yon, Robin and Agriver (and wolves) chatting and drinking - over the topic of magic and magic items.
"oh comon Vala - you're holding back on me. I've read the reports but i want to know those fun undocumented details of the adventure!
"Agriver! The L'ils! Rboud! Yay! It's so wonderful to see all of you! And oh my - Rboud has a friend! What's you're name you beautiful creature? Wolves are such magnificent beasts.... reminds me of a tale!"
The wolf sniffs at the halfling. 'You are no cub. You talk too much.' Her hackles rise, and her eyes narrow, as the halfling approaches.
Hackles rising, teeth baring, Ayame thinks, 'I am no one's wolf. You are my man-thing, so don't you forget it!'
The wolf merely stares at her person... with her eyes narrowed, ears pinned back.
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"Yeah, anyway. The other wolf, the one that travels with Yon, is Rboud. He died, but he came back, which is good. How are the kids? Oh, I brought some venison and other game for your larder."
Finally catching that the woodsman was there, a trio of children rush past the woman to pounce on Robin. "Uncle Robin!" they cry out as one.
"Davon! Belka! Tristan! Good to see you three." While the boys, Davon and Tristan go for his legs, Belka jumps on his back, knocking his quiver loose and spilling arrows all over the place. The big man allows himself to be taken to the ground by the ferocious warriors, allowing himself to giggle along with them, but careful to not land on an arrow.
'Finally... something I can approve of you doing. Teaching the cubs to fight is always a good idea.' The she-wolf moves around, pacing, watching. This causes Belka to scream, her fears of wolves (and other predators) coming to the fore.
Ayame takes a less intimidating stance, and nips gently at the youngest, Tristan, when he tries to pick up an arrow.
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Agriver sits with his mulled wine until Yon arrives, standing he greets his friend with a warm smile. His eyes fall on Rboud, and his new silver streak. "Gods Yon, how?! Our purpose must truly be special if even death holds no power.. Tell me the tale.
The paladin walks to order drinks and almost bumps directly into Janira. "Well hello there little one. What brings you to the fort? By the goddess what a blessed day. Did you come to visit with Spyridon? Yon, where is our scribe?". Agriver looks around bar and then back to the barmaid.
"Drinks for my friend's please, and scraps for my friend Rboud, and... His mate?"- The paladin slowly offers his hand to the new shewolf to let her smell, ensuring he is respectful of her boundaries.
"She with you Robin?"
Glancing back at Yon "Can you help me buy one of those pearls tomorrow?".
Smiling at Vala he continues. "Nice to see you milady"
"His mate?"
As the fool (in her eyes) puts his hand forward, she thinks for a moment about ripping it off his arms. 'These two-legs that my manling runs with are idiots! As much as he is!'
She refrains from the attack, but the vitriol in her green eyes is unmistakable. She glances at Robin as if to say, 'You'd best figure this out quickly, or the tin-plated man is my next dinner.'
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Seeing the vehemence his new companion has over Agriver's misspoken words, he quickly says, "Um, no, Agriver. She is his sister. And I would pull that hand back, lest she decides to take a bite. And, yes, I am with her."
Hearing him then go on about the pearl. "Yeah, Yon mentioned that. I am going to get one, too, so that I can use my new trick more often." He just chuckles at that... and then reaches for his drink.
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Yon doesn't feel as at ease as he does in the forest-by-the-river, but the life in this farm feels more like the pattern of trees and bugs than the keep. And the smells from the hearth are reminiscent of a long forgotten memory. He can see why Robin returned.
Yon reaches out a hand to greet Ilyana. And speaks in tower-born, "Lovely to meet you. Hope you don't mind our messy look, we just came back from the Spire... where Robin saved us all, once or twice" and he winks at Robin.
He smiles in shock and with mirth when Robin begins playing with the children.
Otherwise during the visit he remains mostly silent, smiling and nodding at the happiness around him. Always standing beside Rbuod.
Agriver sits with his mulled wine until Yon arrives, standing he greets his friend with a warm smile. His eyes fall on Rboud, and his new silver streak. "Gods Yon, how?! Our purpose must truly be special if even death holds no power.. Tell me the tale.
"Truth? I hardly know. It was like a dream..." he continues in his head because dreams can be a personal message from a god and he's unsure if it was a dream, I saw a Satyr and a dead buck. Wandered through a forest, and met a Dryad. "When I finally woke up, there he was."
"Agriver! The L'ils! Rboud! Yay! It's so wonderful to see all of you! And oh my - Rboud has a friend! What's you're name you beautiful creature? Wolves are such magnificent beasts.... reminds me of a tale!"
Yon replies, "huh..."
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"I believe we included most everything in the report. I could say that our team's communication could use some work. Several of us have different ideas for how to go about things. Nothing we can't work out. Our trust in each other will come with time."
Vala walks in, effectively delivering Janira to the group. A look of relief on her eyes as she is able to relax from all of the speaking for a moment.
Turning her head she locks eyes with the female wolf and suddenly forgets everything. "What a beautiful creature.." Vala tilts her head, reading the she-wolf. "Such strength... intelligence... resilience... determination" Vala lifts her hand palm forward, allowing the wolf to come forward or not, as she pleases.
When the moment passes, Vala looks from the new wolf to Robin. Then to Yon. Then to.. Rboud? "... Rboud?" Vala smiles softly, a somewhat uncommon sight. "The forest really does take care of its own, I see."
Smiling at Vala he continues. "Nice to see you milady"
Vala gives Agriver a polite nod, "Nice to see you."
Vala moves to the bar, orders an ale, then sits to hear everyone's stories.
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Agriver backs away from Robin’s new friend and raises an eyebrow to the ranger. ”She is a bit wild yet, not quite as cuddly as Rboud… who seems to be in amazing form – truly a blessing…”
Sitting back at the table with his mulled wine he continues [b]”I have one more evening of prayers to Iomadae and I wanted to pick up a pearl with some help from Yon. Once that is complete, I will be ready to return to the spire”.[b]
Agriver completes his meditation , purchases his pearl of power with Yon and is taught magic by his spirit guide.
Robin finds time to visit Ilyana and her kids. Ayame is quickly accepted into the rough and tumble fun.
Yon takes Rboud back to the grove, but does not encounter the Satyr nor Dryad.
Vala spends time with each of her allies, if only to not be alone with Janira!
The party wakes to a thunderstorm. They set out on this dreary day to the Spire.
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Agriver looks up at the rain as it falls around the group. ”It would appear that the evil of the spire hopes to defeat us with cold rain, and perhaps rust??” the paladin comments obviously in far better spirits after leaving the fort.
As time progresses on the path toward the cursed land, he becomes more focused and quiet – deep within his meditation.
”Robin, you intend to bring your new pup into the ruins with us? Is she a combatant like Rboud?”
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Vala will hand Robin his wrist sheaths. She takes a moment to show Robin how to don them, and the workings of the mechanisms. To which point Agriver likely asks for one as well.
Vala nods and spends the next day crafting one for Agriver, handing it over the next time she sees him.
Vala will spend some time the day before they leave hunting in the wilderness, attempting to acquire a treat for their new furry traveling companion.
Vala spends a fair amount of time acquiring something she thinks the wolf will like. She goes ahead and gets another for her brother too.
When everyone gathers outside of the fort to leave Vala will offer the gifts to the wolves, figuring its always nice to have friends willing to watch your back - no matter the species.
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After receiving the wrist sheaths, he says, "Agriver, you can borrow one of mine, since I currently only have a single wand. Gonna have to get more, eventually, but for now..."
He thinks about Agriver's question, and responds, "Agriver, I'd be careful about calling her a 'new pup'. She tends to take offense at such things, and besides, she is Rboud's litter-mate, so is hardly a pup."
The party traverses the Echo Wood with little incident. At one point, the wolves enter an attack stance... and a large shadow passes overhead with the sound of large beating wings.
The party arrives at the Spire to find Vala's alarm trap on the upper Ruins level undisturbed.
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Feeling sneaky, thinking it would be a quicker way down, Robin suggests going through the secret back entrance. "Vala, it is good that your alarm is undisturbed. Let's leave it so, and go down the back way we found last week. Then we should make it down where that bandit punk was trying to run to..."
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”Fair point Robin, she looked a tad small – so I assumed she was younger. Does she understand the common tongue? The relationships both you and Yon have with animals is fascinating.”
Swinging his new adamantium blade down from its resting place on his pauldron, Agriver drops to a knee while tightening the leather straps for his greaves, then his gauntlets.
Rising up he finishes he comments. ”It may make good sense to ensure we do not have new foe’s that have taken up residency on the floors we cleared. Better to not have foes behind us should we need to fall back. That and Vala can check the integrity of her traps.”
As if to prove his point, Ayame nips Robin in the heel.
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"Sure, I'll give it a shot"
Vala takes the wand from Robin and steps up to Ayame. She holds her hand up to the wolf in a gesture for permission before attempting to use the wand.
"Hmpf. It actually worked. Nice."
"As for the tower. I vote we do a quick recheck of the upper levels, as Agriver suggested. Just don't step on my traps. What does everyone else think?"
The party explores the first three levels. They find a moon spider or two and slay them, but the Cellars remain undisturbed.
In Splinterden, the party is surprised to find the secret and front doors locked, but the gate to below open.
Agriver cautiously approaches the main door but is not attacked.
"i thought those moon spiders were really neat! Way cooler to see in....
Didn't your report say these doors were left open?" Janira fingers her whip nervously.
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"Vala, can you open the secret door again? Do you also remember where all the traps were? We should sweep this floor before heading down further. We want to ensure there is an avenue for retreat should we require it."
Agriver will stand at alert with his blade in hand, ensuring he is out of the line of sight from those terrible arrow slits.
A voice calls out from behind the main door "woah woah - no need to be violent. We don't want any trouble just leave us alone! You can go on downstairs adventuring to your hearts content!"
"Forget that! You blood thirsty animals just love to come in and murder and pillage - leave us alone!"
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"We will grant you peace - however if you interfere with our investigation.. you will find the justice I promised with the Hell Knights."
Agriver frowns and looks toward Vala (trying very hard to forget that she armed this rogue and let him escape). When you area Vala, please take point on our decent and see if you see any traps?"[/b]